U.S. Warplanes Pound Iraq's Fallujah

[Bluebear]

FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. warplanes launched fierce attacks on the rebel-held Iraqi town of Falluja on Thursday, witnesses said.

They said explosions could be heard in the attacks which came after interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi warned the town would face an offensive unless it handed over Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and his followers. There was no immediate word on casualties.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=1&u=/nm/20041014/ts_nm/iraq_falluja_strikes_dc

[necso]

1. So what is it?

Increased air attacks -- or a ground offensive?

The former is the "easy" alternative. Lots of show, few if any US casualties (in the "fighting" -- not the routine IED's, etc).

[Darranar]

7. Both, according to the BBC "Latest" headline...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/

[necso]

13. Generally,

a ground offensive would include air support, tanks, "artie", etc. Air "preparation" (maybe also "artie") and support would generally be expected.

But the neo-cons have tried a variety of things -- for various political reasons. Civilian casualties may have dropped off of their radar for the moment -- but we will see.

If the Marines go in, I expect that they will have considerable "heavy" weapons at their disposal.

If just the "Iraqi Forces" go in, who knows? The Marines, from what I have heard, don't think much of those "forces". And I can't blame the Marines -- the "Iraqi Forces" haven't shown much -- except that they seem to have no problems shooting journalists.

But, again, the neo-cons have like zero understanding of military matters -- so who knows.

This is a political act, however... And I believe that the neos felt pressured to make it. But the "offensive" was going to start sooner or later anyway. And we will see if it is just show -- or for real.

Has there been any "statement" -- or are they keeping their options open? -- You know: "Grab credit, shed blame".

[leftchick]

2. CNN reporter interviews Marine...

apparently there will be a huge ground assault as well with "Iraqi forces". More US War crimes.... :(

[wtmusic]

3. love your blinking bushie, lc

:thumbsup:

[Darranar]

4. Aljazeera says 1 killed, 10 wounded so far...

Falluja negotiations halted

US warplanes have attacked Falluja, killing an Iraqi and injuring 10 others, as the city's delegation signals a halt to talks with the interim government.

A delegation from Falluja cut off negotiations with the government late on Thursday evening to protest threats by interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi to invade the city if residents do not surrender foreign fighters.

"We were taken aback by Allawi's comments ... since there was no mention of al-Zarqawi during the talks," said one of the delegates, who gave his name as Abu Ahmad.

On Wednesday, Allawi demanded Falluja turn over al-Zarqawi, which US military authorities claim is the most wanted man in Iraq, or face a military invasion.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/DA7F996A-47C2-4530-8961-27A275177254.htm

[sisenor]

6. ANYONE ELSE THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO CREATE LARGER HEADLINES

than, the Green Zone bombings today, which make it official that nowhere in Iraq is safe anymore?

I admit I am paranoid, but with this administration, you have to suspect the lowest possible motive at every move.

[bemildred]

8. Nope, just on autopilot.

They were told a week or two back by the Col. (I think it was a Col.)
in charge of the Green Zone that he "could not guarantee the security
of the Green Zone" for lack of resources, and nothing has been done.
This is just the coming to fruition of that warning.

The Fallujah shit is just general US policy of dick-waving at the
native rabble to (attempt) to show them who's boss. You can find the
same "military" policy in action in any of our little colonial wars
where the said native rabble are unruly.

[cal04]

11. One has to wonder, does this guy exist

But not a single source, anywhere, claims to have actually seen "Zarqawi" since late 2001 in Afghanistan. Ask the Pentagon. Ask the CIA. Ask the Federal Bureau of Investigation. No one, on the record, is able to independently verify that "Zarqawi" actually exists. There are no photos - only that same CIA-owned black and white. The CIA doesn't even know how tall or how fat "Zarqawi" is. All the literature on "Zarqawi" since late 2001 springs from dubious "confessions" by prisoners and "statements" by all sorts of people claiming to be "Zarqawi".

Even more extraordinary is that everybody and his neighbor is after Zarqawi: the Pentagon; the CIA; the Mukhabarat-lite intelligence services of Allawi; the Mehdi Army of Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr; the bombed residents of Fallujah, where he apparently is hiding; not to mention millions of Iraqis who would bless the heavens above for a shot at laying their hands on a $25 million bounty. Just like bin Laden, nobody can find Zarqawi. Why?

Zarqawi as evil personified is a non-starter: this role has already been attributed to bin Laden hiding in his cave along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The truth may be that the real one-legged, squat, tattooed thug Zarqawi is dead, but a composite Zarqawi lives. He may have been created by a faction, or factions of the Iraqi resistance as a mobilizing factor, a dashing neo-Saladin rousing the masses against the infidel occupiers.

Or better yet, he may have been created by US military intelligence. This American "Zarqawi" is definitely a Hollywood improvement on the original: tall, urbane, highly articulate, and with agile legs. But then something went badly wrong with the plot. A rogue group, composed of Iraqis or foreign fighters or both, kidnapped the American Zarqawi identikit and inoculated its own virus: thus the savage, multiple beheadings. Zarqawi exists in audio, but not in video. Unlike bin Laden, he has never performed unmasked.

http://atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FJ15Ak02.html

[bemildred]

5. More dead grunts, coming soon. nt

[Rose Siding]

9. It's a ground offensive, too...broadcast on loudspeakers-

BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. Marines launched air and ground attacks Thursday on the insurgent bastion Fallujah after city representatives suspended peace talks with the government over Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's demand to hand over terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
.......
Warplanes and artillery pounded the city as two U.S. Marine battalions attacked rebel positions to "restore security and stability," 1st Lt. Lyle Gilbert, a spokesman for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, told CNN.

"It is going to be a long night," he said.

Maj. Francis Piccoli, spokesman for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, told The Associated Press that two Marine battalions were engaged in the fight backed up by aircraft.

He would not say the attack was the start of a major campaign to recapture the city, saying he did not want to jeopardize any future operations.
......
Fallujah residents said the Americans were attacking several areas with rockets, artillery and tanks. One resident said U.S. forces were using loudspeakers in the west of the city to urge Fallujah fighters to lay down their arms "because we are going to push into Fallujah."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=1&u=/ap/20041014/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_fallujah

[nine30]

10. So KARL ROVE has given the go ahead...

..to create the Grand Diversion, on account of Bush's disastrous performance last night. Well I can't say I didn't see it coming.

Suddenly the Media Whores are now going to be talking all about this "new operation", as last night's debate recedes into memory.

[Bluebear]

12. And a Happy Ramadan to all!

[leftchick]

14. I wonder how the Iraqis feel about being called....

"anti-Iraqi" Forces while being bombed by the Imperial US occupiers... :(