Article

2004-05-08 Iraq-Jordan

US Marines remain wary of their Iraqi allies in Fallujah

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Posted by Zenster 2004-05-08 3:55:21 AM|| || Front Page|| [7 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The marines should already know...they have no allies with muslims...ever.

Posted by Anonymous4768 2004-05-08 12:04:15 PM|| 2004-05-08 12:04:15 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 It would be good for us to study the role of the Regional/Popular Forces (I'm not endorsing this article, it's the only half-ways decent one I can find about the "Ruff-Puffs" on the web) during the Vietnam conflict in relation to Iraq. Militia can be useful if employed correctly. The best historical example of militia used as a force multiplier (as opposed to being the force detractor they usually are) would be the Battle of Cowpens during the American Revolutionary War. Morgan's brilliant use of militia troops enabled him to defeat a previously undefeated and larger British force.

Posted by 11A5S 2004-05-08 3:37:34 PM|| 2004-05-08 3:37:34 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Adding to 11A5S' comment about Morgan using militia: use fo militia in and of itself is not a bad thing, if they are used properly. In this case, as well as in probably most other cases where they were used "successfully", Morgan counted on them breaking early and fleeing the battlefield, which they did.

But they had a place directly in the rear where they were directed to go to and reassemble, and they did so; after resting for a bit, they rejoined the battle and proved to be an important piece of the final victory over the Brit regulars.

Takes a clever commander to turn weaknesses into strengths; is the Marine commander a Morgan ?

Posted by Carl in N.H. 2004-05-08 6:15:21 PM|| 2004-05-08 6:15:21 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 I wonder if the Iraqi irregulars compare to the over the mountain men Morgan employed. Doubt it.

Posted by Shipman 2004-05-08 8:04:00 PM|| 2004-05-08 8:04:00 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 Shipman:

Sure, but I'm not looking for Iraqis that compare to Morgan's militia; I am rather looking for the US commander who can turn the weaknesses of the ICDC, Falluja Protection Force, etc into strengths.

By weaknesses I mean stuff like dubious "loyalty" -- we know some of them are on the other side; are we using that info to headfake the insurgents in some way ?

Posted by Carl in N.H. 2004-05-08 8:33:41 PM|| 2004-05-08 8:33:41 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 Oh, here's another one:

Let's say we have a bunch of insurgents trapped, as we currently supposedly do in northwest Fallujah, but don't want to go in a root them out individually due to the higher cost for us plus the negative PR effects of wrecking that part of the city.

An Iraqi "blocking force" that is really nothing of the sort would be a way to encourage insurgents that they have an escape route so they can live to fight another day. And have forces in place to channel them toward some killing zone outside of the city.

Posted by Carl in N.H. 2004-05-08 8:38:29 PM|| 2004-05-08 8:38:29 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 Yep, see what you're saying and agree Carl, just wishing there were better militia available.

Posted by Shipman 2004-05-08 9:11:59 PM|| 2004-05-08 9:11:59 PM|| Front Page Top

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