U.S., Iraqi Forces Dig In Outside Tense Fallujah

[expatriot]

"Troops have dug trenches, and sharpshooters have taken positions on top of a mosque about two miles from the city's outskirts.

Lt. James Vanzant said 1,200 Marines and two battalions of Iraqi security forces will be involved in "Vigilant Resolve."

Explosions and gunfire were heard from the city center, and troops briefly exchanged fire with gunmen on Fallujah's outskirts in the evening. It was not clear if there were any casualties, though a U.S. Marine was killed in the area early Monday.

U.S. commanders have vowed a massive response to "pacify" Fallujah after the murder Wednesday of the four American civilians, who were under contract to the U.S. coalition as security guards. "

http://www.turnto10.com/news/news/2975119/detail.html

Trenches? this is crazy... we don't have the troop strength for this.

[kalian]

1. They're just going to blackade the entire city....

and "starve them out". :eyes:

[daleo]

2. I don't think they have the patience

Bush will want a spectacular show, so it will come from the air, at night, to look cool on CNN.

Either one would be a war crime (collective punishment), but that doesn't matter to Bushco.

[kalian]

5. They'll do what the Russians did with Grozny....

use fuel-air explosives...

[skooooo]

6. Nah, they won't show it on CNN...

..because there would be such an outcry around the world. They'll probably do their "operations" and then clean the place up before letting the cameras back in.

[atreides1]

3. Just Like

The Romans did in many of their sieges, and the Union did to Fredericksburg, and the Germans did in Stalingrad, Leningrad, the Warsaw Ghetto.

Now we'll see if the insurgents have the same spirit that others have had, but when a people are fighting for their homes, you can never tell what might happen.

[saigon68]

4. The Gold Star Mother is told he son died

To avenge the Death of some Mercenary scum making $200,000.00 (two hundred thousand dollars) per year, who used to strut around in Oakley's, carry a custom made CAR-16-A4, wear the latest flak vest and blue jeans and guard food shipments ?

Ya, that's dying for Freedom Alright </sarcasm>

[Moderator]

7. Locking

until the news breaks they've actually entered or otherwise gone into action, discuss here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x464468