US Launches Major Offensive Against Sunni Insurgents (largest Air Offensive since 2003 invasion)

Guardian ^ | Thursday 16 March 2006

[IrishMike]

US launches major offensive against Sunni insurgents ....Thursday March 16, 2006 ....... More than 50 US warplanes were today involved in the biggest air offensive launched by the Americans in Iraq since the 2003 invasion, the US military said. A huge air and land offensive has been launched against Sunni insurgents in the restive town of Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad.....The US military said some 1,500 Iraqi and US troops and 200 tactical vehicles were involved in the operation, Reuters reported. The US military added that Operation Swarmer would last several days....Insurgents in Samarra, which is a predominantly Sunni town, stoked sectarian tensions last month by destroying a major Shia shrine, the Golden Mosque, prompting a wave of revenge killings and violence against Sunnis.

[GOPJ]

We need to send a clear message - this will help.

[IrishMike]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,,1732546,00.html

[softwarecreator]

hhhhhmmmmm .....

What do ya think the odds are that this has already been posted?

Better than average?

[IrishMike]

Waqas al-Juwanya, a spokesman for Iraq's joint coordination center in nearby Dowr, said "unknown gunmen exist in this area, killing and kidnapping policemen, soldiers and civilians."

Near the end of the first day of the operation, the military said, "a number of enemy weapons caches have been captured, containing artillery shells, explosives, IED-making materials, and military uniforms."

It said the attack began with soldiers from the Iraqi army's 1st Brigade, 4th Division, the U.S. 101st Airborne Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team and the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade conducting a combined air and ground assault to isolate the objective area.

Air power backed the operation and delivered troops from the Iraq army's 4th Division, the Rakkasans from 1st and 3rd Battalions, 187th Infantry Regiment and the Hunters from 2nd Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment to multiple objectives

[SE Mom]

Pray for our Air Assault boys.

Screaming Eagle Mom

[bboop]

I like to see our guys IN THE AIR with bombs. It keeps them safe, and they can still fight. Hand-to-hand combat is archaic.

[IrishMike]

You're right

[rightinthemiddle]

"... in the restive town of Samarra..."

____________

Media already inferring that the military is disrupting Iraqi life and going to kill civilians.

[paul51]

It said the attack began with soldiers from the Iraqi army's 1st Brigade, 4th Division, the U.S. 101st Airborne Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team and the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade conducting a combined air and ground assault to isolate the objective area. Air power backed the operation and delivered troops from the Iraq army's 4th Division, the Rakkasans from 1st and 3rd Battalions, 187th Infantry Regiment and the Hunters from 2nd Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment to multiple objectives

WOW. These guys aren't dropping by for brunch. Some serious ass kicking going on right now.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

"Hunters" ?

[SkubaDoo]

burn baby burn

[softwarecreator]

You're right

No way, I'm married and have 3 teenagers ... I haven't been right in years.

Thanks for giving me hope though  =)

[Wasanother]

Excellent! GO US Kick some ASS!

[petertare]

ABOUT DARN TIME.... WE NEED TO BE DOING A LOT MORE OF THESE OPERATIONS

[paul51]

"Hunters" ?

No doubt. They have a lot of iraqi with them to sort out the bad guys. We know who they are looking for.

[IrishMike]

Yor definately worse off than,
also married, one teenager and one in college ..
(two daughters).
Six kinds of hair shampoo / conditioner ...I use none.

[Wasanother]

Town to town, building by building, get the terrorist and give them summarized field trials then execute on the spot.

[petertare]

zip cuff, expedite to gitmo or eastern europe for interrogation :-)

[USS Alaska]

Delivery time.