BREAKING: Bremmer: US unilaterally suspend offensive in Faluja

[JasonC]

Fallujah is a Sunni town. Shia festivals are not a factor here. They are down south, but not where this pause is being implimented. That is not the reason.

[Barlowmaker]

I've noted there are more than a few negative reactionaries on this board. It all about the psy-ops.

[piasa]

That's like saying the US is crazy because of some WTO protesters in Seattle act crazy...

These nutjobs are only a fraction of a percent of the population. Even in falluja they are in the minority. So much so they had to import crazies from Iran and elsewhere to help them out since they can't get all their Iraqi neighbors to join their jihad.

[Justa]

Imo fairly distorted and certainly inflammatory. Like the story of Kut being abandoned by the Ukranians when in fact they evacuated the CPA offices they provide security for. It's very quiet where I am though.

[JasonC]

Probably that is the number of Iraqi bodies recovered by our guys. The Iraqi hospitals have reported 250 dead and 300 wounded. But I have no idea if they are reliable.

[SubMareener]

Folks, Please relax! Don't PANIC!

The objective is to force the good Iraqis to come forward and run their own affairs. We do not have to knock on every door to do this. Showing that there is no sanctuary in a Mosque was a message that apparently got through.

This kind of thing of thing is in the plan, and it happened about when it was supposed to happen. Remember, we are only four days into this operation, and it is Friday, after all!

[konijn]

Bremer, talking on the sidelines of a ministerial security meeting, said suspending operations would also allow the relevant Iraqi ministries to deliver aid and other supplies and permit residents of Falluja to attend to their wounded and dead. He did not say how long the cease-fire would last in the town, west of Baghdad. A member of the Iraqi Islamic Party, which is represented on the Governing Council and said it was in contact with Sunni insurgents, said it would be in force for 24 hours. "We call on the steadfast people of Falluja to respond in kind and help implement the deal," Qahtan al-Rubaie said.

[piasa]

The Baathist's buddies the Serbs are all over the site of late, along with the usual suspects.

[Cap Huff]

Yes, earlier today I had noted what you said about Kut and the Ukrainians. I was just about to paste in the report of it being retaken when this halt in offensive operations leaped into the news.

Thanks for your perspective. Stay safe.

[canalabamian]

"Military action must NEVER be divorced from political considerations."

Bing! It is an extension of our nations' political will, and should be under civilian control. Some folks forget that that has been/is an important key to the continued success of our democratic republic.

[Just mythoughts]

"I've noted there are more than a few negative reactionaries on this board. It all about the psy-ops."


I call it the lying liberals attempt to "create" the "Vietnam syndrome". I do agree it is about the "psy-ops".

[Justa]

I believe the Sunnis still respect the holiday although they do not participate in the pilgrimmage. That's what the Sunnis at the local Hadji-mart said at least.

[MarMema]

The Baathist's buddies the Serbs are all over the site of late, along with the usual suspects.

Whatever makes you say this?

[piasa]

Hey, since you're over there, do ya'll have everything you need? Is everyone getting their fair share of stateside mail?

[Poundstone]

It isn't speculation.

[piasa]

I shouldn't say 'serbs' - it was Milosovic who was working with Hussein, not all Serbs.

[Barlowmaker]

What evidence do you have?

[hershey]

By George, I think you've got it!

[MarMema]

Some folks forget that that has been/is an important key to the continued success of our democratic republic.

Well, no offense, but we in the US are newcomers to playing with the muslim empire seekers. I'm thinking all this strategy would be sneered at by those who have dealt with these people for much longer time periods and have a great deal more experience with them.
But we will learn, eventually, hopefully.

[Justa]

Let's be clear. The center of Kut was retaken. The Ukranian base has always been in Ukranian hands. The media was substituting the (small) CPA post with the Ukranian base. It was incorrect and inflammatory. They cited 'local sources'. They did not check with CENTCOM or if they did, they didn't take their word for it. I'm surprised they haven't reported the fighters holed up in the mosques as being 'pilgrims' and 'whole families killed in afternoon prayers' like "locals" have been attributed to saying in other reports.