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2004-04-09 Iraq-Jordan

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Posted by Phil B 2004-04-09 4:27:43 AM|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The U.S. governor in Iraq said on Friday that U.S. forces had suspended military operations in the Sunni town of Fallujah at midday to facilitate humanitarian access and try to initiate talks with insurgents.

"As of noon today coalition forces have initiated a unilateral suspension of offensive operations in Fallujah to allow for a meeting between members of the Governing Council, local Muslim leadership and the leadership of anti-coalition forces," Paul Bremer told reporters. He said U.S. forces would also allow the relevant Iraqi ministries to deliver aid and other supplies and permit residents of Falluja to attend to their wounded and dead. He did not say how long the ceasefire would last in the town, west of Baghdad. A member of Iraq's U.S.-backed Governing Council said it would be in force for 24 hours. The U.S. military started a major offensive against Sunni insurgents in Fallujah early this week. The fighting has killed an estimated 300 Iraqis, according to hospital officials.

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Posted by Lux 2004-04-09 4:56:10 AM|| 2004-04-09 4:56:10 AM|| Front Page Top

#2
I have very mixed feelings over any ceasefire in Fallujah. While there is honor among all soldiers, even with insurgents...sometimes a battle is joined where it is implicitly understood that there would be no quarter asked for or given. There may be things going on that we are unaware of, but this is a little surprising to me. (Think Sherman's march to the Sea and...his famous comment, "It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow too fond of it."

Posted by Traveller 2004-04-09 5:32:56 AM|| 2004-04-09 5:32:56 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Trav, I think that was Lee's comment before Fredricksburg. Sherman said "war is hell." Paraphrase of the rest - "the crueler it is the quicker it will be over."

Posted by Jarhead 2004-04-09 6:10:40 AM|| 2004-04-09 6:10:40 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 And now there's a newsflash that the ceasefire is over, and the USMC are resuming the offensive.
Seems a very quick turnover, physcing out insurgents? or anything to do with this??

Posted by Lux 2004-04-09 6:10:50 AM|| 2004-04-09 6:10:50 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 If it is true that the US Marines have already taken half the city, it would indicate that the CURRENT opposition fighters are no real threat. Today is Friday. Prayer day. AKA rouse the ragghead rabble day. Any action we take today may have a multiplying effect to the extent that sympathy for the fighters may broaden their ranks during the Friday "sermons". As long as the break in the fighting is not seen as weakness, it will do no harm. 24 hours will not make a difference in destroying what's left of the originals (including Syrians and Iranians).

Posted by Dave 2004-04-09 6:23:50 AM|| 2004-04-09 6:23:50 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 heartbreaking photo of the Japanese woman. I guess there is little we can do but pray for her. These people belong in the past. How on earth did they survive into this Century?

Posted by B 2004-04-09 7:45:11 AM|| 2004-04-09 7:45:11 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 AP: U.S. Marines briefly halted offensive operations in Fallujah on Friday, but the suspension ended after only 90 minutes, a Marine commander said, apparently after negotiations with a city delegation fell through. Lt. Col. Brennan Byrne, commander of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, said his forces were given the go-ahead to resume offensive operations. The halt was called at noon to allow a delegation from the city to meet with U.S. commanders, let humanitarian aid into the city and give city residents a chance to tend to their dead. Byrne did not know why the suspension was called off but believed the negotiations with the delegation never took place. It was not immediately known if offensive operations had actually resumed.

Posted by Steve 2004-04-09 9:07:50 AM|| 2004-04-09 9:07:50 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 I doubt there's one single entity that has the authority to conduct any negotiations on behalf of all the insurgents. Even Sadr-sack himself. It's more than just his faction.

Posted by Dar 2004-04-09 9:18:20 AM|| 2004-04-09 9:18:20 AM|| Front Page Top

#9 I think the real intent was to give women, children and the elderly a chance to exit the city, before the big push into the residential areas takes place. Like what happened in Basra, in March 2003.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-04-09 9:39:17 AM|| 2004-04-09 9:39:17 AM|| Front Page Top

#10 Spanish sources say that US and Spanish troops intercepted a convoy belongig to Sadr who was going from Nayaf to Kufa and instead of capturing/killing the bastards they simply forced them to return to Nayaf. They don't way and they don't who is the idiot who gave the order.

Posted by JFM 2004-04-09 9:45:55 AM|| 2004-04-09 9:45:55 AM|| Front Page Top

#11 Dar: I've seen this mistake elsewhere; you -do- realize that Sadr is in the Shiite areas and not Fallujah, right? Baddies in Fallujah report to... I dunno, maybe Zarqawi.

Not that the two sets of nuts don't coordinate somewhat, but.

Posted by someone 2004-04-09 9:54:06 AM|| 2004-04-09 9:54:06 AM|| Front Page Top

#12 "It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow too fond of it." Wasn't that Lee ?

Posted by domingo 2004-04-09 9:59:05 AM|| 2004-04-09 9:59:05 AM|| Front Page Top

#13 After Chancellorsville?

Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-04-09 10:15:58 AM|| 2004-04-09 10:15:58 AM|| Front Page Top

#14 Yes, it was Lee & it was Fredricksburg as I said before.

Posted by Jarhead 2004-04-09 10:42:25 AM|| 2004-04-09 10:42:25 AM|| Front Page Top

#15 someone--Ah, yes, thanks--I missed that. In any case, my point is that every two-bit beard with a funny hat is fielding his own militia, so there's really no central authority to negotiate with. So kill 'em all.

Posted by Dar 2004-04-09 10:43:30 AM|| 2004-04-09 10:43:30 AM|| Front Page Top

#16 jh - oops

Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-04-09 10:45:02 AM|| 2004-04-09 10:45:02 AM|| Front Page Top

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