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U.S. tactics, training kept casualties down in Fallujah
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | 11/21/04 | Jack Kelly

Posted on 11/20/2004 11:15:24 PM PST by LibWhacker

New book on urban warfare

Generals think of urban combat the way vampires view garlic. But in Fallujah, Iraq, U.S. forces have rewritten the book on urban military operations, producing what have been, so far, better-than-average results with lower-than-average casualties.

Military leaders hate fighting in cities because it's hard to find the enemy, to tell him apart from civilians and to use supporting weapons such as artillery and tanks. Combat can occur on multiple levels simultaneously (on the street, on rooftops, in basements), communication and resupply are difficult, and there really is no way to clear buildings except to send soldiers or Marines into them.

(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aftermathanalysis; casualties; down; fallujah; iraq; minimized; tactics

1 posted on 11/20/2004 11:15:24 PM PST by LibWhacker
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To: LibWhacker

You don't find this on too many front pages...


2 posted on 11/20/2004 11:27:26 PM PST by FairOpinion (Thank you Swifties, POWs & Vets. We couldn't have done it without you.)
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To: LibWhacker

Bad news for the NY Times, Rather and the Dems.


3 posted on 11/20/2004 11:29:25 PM PST by F16Fighter
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To: LibWhacker

Urban warfare tactics:
http://www.occupationwatch.org/article.php?id=6451


4 posted on 11/20/2004 11:34:55 PM PST by Gucho
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To: FairOpinion

Very disturbing how the MSM can ignore or deny simple, easily verifiable truths. It's gotta end.


5 posted on 11/20/2004 11:43:04 PM PST by LibWhacker (FOUR MORE YEARS!!)
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To: F16Fighter
Bad news for terrorists all over the world, too. We threw out the book on urban warfare and laid waste to their plans for ensnaring us in back alleys. We blew up the alleys instead.
6 posted on 11/21/2004 12:21:13 AM PST by risk
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To: FairOpinion


7 posted on 11/21/2004 12:31:53 AM PST by Dominic Harr (mark)
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To: LibWhacker
The casualties of the US troops might have been low, under 1% of total force involved, but I am still unsatisfied that the US casualties were not hammered down to zero. Probably we will need "Terminator" robots or "iRobots" to replace human soldiers to hammer "human" casualties down to zero.
8 posted on 11/21/2004 12:45:49 AM PST by Wiz
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To: LibWhacker

You are right, unfortunately no end is in sight.


9 posted on 11/21/2004 1:01:52 AM PST by market liberal
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To: LibWhacker

Hi, LibWacker:

The Marines took the Lessons Learned from the siege of Hue City during the Tet Offensive in 1968 very seriously.

Developing new tactics (Forget "Hey, Diddle Diddle. Right Up The Middle!") during the late 1970s under Carter. Fleshing out and actually training those tactics under Reagan. Maintaining Urban Warfare "cities" on several bases and using them. Much like the Army has used and trained Armor Units at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, CA.

Running training "scenarios" where one or more radios may be inoperative. Marines picked randomly to be wounded and tended to by Corpsmen and other Marines. While the "scenario" continues. Securing buildings and shuttling ammunition forward. Adapting to constantly changing situations. Developing options and overcoming.

The reason for the small munber of Marines and soldiers killed is constant and intense "real world" training in these facilities and enviornments.

Recognizing mistakes and working to correct them here in the states, instead of the battlefield.

Jack.


10 posted on 11/21/2004 1:14:15 AM PST by Jack Deth (When In Doubt.... Empty The Magazine!)
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To: Wiz

Yep, I've been calling for this kind of assault on Fallujah since day 1. I would've liked to have seen much, much more heavy bombing beforehand, though. I think that would have saved some of those 50 Americans who were killed and 450 who were wounded . . . But overall . . . A big A+ for the Pentagon and our troops!


11 posted on 11/21/2004 1:21:17 AM PST by LibWhacker (FOUR MORE YEARS!!)
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To: Jack Deth

'Ya know, I'm just blown away that we could go into Fallujah like that and come out with "only" 50 dead. Absolutely amazing! And it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside knowing that the Pentagon is not satisfied with that and is looking for ways to get it down to zero next time, while not completely obliterating a city in doing it.


12 posted on 11/21/2004 1:29:41 AM PST by LibWhacker (FOUR MORE YEARS!!)
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To: LibWhacker

Impossible, good news!? No, it must be mistake!


13 posted on 11/21/2004 2:34:40 AM PST by old Jew
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To: LibWhacker

It could well be that this battle will mark the turning point in WOT.


14 posted on 11/21/2004 4:17:31 AM PST by CasearianDaoist
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To: LibWhacker

I am impressed with the footage I’ve watched of our people – and not at all impressed with the tactics of the terrorists.
Kneeling in the middle of the street to fire machine guns, RPGs and mortars – and often the mortars have no sights.
On the subjects of gun sights – has anyone actually seen them used by the terrorists – even with the AKs?
Walking in a cluster down the middle of the street.


15 posted on 11/21/2004 4:23:13 AM PST by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink.)
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To: Wiz

War without some American casualties would be a terrible thing – American casualties are the only restraint we have on going to war.


16 posted on 11/21/2004 4:25:18 AM PST by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink.)
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To: R. Scott

Don't worry, the costly military budget will help us to think twice before going to war once mass production model of "Terminators" rush into enemy territory.


17 posted on 11/21/2004 5:31:05 AM PST by Wiz
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To: Wiz

Hopefully.


18 posted on 11/21/2004 5:39:29 AM PST by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink.)
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