Posted on 07/31/2005 10:05:45 AM PDT by saquin
BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. Marines battled insurgents with tanks and aircraft Sunday in western Iraq after the Americans came under attack from a village schoolhouse, the U.S. military said. Eleven insurgents were killed, the military said.
The statement did not say whether any Marines were killed or wounded in the battle, which started when Marines from Regimental Combat Team-2 were attacked with mortar fire from a schoolhouse in a village near Haditha, 140 miles northwest of Baghdad.
The building was rigged with explosives and fortified with at least three .30 caliber machine guns in the windows, a military statement said.
U.S. Abrams tanks and jet aircraft attacked the buildings, setting off secondary explosions from the munitions stored inside, the statement added.
"Coalition forces on the scene described the secondary explosions as being larger detonations than the bombs that were dropped," the statement added. "There were no civilian casualties. The school was not in session, and 11 insurgents were confirmed killed."
Never bring a machine gun to a tank fight?
You have to look out fot those pesky school houses. They'll fire on you just as soon as you turn your back.
They're almost as bad as SUVs.
I know it's hot and it's miserable and you probably want to come home. So what Im trying to say is U.S. Armed forces kick A$$.Nice job and stay safe.
I can remember when I would have loved to have blasted the local schoolhouse with a tank cannon. Some guys just get to live out their fantasies, I guess. Joke!
"Coalition forces on the scene described the secondary explosions as being larger detonations than the bombs that were dropped," the statement added. "There were no civilian casualties. The school was not in session, and 11 insurgents were confirmed killed."
Guess we shall have to build a new school house for the kids.
I find it interesting to some extent, that the insurgents do continue to try to set up points to attack the Marines, after so many have either been captured or killed during the dozen of raids in this city and elsewhere along the river strip. We cannot accuse them of not being tenacious.
Same thing happens in this country all the time. Does the NEA have a chapter in Iraq?
Three .30cal machine guns at a school!?! And people here in the US think it's bad when a kid takes a pocket knife to school.
I am however very encouraged that we didn't mess around and just brought in the big stuff. Clearing any building is slow and causes casualties. I have never understood why we don't just wipe out any place that delivers fire on our guys. That would stop a lot of ambushes and deny them the same place next time.
"I have never understood why we don't just wipe out any place that delivers fire on our guys. That would stop a lot of ambushes and deny them the same place next time."
Perhaps that would required us to level literally hundreds of towns/cities in the four troubled provinces. Imagine our army having to construct temporary shelter camps for millions of Iraqi's, as was done for Fallujah. Might not go over to well with the budding democracy.
Because it would kill civilians and prolong reconstruction.
Why are our troops fighting the poor insurgents when this is supposed to be a war on terrorists? (sarcasm off
Not really my worry at this point US Military personnel are my worry. IF you let the bad guys in your house willing or not, come and tell us we may save it. If we are attacked without warning it is leveled. Screw rebuilding. Exterminate first.
See post 16.
Musta had a death wish.
Video! We want video!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.