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| Iraq-Jordan |
| U.S. seeks Fallujah cease-fire |
| 2004-04-10 |
| Like I said folks, the finish line is in sight, and the strategy is to get there with the least amount of casualties. The U.S.-led coalition is seeking a bilateral cease-fire with enemy combatants in the Sunni stronghold of Fallujah to take place Saturday, the U.S. military says. The move is an effort to implement Iraqi control of the restive city, U.S. Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt said. "If the cease-fire holds, talks regarding the re-establishment of legitimate authority in Fallujah will begin," Kimmitt said. "This action is being taken with the expectation that enemy elements in Fallujah will also honor the ceasefire. Coalition forces will always retain the inherent right of self defense." ...On Friday, Iraqi Governing Council members met with Fallujah leaders and leadership of the anti-coalition forces to try to bring calm. ..."We will fight the enemy on our terms. May God help them when we’re done with them," said Maj. Gen. James Mattis, the commanding general of the 1st Marine Division. According to what has been said above, you might not get the chance to fight at all, on your terms. I wish it were so. |
| Posted by:Rafael |
| #16 How about reinstating one of Saddam's body doubles? He of course would be a US puppet, but they don't have to know about it. |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-04-10 5:37:41 PM |
| #15 muck4doo: with this iraqi peple alway fighting us im starting think maybe saddam was an asshole for a reason. Actually, no. Fallujah was where Saddam recruited a lot of his secret police and palace guard. Now that the US is running the place - a lot Saddam's goons from Fallujah are out of work. Iraqis are probably more neutral than anything else. Bearing down hard on the rebels at Fallujah will encourage non-rebels to stay neutral - and that's probably the best we can hope for. Why are Iraqi Governing Council members defecting? I doubt it's out of principle. I suspect it's because they believe what they're hearing from the Western media and al Jazeera and al Arabiya, which is that the operation is a complete disaster. They're defecting so that they can prepare for the next administration - perhaps under Sadr - after the US withdraws. Too bad for them the media are wrong - for the 100th time. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2004-04-10 5:31:11 PM |
| #14 Aris, Iraq has found its new fascist ruler, this one not isolated from the other regional powers but in close alliance with them Are you serious about this ? This Sadr doesn't even have a political organisation to back his ass ? And do you think he will be able to muster support from real Shia clerics ? |
| Posted by: lyot 2004-04-10 5:23:31 PM |
| #13 "Saddam's not dead yet. He can always be put back," No he can't. Even if you were so insane as to let Saddam go and withdraw all American troops from Iraq that still wouldn't mean that Sadr would peacefully submit to Saddam's broken authority. Iraq has found its new fascist ruler, this one not isolated from the other regional powers but in close alliance with them. "They can either take their freedom seriously and fight for it, or go back to the way things were." 'Back to the way things were' is not an option. They'll either be better off with a secular democracy, or worse off than even under Saddam, with the Islamofascists now in command. |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2004-04-10 5:15:57 PM |
| #12 Debka's saying Fallujah insurgents accepted ceasefire , going into effect on sunday morning.. |
| Posted by: lyot 2004-04-10 5:13:24 PM |
| #11 ..im starting think maybe saddam was an asshole for a reason. Saddam's not dead yet. He can always be put back, so why not give the Iraqis a choice? They can either take their freedom seriously and fight for it, or go back to the way things were. What's it gonna be? |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-04-10 5:08:33 PM |
| #10 Even a blind sow finds an acorn now and then, mucky. |
| Posted by: whitecollar redneck 2004-04-10 2:20:58 PM |
| #9 im knowing you guys arnt going like this but with all this bullshit going on with this iraqi peple alway fighting us im starting think maybe saddam was an asshole for a reason. |
| Posted by: muck4doo 2004-04-10 2:11:27 PM |
| #8 I hope and pray that you are correct, Zhang Fei. |
| Posted by: docob 2004-04-10 2:07:57 PM |
| #7 I have no doubt this is a lot like the strategic pause on the road to Baghdad - a time for the troops to rest up before clearing the rest of the city, and for additional troops and ammo to be brought up. It's also politically wise - give the oppo a chance to surrender before he is completely wiped out. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2004-04-10 12:38:12 PM |
| #6 I am growing anxious over these developments. It reminds me of being in the DMZ while the politicians are celebrating Ho Chi Minh's birthday with a BS ceasefire. Bad memories have a way of returning. |
| Posted by: Sgt.D.T. 2004-04-10 12:03:16 PM |
| #5 Heard this AM that leatherneck strength has been tripled around Fallujah. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-04-10 11:52:02 AM |
| #4 This would be so STUPID! Do they honestly think that they would keep their word? This better be for 'appearances' only - a condition must be that they turn over the people responsible and involved for the ambush of the 4 contractors last week. And what about the 4 contractors who were murdered and their burned bodies hung from the bridge? |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-04-10 11:44:49 AM |
| #3 Agree, we hold the advantage, which makes this cease fire so inexplicable. The only way we can be defeated is by political pressure from our own side. A later post here says a Marine commander has received no orders to cease fire, which is a hopeful sign. |
| Posted by: virginian 2004-04-10 11:32:38 AM |
| #2 Hopefully this is just for the sake of appearance -- if we are genuinely seeking to negotiate, and not follow through on our best chance to pursue our advantage (and despite what the defeatist press is reporting, we hold the ADVANTAGE), then we have dropped the ball in the worst and most disastrous way imaginable. |
| Posted by: docob 2004-04-10 10:42:41 AM |
| #1 A very bad development. It looks like we blinked and this will encourage the enemy. We have to maintain the offensive pressure across Iraq. If we're not willing to take and inflict casualties, we've effectively surrendered the towns. That would be game over. |
| Posted by: virginian 2004-04-10 10:19:40 AM |