U.S. Forces Renew Strikes on Falluja

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040428/ts_nm/iraq_dc&cid=564&ncid=1480

<snip>
Shelling and fierce exchanges of gunfire broke out in mid-afternoon in the northwestern district of Golan, already pounded overnight by a heavy airborne gunship. Witnesses said jet aircraft, helicopters and heavy planes joined the action.

A U.S. television pool reporter with the U.S. forces quoted Marine officers as saying a heavy assault had been launched in support of a unit which attempted to take a rail station from guerrillas who have been holding the town for over three weeks.

Amid warnings from the U.N.'s Iraq (news - web sites) envoy of bloody consequences should talks fail in Falluja, an AC-130 gunship, first used in Vietnam, had blasted Golan overnight.

The U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad, Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt told U.S. ABC television he still hoped for a deal.

[maddezmom]

1. another link

BAGHDAD: Gunfire and explosions were heard on Wednesday as fresh fighting broke out between US marines and Iraqi guerrillas in the Sunni Muslim stronghold of Fallujah, west of here, Geo television reported.

Geo television footage showed two US helicopters blasting suspected insurgent positions with missile and machinegun fire after a heavy gunbattle reportedly broke out near the city's train station.

Plumes of black smoke could be seen rising from several buildings as the helicopters made repeated raids.
~snip~
http://www.geo.tv/main_files/world.aspx?id=15844

[maddezmom]

2. and from ABC

The Fight for Fallujah
U.S. Military Goes After Insurgents, But Tries to Spare Civilians



April 28 — U.S. troops have launched a new military plan in the Iraqi city of Fallujah that would target insurgents without staging an all-out attack on the city.

A series of explosions rocked Fallujah today and gunfire erupted in a new round of fighting. Today's battles follow a thunderous attack launched Tuesday night by American planes and artillery on at least two positions believed to be held by Sunni insurgents in the Iraqi city of Fallujah.

A senior military official told ABCNEWS before the bombing started that the military would "soon" begin a "low-key campaign to reduce the opposition." The official said the plan was for "night operations" using precision-guided munitions, AC-130 gunships and snipers.

"We'll respond to cease-fire violations at the time and place of our choosing," the official said.
~snip~
more: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/World/WorldNewsTonight/fallujah_combat_040428-1.html

[Nihil]

15. Unbelievable

> ... the plan was for "night operations" using ... snipers.

Oh, so no danger of mistaken identification there then - there will be
no *attempt* to identify if sniping at night!

> "We'll respond to cease-fire violations at the time and place of our
> choosing," the official said.

... "which may or may not involve shooting/bombing/maiming the correct
people but, what the hell, since when did we worry about that?"

[Bandit]

21. "using precision-guided munitions, AC-130 gunships and snipers. "

AC-130 is a very powerful force but no accuracy at all. Thirty-five years ago when I used to watch these guys (Spooky or Puff)I was amazed at the amount of bullets they fired. I can't recall which is the 130 and which is the C-43 but both can put a bullet in every square foot of a football field in less than three minutes. No pin point precision though. They spray massive firepower around a designated fire zone and are very effective but not for house to house fighting. In a city of over a half million people there will be massive civilian death and injury. Does anyone here think Bush* cares one wit for any of those people?

[Just Me]

24. No. I am certain "The Busholinis" don't care,...

,...not one bit about civilian deaths. It's all about winning for those cold-blooded wackos.

:cry:

THEY SUCK!!!! :mad:

[Just Me]

3. The whole world is watching this assault.

I guess our popularity as "liberators" has also been bombed.

Kimmitt telling ABC that he was still hoping for "a deal" seems so stupid when the destruction is being broadcasted.

[leftchick]

4. The US watches the bombing on their TV like it is a video game...

The rest of the world knows the US is committing war crimes daily against the citizens of Iraq.

[maddezmom]

11. Kimmitt again says, the cease fire is still ongoing

and Marines feel the talks have promise. :eyes:

[Just Me]

14. Is that not freakin' NUTS!!!

He goes on to say (paraphrasing) that he realizes how the operations during a cease-fire may appear paradoxical but blah, blah, bullsh*t, blah,....

I swear, these people MUST want a world war because they are agitating and provoking the whole world against this country and dramatically inflaming anti-Americanism. They giving people plenty of reason to hate Americans. What is wrong with these freaks? Are they so delusional that they cannot see what they are creating or so heartless that they don't give a rat's crap or so evil that they are doing it all on purpose? I simply cannot grasp the hearts and minds of these provocateers.

[IMayBeWrongBut]

27. It reminds me

It reminds me of that scene in that movie Gladiator where the emperor screams "Am I not merciful!"

[nostamj]

5. CNN has been showing this LIVE all morning

not even breaking for commercials...

it's DEATH, LIVE ON TV!

what a world

[TahitiNut]

12. The comments from the CNN staff have been abominable.

They're treating this as though it's Fourth of July entertainment (which points to an even deeper sociological/cultural issue). It's as though the participants are eating hot dogs and munching on corn on the cob.

Human beings (men, women, children, elderly) are being maimed, injured, and killed. Blood and body parts are being scattered and crushed. The delusion of this being in any way 'selective' due to the location of such carnage is wholly illusory. 'Aim' is a fable in an urban setting. Perhaps it's time to assign those who're so practiced in photographing a fetus or embryo to the task of photographing a war?

It's too bad we don't have 'smell-o-vision' ... since the odor alone would probably send most to the porcelain telephone.

[maddezmom]

16. this am CNNI went to CNN and Bill Hemmer

and they had a commentator on talking about "the spectacular light display". :puke:

[Just Me]

18. Scrubbed and sterilized, just like the freon neocons want it. *eom*

[leftchick]

28. Imagine a "spectacular light display" doing this to a car...

Sunday Times reporter Hala Jaber views her destroyed car in the besieged city of Falluja April 28, 2004. U.S. Marines launched a fresh assault on Falluja on Wednesday, sending in air strikes and tanks, residents said. Shelling and fierce exchanges of gunfire broke out in mid-afternoon in the northwestern district of Golan, already pounded overnight by a heavy airborne gunship. (Akram Saleh/Reuters)

[anarchy1999]

22. I've been trying to think of a better word than obscene or criminal

all morning. You nailed it, ABOMINABLE! Put the three together, Obscene, ABOMINABLE, and Criminal!

[TahitiNut]

23. Yes,, I've noticed that Bush/Cheney ...

... have been vocabuary builders for me too. :evilgrin:

[leftchick]

6. On Cnn and MSRNC right now with...

Krazy Killer Kimmitt spewing his usual lies... :puke:

[maddezmom]

7. 6 military persons charged and arrested

Kimmitt on live...did anyone catch this?

[maddezmom]

9. the reporter asks again, but is told she'll get info (off camera)

WTF??????

[maddezmom]

20. here's the info~ CBS has photos "Abuse Of Iraqi Prisoners Probed"

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/27/60II/main614063.shtml
very disturbing. :(

[Dhalgren]

8. The United States is the greatest threat to world peace

and prosperity, today. Sooner or later the whole world will have to unite to stop America. It had better be sooner - for the good of all of us.

[Just Me]

10. It's terribly disappointing that the world views a country I have loved

in such a way. I never thought I would live this kind of nightmare. I pray every single day that this administration is overwhelming cast out of office; then, charged/tried/convicted/sentenced to life imprisonment for their crimes against the American people and against humanity.

[Dhalgren]

17. If we are ever to redeem our country

and restore ourselves to our proper place in the world community, something like what you pray for must take place. I am just so sickened by this all that I find it hard to be optimistic. But, please, continue to pray.

[reprobate]

26. Dhalgren, the world won't have to unite. We are destroying ourselves.

The financial and employement situation this regime has put us in will bring all the revenge that anyone thinks is necessary.

I don't care how they juggle and finagle the figures, the whole purpose of an economy is to provide jobs for the people. Without jobs there is no economy and no recovery. More profit for corporations does not translate into recovery unless it is passed on to the employee so it can be circulated. This is not happening and the consumer spending figures show this.

Add to this the rising price of oil which will be felt thruout the economy and you have a disaster imminent. In fact, I wonder if the saudis latest move to increase the price of oil is part of a plan to seek revenge on bush.

[leftchick]

13. KKKimmitt now calling the resistance fighters in Falluja...

foreign fighters and terrorists. Sounds like the US to me....

[Az_lefty]

19. All this during a cease fire? Unbelieveable....

[damnraddem]

25. 'Bloody consequences' should talks fail?

Seems rather bloody already. Of course, it will likely get much bloodier.

But it's rather difficult to negotiate, given the way the U.S. is 'talking' in Fallujah.