US launches assault in west Iraq

[DoYouEverWonder]

1 October 2005

Some 1,000 US soldiers have embarked on an assault on al-Qaeda-linked militants in western Iraq, the US military says.

Initial helicopter strikes on the town of Sadah, near the Syrian border in Anbar province, were followed by a US ground assault, officials say.

They say Operation Iron Fist - the latest in a series of assaults in the area - will tackle infiltration and destroy the insurgents' haven.

Local doctors tell the BBC at least 10 civilians have died in the operation.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4299800.stm


Ah another day, another violation of the Geneva Conventions.

[LynnTheDem]

1. Winning hearts & minds by murdering men, women & children.

And Americans wonder why the world hates them...

[robert135]

50. Finally we are doing something about it

It is about freeking time we started getting these people off the western border.

Alot of the people here are whining, Oh the US is killing innocents etc... While I am against the reason we went to this war in the first place, the people we are fighting now are not the same ones as then.

The people we are fighting now are INCREDIBLY murderous bastards that are killing THOUSANDS of Iraqis. If they are Iraqi (I highly doubt it and the word insurgent is BS insurgent means they are home grown... these are foreign), then we are going after murderous Iraqis, if they are foreign we are going after another invading force that has killed TONS of iraqis.

I cannot say how much I hate this war... it goads me hugely, but if we are there and there REALLY are muderous bastards comming into the country... KILL THEM.

[LynnTheDem]

52. Wrong. Stop watching Faux Moos; even the US military admits

the "insurgents" are Iraqis.

LESS THAN 5% of the "insurgents are non-Iraqis.

The ones we're killing now are IRAQIS.

WE are the INVADERS.

We INVADED their home, their country.

They had done NOTHING WHATSOEVER to anyone.

WE are the bad guys, WE are the stormtroopers.

WE are the FOREIGN FIGHTERS, WE are the TERRORISTS.

[OKDem08]

2. They are so desperate for a 'win'

expect more of this prior to the inevitable pull-out of troops.

[cornermouse]

3. Winning the war again...and again...and again...and again...and again.

:sarcasm:

This is getting ridiculous. I don't know who's military-theory-in-motion this is, but its ridiculous and its stupid.

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. What's ridiculous

Is that Iraq only has about 25 million people (about the same as Texas) and even after spending a billion dollars a week, we can not maintain law and order.

[cornermouse]

6. They hate us with good reason.

The only thing that will stop them from attacking us is if we leave.

They've already begun to turn on each other. We can't do anything about their impending civil war either. Its time to admit defeat and bring our people home.

[sarcasmo]

7. We couldn't maintain law and order in New Orleans this shouldn't

surprise anyone, anymore.

[DoYouEverWonder]

8. That's why Bush wanted Blanco to sign over control

BushCo was hoping they could turn New Orleans into another Fallujah.

[PurityOfEssence]

5. "Operation Iron Fist"...well, aren't they butch?

What a manly bunch of conquerors; none of this sissy finesse stuff for these boys.

So when are "Operation Jackboot" and "Operation Scorched-Earth"?

Remind me: is this "rural pacification", "pre-emptive retaliation" or just another "seek and destroy" shindig?

Man, those PNACers want Syria sooooo bad; don't they?

[TomClash]

9. America the Ugly

Spacious skies and amber waves of weapons

[truth2power]

43. Now that you mention it...

I'm reminded of that phrase in America the Beautiful-

"Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law."

Americans would do well to really reflect on that. I've always thought America the Beautiful would make a much better national anthem.

[TomClash]

51. Reflect? Americans?

Most would rather genuflect!

[jody]

10. The U.S. practice of naming military operations and choice of names

provides Iraqi patriots with excellent propaganda sound bites, e.g. "Oppose the Infidel's Iron Fist"

[DoYouEverWonder]

53. Got to keep the insurgency going

What ever if takes if it's for the cause.

[Catchawave]

11. Here's CNN's article

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/10/01/iraq.main/index.html?section=cnn_mostpopular

[sabra]

12. U.S. Troops Launch 'Operation Iron Fist' in Iraq

http://www.newswatch50.com/news/national/story.aspx?content_id=986C3376-5870-449C-814A-779ED310B6AA

U.S. Troops Launch 'Operation Iron Fist' in Iraq

U.S. forces in western Iraq began a massive operation against insurgents early Saturday, military officials said. About 1,000 U.S. Marines, soldiers and sailors launched Operation Iron Fist in the town of Sa'da, about 12 miles from the porous Syrian border, CNN reported.

A U.S. military statement said the operation has the objectives of rooting out al-Qaida in Iraq ... terrorists operating within the area and disrupting insurgent support systems in and around the city.

One family in the city told advancing U.S. forces that most of their neighbors had fled, afraid the their city would become another Fallujah. Fallujah was leveled in a U.S.-led assault.

U.S. helicopters fired on three suspicious vehicles, two of which turned out to be car bombs, CNN reported. The third was hit as men were loading weapons into it.

[Theres-a]

13. Isn't that a Motorhead song?

Dark night nothing to see
Invisible hand in front of me
Scared to death there's someone near
Scared to move but you can't stay here

CHORUS:
You know me, evil eye
You know me, prepared to die
You know me, the snake-bite kiss
Devils grip, the iron fist

Flying horse don't make a sound
Flying hooves don't touch the ground
Walk in circle lose your track
Can't go on but you can't go back

[rocktivity]

14. It's my FAVORITE Motorhead song!

:mad:
rocknation

[Rob H.]

18. Iron Fist was also a 70s-era comic-book hero

Dang. I know I left my pocket protector around here somewhere.... :P

[catnhatnh]

15. Nice to know....

...we now launch missiles on "suspicion"...and of course we were "right" all three times....(Snark)

[_Winston_Smith_101]

16. What? I thought Iraq was secured in 2003?

This news is shocking...Simply SHOCKING!

[Englander]

17. ~Freedom's on the March!~

[Barkley]

21. Major combat operation ended in May 2003 - nt

[0007]

19. The U.S.

can sure come up with some swift names for their agenda.

[catnhatnh]

20. If we named it "Operation Funny Bunny".....

...would collateral damage be reduced???

[slay]

29. Beats my "Operation Illegal War"

or "Operation Blood for Oil". I was under some odd delusion we might actually try to be honest with ourselves or something. :eyes:

[Briar]

22. Ten civilians killed

so far according to the BBC, of whom at least three were children. They were in cars fleeing the noble assault.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4299800.stm

Where do the US armed forces come up with their crap macho names? Do they spend all their time watching action movies or playing violent computer games.

Well, that iron fist is smashing defenceless human beings out there. What a brave spectacle.

[DrZeeLit]

23. When will they run out of viable names for operations? How about...

Operation We Are Clueless
Operation Hunt the Same Guys Over and Over
Operation Oops We're Doing It Again

duh

[Gregorian]

24. MURDER

[Dark]

28. It is not murder.n/t

[Gregorian]

30. What is it, then?

[Dark]

33. It's war.

They aren't targeting civilians. They are targeting insurgents.

You know, the people coordinating attacks against our soldiers?

I don't WANT american soldiers to die. I'd prefer that we pull out of Iraq. But I don't have a problem with our soldiers defeating insurgents.

[Gregorian]

34. Insurgents are people defending their country from attack.

I don't want to start this. I tend to see things from both sides. First, I wouldn't pick up a gun. Not even to defend my own property. But that's another story. I descend from a long line of Consciencious Objectors. To me, that is the ultimate bravery. So I can only make the parallel with those who would fight against an invading army in our own country. And when foreign papers are writing that American insurgents coordinated attacks against the Chinese (or whomever) soldiers who were here to "liberate" us, then I can only surmise that you would understand.

What makes Iraqi insurgents any less valid than supposed American insurgents under the same conditions?

[Dark]

35. Well,

the difference is simple:

If China were to invade, it is unlikely that they would set up a new democracy. They are a dictatorship.

In Iraq, we created a democracy where the Iraqi people can all vote. They voted for their representatives, who said that they want us to stay.

There is a sizeable minority, apparently, that wants us to leave, and I agree with them. However, the majority apparently supports us staying, or they wouldn't have voted for candidates to support us staying there.

And at any rate, history has shown that the only effective lasting way to create true changes is thru peaceful noncompliance, or civil disobedience.

[Gregorian]

37. I almost had to check to make sure I was still at DU.

I'm curious where you get your information. Cynicism is your best guide in times like these. Democracy isn't something that can be forced from the outside. And Iraq wants us out. But you won't hear that on news sources from within the US. Don't listen to me, time will bear the truth, if it already hasn't.
I've spent the last few years watching actual news broadcasts from the Middle East. The overwhelming consensus is not in favor of US occupation.

[LynnTheDem]

56. NO KIDDING!

Good grief...!

[DoYouEverWonder]

38. Funny, BushCo had tried to call the people of New Orleans

insurgents when they were in charge of the response to the disaster. They even had an article in Army Times that week titled, Combat Operations Begin In New Orleans.

Now tell me again, who are the murderers around here?

[LynnTheDem]

55. ROTFLMAO!!!

Wowzah talk about drinking the koolaide!

You are so wrong wrong wrong.

[magicoflife]

39. If someone attacked my country

I would grab a gun. That is probably the only time I would grab a gun. However, in the case of Iraq, I thought I read that the insurgents where coming into iraq to fight americans.

[LynnTheDem]

57. Not true, sorry.

Less than 5% of insurgents are non-Iraqis.

And that's from several rightwing think tanks, from the US military, and from the UK government reports. And it's been reported as less than 5% for 2 years.

But bushCartel don't want you to know the facts.

[LynnTheDem]

54. War my ass.

It's an INVASION.

And by the way, it's legal to fight off your invaders & occupiers. Too bad it wasn't legal for America to invade in the first place.

[truthisfreedom]

25. i recall a local Minneapolis band by that name...

perhaps 20 years ago?

[Poll_Blind]

26. You can predict where US will bomb by articles like the one 4 days ago...

The artile was titled "Insurgents seize 5 towns near Syria" and even then it was obvious they were doing it for psyops to cover their bombing of civilians.

PB

[daleo]

48. I remember that

The "insurgents" were supposed to have kicked out the civilians, threatening to behead them. Which made nice targets for U.S. airpower a few days later. Quite convenient.

[gardenista]

27. That sounds kind of Commie to me, and I won't even get into the fist part.

[MADem]

31. Also known as OPERATION "IF"......as in: IF we knew what we were getting

into, we might have just assassinated Saddam instead. IF we had any balls, we would get the UN in, and us out...IF wishes were horses, then beggars would ride to the White House and trample that weecowboy with the hooves of their steeds....!!!!

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

32. operation IRON CROSS-crossing the line once again in the footsteps of

their heroes-
every move is nearly taken play by play from 1930's Germany--from the propagnda methods following the "terra" attacks, to knockiing down countries one by one--only Gomer Pyle is in charge so it's not working so well.

[malaise]

36. More rubbish

with more dead innocents then more attacks - a vicious circle but apparently Rummy doesn't learn.

[bemildred]

40. Pounding sand, literally. nt

[DoYouEverWonder]

41. Rummie knows exactly what he is doing

He has no desire to bring law and order to Iraq. That was why he didn't give a shit when everyone started looting. Yet in New Orleans, protecting property was his number 1 priority.

[NeoConsSuck]

42. Every other one of their "Operations" have worked successfully

why not this one? :sarcasm:

[deadparrot]

44. U.S. Launches Offensive in Iraqi Village

QAIM, Iraq - About 1,000 U.S. troops, backed by attack helicopters and warplanes, swept into a village near the Syrian border Saturday in an offensive aimed at rooting out al-Qaida militants and stemming violence ahead of a crucial vote on a new constitution.

U.S. aircraft firing missiles struck houses and cars, sending palls of smoke into the sky as the forces moved into Sadah, according to residents contacted by The Associated Press. In the evening, Marines and insurgents clashed in the streets, they said.

The U.S. military said al-Qaida in Iraq, the country's most fearsome militant group behind a wave of suicide bombings, had taken control of Sadah and that foreign fighters were using it as a way station as they enter from Syria to join the insurgency.

The assault was the fourth large U.S. offensive in the border area since May. But the militants who run rampant in large parts of western Iraq have proven difficult to put down, moving back to towns after the assaults are over and the bulk of troops withdraw.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051002/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

[pinniped]

45. Syrian border alert again.

It's only a matter of time before a helo purposely or not purposely ventures into Syria and gets shot down.

[mike_c]

46. another village destroyed to be saved....

Same shit, different decade. The bastards will never learn.

[daleo]

47. Does Bush hope for a "rally round the flag" if he spreads the war to Syria?

Syria sure has come up a lot lately.

[Why Syzygy]

49. Insurgent's "haven"

will tackle infiltration and destroy the insurgents' haven.

Note. It doesn't say the INSURGENTS will actually be tackled.
Their "haven", however, will be blown into smithereens.
Tactical? Hard to believe.

[nothometoday]

58. I have a question

I seriously do not know the answer to.
I was watching CNN and they were showing soldiers coming home at camp Lejuene, going to Ohio. The reporter asked what they thought they "did well" there. One replied someting about giving treats to women and children...in families of 25 children.
The other said we brought water and schools in...Were there seriously NO schools and NO water before the war? ( ermmmm.....freedom fight)
Is this true, or is damage from the war, itself? How would all those folks even be alive if they had no water beforehand, or the kids be literate with no schools?
It is too soon for me to post threads, But I have TONS of questions...

[LynnTheDem]

59. Yes Iraq had schools and water before bush's invasion.

And in fact Iraqis have LESS WATER, LESS ELECTRICITY, and LESS FOOD NOW than they did under Saddam Hussein.

Iraq also had schools before bush's invasion, and in fact Iraq had the MOST PHDs of ANY NATION in the world and Hussein won an international prize for his literacy programs.

And in fact those schools America has "rebuilt" (after America destroyed them) are ALREADY falling apart.

Keep asking questions; only stupid people don't. ;)

[Name removed]

60. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[silverchair]

61. illegal war

i'm so sick of this illegal war and the crimes this administration is getting away with.

[leftchick]

62. CNN just showed wounded civilians in Karabila

an Abrams tank fired a round into their home aka: an insurgent safe house. :(