GI Death Toll In Fallouja Battle Reaches 31

[bemildred]

NEAR Fallouja, Iraq — The U.S. military's ground and air assault of Fallouja has gone quicker than expected, with the entire city occupied after six days of fighting, the Marine commander who planned the offensive said today. The military said 31 Americans have been killed in the siege.

Marine Maj. Gen. Richard Natonski said he and other commanders learned from April's failed three-week Marine assault on Fallouja, which was called off by the Bush administration after a worldwide outcry over civilians deaths. This time, the military sent in six times as many troops and 20 types of aircraft. Troops also faked attacks before the assault to confuse enemy fighters.

LA Times

[BJ]

1. Oh, but our brave, brave boys killed 1,200 insurgents!

We win!

The culture of the body count returns.

[bemildred]

3. Saw one bozo claiming 1600 "insurgents". nt

[BJ]

5. Would that be USMC Major-General Natonski?

I heard the 1,200 figure in an interview with him on the Sunday Today Show. Has he upped the body-count?

[bemildred]

6. I think it was another blowhard,but who cares?

I mean it's not like any of those fellows is going to go around and count now, is it?

Here's one of them:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/headline/world/2900162

[BJ]

7. Oh, no...................

I have Vietnam vet friends who've told me that officers would "estimate" enemy killed after a firefight. One friend said that following a particularly brutal ambush, where air support was needed to quell enemy firing, he asked his c.o. if a detail was needed to go in and physically count the bodies.

He was told that wasn't needed since the officer estimated, considering the amount of rounds coming from the ambush, that about a thousand VC must have been involved. Since they were no longer there, following the bombing, there must be a thousand Vietcong casualties and that was what was officially recorded.

[bemildred]

8. Yeah, I remember.

My brother did PR in Siagon and he used to tell some stories.
It would be interesting to get real casualty figures, but I
expect pigs will fly first.

[Randi_Listener]

2. MISSION FUCKING ACCOMPLISHED

Can we go home now? :silly:

[Deja Q]

4. It's a small price to pay to ensure America's freedom and safety...

:eyes:

[cal04]

9. U.S. Military Death Toll in Fallujah at 38

U.S. military announced Sunday that 38 U.S. troops have been killed and 275 wounded in the ongoing operation in Fallujah. Three of the fatalities were "non-battle injuries," a U.S. statement said. Sixty of the wounded returned to duty, the statement said.


http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/breaking_news/10181636.htm

[maddezmom]

10. the true amount of death and casualties will be better know on Tue/ Wed

according to a reporter on MSNBC this am. :(

[Darranar]

11. "Mission accomplished". n/t

[ElsewheresDaughter]

12. "38" eveing news

[heidiho]

13. "This Week" had the death toll at 58

this week! I was shocked but I know I heard right. He said 58 were killed and the Pentagon had released the names of 55.