It's Game On In Ramadi: Long Awaited Operation Underway, Fierce Fighting in Center of City

Iraq Slogger ^ | March 2 2007 | ROBERT Y. PELTON

[jmc1969]

The 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division (1-3ID)is currently engaged in street to street fighting in central Ramadi. The much anticipated attack follows months of hands off policy as troops were routinely sniped and attacked with orders not to retaliate.

After much planning U.S. forces along with a collection of hired local tribesmen from nearby Sofia (a suburb of Ramadi) and other groups are attacking and clearing the are house by house. The tribes have been formed into paramilitary units called "Emergency Response Units" and are linked with U.S. troops.

The 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment (1-9), 2nd Infantry Division has been given the dirty job of house to house combat in Ramadi's center. Many of the houses have been booby trapped in anticipation of the attack. The U.S. Military estimates that there are around 60 insurgents remaining in the area of 15,000 people. Initial estimates put the insurgent numbers at between 100 and 200.

[pissant]

Godspeed to our men

[The Blitherer]

Woohoo! Kick-ass!!!

[American Quilter]

Heavenly Father, please bless our troops and grant them victory over our enemies.

[Dog]

JT you take care..if you are near this...get some for us.

[unkus]

AMEN. God bless and keep our troops safe.

[reagan_fanatic]

The U.S. Military estimates that there are around 60 insurgents remaining in the area of 15,000 people

I hope they kill every one of them and take no prisoners.

[Churchillspirit]

May God be with them and all the brave men and women fighting in this war.

[DustyMoment]

Go get'em, guys!! We are all praying for your safe completion of this mission and a solid mission accomplished!!

[jazusamo]

The tribes have been formed into paramilitary units called "Emergency Response Units" and are linked with U.S. troops.

Good news, more Iraqis working with us against the terrorists.

God bless them all.

[airborne]

Prayers for our brave soldiers!

May God protect each and every one of them!

[Phantom Patriot]

By God it's about time! Lets just hope the delay by the leaders has not caused our troops harm by allowing the enemy to prepare. Give em what for Troops.

[mdittmar]

Let's Roll!

[jveritas]

Finally, the Ramadi offensive! God bless our troops.

[PigRigger]

Prayers lifted for their safety and success....

[jmc1969]

Ping

[WesternPacific]

Heroic acts by brave men for an undeserving public.

[taxed2death]

"The much anticipated attack follows months of hands off policy as troops were routinely sniped and attacked with orders not to retaliate."

...and then some people wonder WHY it has "dragged on" for so long.

[Thombo2]

"Many of the houses have been booby trapped in anticipation of the attack."I just had an epiphany(aka great idea).Instead of shipping the insurgents off to Club Gitmo,have them enter the houses.Feedback?

[jmc1969]

We should have done this December 2004 after Fallujah.

But, Rumsfield and Abiziad didn't want to send more troops to Iraq.

I hate to say it because I like both men as Americans, but they weren't committed to winning this war. They like Murtha wanted to slide out of Iraq ASAP without winning. Abiziad even told Murtha that they were inches apart when it comes to Iraq.