Yup, BBC, looks like the Marines are losin' it to me!
It's as plain as that light in the night sky.
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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Major shelling attack in Fallujah |
| 2004-04-27 |
| A U.S. military gunship and coalition tanks waged a heavy attack Tuesday on suspected insurgent positions in Fallujah, attacking weapon storage sites used by anti-American forces. The fierce attack — captured on television cameras using night-vision technology — produced a series of around 25 explosions. An AC-130 gunship flying above Fallujah targeted its 105 mm howitzer guns on two positions 150-yards apart from each other on the ground, sending showers of sparks and flames into the air. The strike coincided with the deadline U.S. military officials imposed on insurgents in Fallujah to turn in their weapons. It was not immediately clear if there was a direct connection between the two. In recent days, U.S. and coalition officials have suggested they were willing to let negotiators on the ground have more time. But Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld suggested Tuesday before the attack that the talks might not work. "If you've got some very tough people in a city that are terrorists ... you have to expect that they're not going to be terribly cooperative," Rumsfeld said. Earlier in Fallujah, a city around 35 miles west of Baghdad that has been site of strong anti-American protests, joint patrols of U.S. Marines and Iraqi police that were scheduled to begin Tuesday have been put on hold until Thursday because of violence. Fighting on Monday that was captured by television news crews showed Marines fighting from inside apartment blocks, firing from window to window, stacking up sandbags and eventually calling in airpower for assistance. Enemy forces in Fallujah and elsewhere have been using holy sites for shelter as they fire upon the U.S. military. On Monday, U.S. troops came under heavy attack, a day after U.S. officials decided to extend a cease-fire rather than launch a full-scale offensive on that city. Eight suspected insurgents and one U.S. Marine were killed. Military officials were hopeful that talks between city leaders and insurgent groups were making progress, and that another offensive would not have to be launched. "The Marines on the ground seem to be quite pleased with the way things are going there" in Fallujah, Kimmitt told Fox News on Tuesday. "I think the sense on the ground is, as long as we're making progress, let's see if this political track can work." |
| Posted by:Sherry |
| #58 I suppose that by asking for their arms, the Marines could be called the Falluja branch of Handgun Control, Inc. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2004-04-27 10:13:34 PM |
| #57 Damn. Just got home and I missed all of the fireworks. Any good online vids out there? :( I saw the Foxnews one. Kinda meh, but that's a shitload of firing there. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2004-04-27 8:50:12 PM |
| #56 To answer a question posed much earlier, I just heard on FoxNews from Ret. Marine Col Ed Badolato that there is a battalion of Peshmerga operating with the Marines. He mentioned something to the effect that they were prolly quite happy to be allowed a chance to get a shot at the Sunnis, heh. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-04-27 8:10:51 PM |
| #55 Wrong thread. Sorry. |
| Posted by: 11A5S 2004-04-27 7:53:47 PM |
| #54 BTW, they were swearing at the terrorists. I'm taking note of this and it will be reported. What's that man's Number? 11 Sir. Write it down! Yes Sir. Now Erase It! |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-04-27 7:44:33 PM |
#53 "Eyewitness Accounts" link above is to BBC's story on explosions in Damascus, Syria."There were at least a dozen blasts and several rounds of gun fire," one witness told BBC News Online. And it's Another ('scuse me, where's my helmet) Exciting Evening in the Middle Eeast. |
| Posted by: Old Grouch 2004-04-27 7:01:52 PM |
| #52 Some good eyewitness accounts in the BBC. Still hard to figure out the target. It wasn't the UN building or the embassies. Apparently it occurred in an area with lots of Baath party housing. |
| Posted by: 11A5S 2004-04-27 6:42:08 PM |
| #51 I was in Paris a few years ago and the tour guy stated that Napolean tore down all the gheto buildings and rebuilt the areas with the large roads and bigger public housing. This was done to make it easier to control the city. Sounds like the NW part of Falluja could use this tactic. |
| Posted by: Patrick 2004-04-27 6:24:57 PM |
| #50 Check out the link, video from inside Falluja, Marines dug in some Iraqi's house. |
| Posted by: CobraCommander 2004-04-27 5:51:56 PM |
| #49 Yup, BBC, looks like the Marines are losin' it to me! |
| Posted by: Anonymous4052 2004-04-27 5:28:45 PM |
| #48 I wouldn't say losing from the camera shake. maybe the cameraman was being blown at the time. |
| Posted by: Howard UK 2004-04-27 5:16:29 PM |
| #47 Just watching the BBC news here did you know the yanks are losing? I'm going back to throwing more stuff at the T.V. now. This is getting a bit to silly. |
| Posted by: Evert V. in NL 2004-04-27 5:07:42 PM |
| #46 Cool 52. The AC130 are laying down 105 fire. I'm thinking the pause at least gave the air forces a few minutes to update targets. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-04-27 4:52:35 PM |
| #45 To Shipman et al - I will change from A4052 to BigEd tomorrow. I want to keep A4052 for the rest of the day for consistencey sake. |
| Posted by: Anonymous4052 2004-04-27 4:50:19 PM |
| #44 WTF!? CNN just showed a political cartoon with Bush looking like a dummy with big ears and saying " Iraq is not like Vietnam........I actually went to Iraq. " Even when our soldiers are risking their lives they have to take a pot-shot at Bush! |
| Posted by: Charles 2004-04-27 4:44:01 PM |
| #43 Did he get hit? M203 misfired? If I heard right he suffered a minor flesh wound from a richocheting bullet. Not bad enough to take him out of the fight though, not by a long shot. |
| Posted by: Charles 2004-04-27 4:38:56 PM |
| #42 Sun ni John Phillip Sousa... Ifin the culture could do that we would be fighting em. 52 get a name we need you. I'm thinkin this is scambling the eggs o the battlefield. YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-04-27 4:36:23 PM |
| #41 Yeah Charles, saw that. I didn't get what happened to that Marine near the end of the clip? Did he get hit? M203 misfired? |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-04-27 4:35:52 PM |
| #40 "Iraqi troops are working with us. Picking off the jihadis one at a time with night vision goggles and appropriate weapons." Neener-neener-neener to J. F'himself Kerry and Sen. Hillary, Queen of the Dead (Fallujans)! "Many jihadis are foreign; from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, and Egypt." So, this is a multicultural experience for them. This just in: Islamic "paradise" running short of virgins! Oh well, they've always got each other to fall back on. And the sheep in Iraq can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Sounds like a win-win for everybody. |
| Posted by: ex-lib 2004-04-27 4:31:51 PM |
| #39 Anybody see the marine engagment on CNN just seconds ago? It was from days ago, but it showed the marines under fire and calling in an airstrike. BTW, they were swearing at the terrorists. |
| Posted by: Charles 2004-04-27 4:31:29 PM |
| #38 Didn't see all this on the beeb site! See what I mean...you can smell/feel their desperation. Do they really think we won't notice? They are soooo desperate, they don't even care anymore. Bwahhahahahahaaaaaaa! It's almost painful to watch. |
| Posted by: B 2004-04-27 4:27:13 PM |
| #37 Go Marines! Come home safely and kill the bad guys. (Actually do it in the reverse order.) |
| Posted by: remote man 2004-04-27 4:26:03 PM |
| #36 Welcome back, Shep. As Howard UK says, "A glorious sight." "It's gonna be a bright . . .bright, sunshiny day . . . " |
| Posted by: ex-lib 2004-04-27 4:21:51 PM |
| #35 Ollie North Sez - Crude summary - I was typing as Ollie was talking Insurgents tried top make a move on a Marine position, responded with toe missles, and then AC130s to places they were being fired on from. The Marines occupied some of the positions in Northwest Fallujah. 1500-2000 jihadists with AK47s, RPG, etc. small-medium arms. Iraqi troops are working with us. Picking off the jihadis one at a time with night vision goggles and appropriate weapons. Gen.Mattis says that this is the most effective way to eliminate jihadis, one at a time. Many jihadis are foreign; from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, and Egypt. Ollie says a Navy Medic he met has been wounded 3 times and insists on staying. Hint hint Kerry. Ollie left battle zone with some wounded. They appeared they didn't have life-threatining injuries, though a few might be evacuated to Reimsten, GER |
| Posted by: Anonymous4052 2004-04-27 4:21:06 PM |
| #34 Hi there Shep. Didn't see all this on the beeb site! |
| Posted by: Howard UK 2004-04-27 4:19:57 PM |
| #33 Hi to you too Shep. That's a purdy big bonfire out Fallujah way... |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2004-04-27 4:15:46 PM |
| #32 Amen to that Mr Rex. I also like the laugh track psyops! |
| Posted by: Anonymous4052 2004-04-27 4:06:15 PM |
| #31 #22 Steve that's rockin' good news - I hadn't seen that anywhere else. Prayers for our troops....toe-tags for our enemies. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2004-04-27 4:04:41 PM |
| #30 Don't want to turn in your weapons?...alrighty then. |
| Posted by: TS (vice girl) 2004-04-27 3:58:54 PM |
| #29 Rafael et al - We need to know some reference on the map. PS Anyone hearing Hannity - Ollie Noprth is coming up after the break 13:00 PDT/16:00 EDT Fallujah Aerial Map |
| Posted by: Anonymous4052 2004-04-27 3:58:13 PM |
| #28 hi all after a long time, just had to say how much i enjoyed the wicked show in Fallujah this evening, loved watching those buildings going boom,lets hope the MOAB gets its combat debut within the coming days :) |
| Posted by: Shep UK 2004-04-27 3:54:06 PM |
| #27 Now where's that aerial map of Fallujah when you need one.... |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-04-27 3:52:42 PM |
| #26 A glorious sight. |
| Posted by: Howard UK 2004-04-27 3:50:01 PM |
#25 
|
| Posted by: Anonymous4052 2004-04-27 3:41:58 PM |
| #24 From a Marine Lt. Col yesterday about the area they are fighting today -- Jolan heights, as com said -- "There may be neighborhoods in the city that are ready for the kind of security that joint patrols can provide," Olson said, adding that the neighborhood his battalion operates in is probably not one of them. The northwest corner of the city along a huge "S" bend in the Euphrates River has been the main battleground between American forces and the insurgents since the Marines surrounded the city April 5, when they lost their first man minutes after arriving, and where they lost two more in Monday's battle. The area, known as Jolan, is the old heart of the city, Olson said, with narrow and irregular streets, and small winding alleyways. It is the most densely populated part of the city and military officials say they believe it is home to the largest concentration of Iraqi insurgents and foreign fighters. Military officials say it could be an extremely difficult place for Marines to fight. While they said joint patrols and other measures could stabilize some neighborhoods, military leaders said other regions such as the Jolan are still too solidly in the hands of the rebels to venture into without force. In those neighborhoods, mainly in the west, a military offensive seems to remain on the table. "In areas where we can do that, we're going to do that," Olson said of joint patrols Monday. In others, he said, "We'll continue military operations where that is necessary." |
| Posted by: Sherry 2004-04-27 3:41:25 PM |
| #23 arrest? snicker, not from what we're seeing. Maybe he meant arrest you as in.. cardiac arrest. |
| Posted by: B 2004-04-27 3:36:29 PM |
| #22 Earlier in the day, U.S. aircraft dropped white leaflets over the city west of Baghdad, calling on insurgents to surrender. "Surrender, you are surrounded," the leaflets said. "If you are a terrorist, beware, because your last day was yesterday. In order to spare your life end your actions and surrender to coalition forces now. We are coming to arrest you." Bwahahahaha! |
| Posted by: Steve 2004-04-27 3:34:00 PM |
| #21 good - prep the field before sending in the troops.. |
| Posted by: Dan 2004-04-27 3:30:44 PM |
| #20 Any close-up night vision tape will be interesing. Any more "subliming" Qaedas after encountering the helicopters? Poof if you reach for that grenade launcher. . . |
| Posted by: Anonymous4052 2004-04-27 3:29:37 PM |
| #19 God bless them all and keep them safe. Come home boys and girls!! Come home safe. We're praying for you. |
| Posted by: B 2004-04-27 3:28:39 PM |
| #18 Has anybody managed to figure out yet if this is just the Marines beating down a couple of blocks, or are they really going downtown? Being stuck in a |
| Posted by: Laurence of the Rats 2004-04-27 3:27:56 PM |
| #17 Sounds like the OP is all air??? And forward observers/air controllers. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2004-04-27 3:26:45 PM |
| #16 What Jamraza said - tank(s) also involved sez Fox, too. No word on whether or not Iraqi SF was participating in ground movements. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-04-27 3:25:02 PM |
| #15 Major Bob on Fox said AC-130 could be firing on one side of the street and troops could be working the other side. Gotta bet those Marines are moving. |
| Posted by: Sherry 2004-04-27 3:23:54 PM |
| #14 Apparently they were using tanks as well (according to MSNBC) |
| Posted by: Jamraza 2004-04-27 3:22:11 PM |
| #13 Sounds like the OP is all air??? |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2004-04-27 3:21:26 PM |
| #12 Regards other story here on RB about laughter / LSD bullshit, this guy is saying the Marines were broadcasting laughter tapes in PsyOps activity. Creative - Well Seasoned - Provocative And may I add : ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha |
| Posted by: Anonymous4052 2004-04-27 3:20:43 PM |
| #11 Fox reporting, AC-130 fired 15-20 105mm rounds, secondary explosions seen. Fires are now going out. |
| Posted by: Steve 2004-04-27 3:18:31 PM |
| #10 any word if Iraqi SF are participating in the operation??? |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2004-04-27 3:18:20 PM |
| #9 Apparently there are plenty of secondary explosions going off, looks like they're hitting the right stuff. |
| Posted by: Jamraza 2004-04-27 3:17:05 PM |
| #8 Fox sez that moskkks are playing chanting / music -- and it's way past last prayertime. No idea what his means, unless they've suddenly come up with Sun ni John Phillip Sousa... Regards other story here on RB about laughter / LSD bullshit, this guy is saying the Marines were broadcasting laughter tapes in PsyOps activity. Appears that this is Marine Cmdr's response to lack of ceasefire (the loonies never stopped) and deadline for the weapons. He gave up on the joint patrol idea because it would just have resulted in getting Marines and Iraqi Spec Forces killed since the bad guys never stopped. Apparently, this is a Marine offensive to shut down the sector of city where concentrations of fighters were known to be - Al Jalan district (Jolan Heights in jarheadspeak, heh) in NW corner of city. Now commentator is saying that the chanting / music is just Imams reciting Qu'uranic verses. How, uh, typical. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-04-27 3:15:30 PM |
| #7 So you spend the weekend deciding whether to all-out take Falluja. You pick yes. Obviously you let the enemy (via CNN) think you picked no. Now the hard work starts. |
| Posted by: BruceBruce 2004-04-27 3:12:49 PM |
| #6 Y. Sam - is the battle continuing or is it settling down? |
| Posted by: Anonymous4052 2004-04-27 3:10:40 PM |
| #5 Hoooooooo-eeeeee! That blewed up reeeeal good! |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2004-04-27 3:07:35 PM |
| #4 AC-130 gunships pounding two enemy positions, going after ammo dumps, weapons sites. |
| Posted by: Steve 2004-04-27 3:01:43 PM |
| #3 And you know where they store ammo. Seething in 5..4...3...2... |
| Posted by: Cthulhu Akbar 2004-04-27 3:00:18 PM |
#2  |
| Posted by: Yosemite Sam 2004-04-27 2:57:34 PM |
| #1 15 - 20 explosions |
| Posted by: Sherry 2004-04-27 2:54:52 PM |
