Falluja questions

[BeyondThePale]

So, we are attacking Falluja in full force. I have a few questions:

1) Who are we attacking and how will we know who is the enemy?

2) How will we know if we have won?

3) What will happen when the battle is over? Will we leave a large garrison to be picked off by snipers and IEDs? Will we pull out altogether?

4) What will prevent the situation from returning to status quo once we pull out (especially given the fact that killing the residents and destroying their homes will only create more insurgents/rebels/freedom fighters)?

Thanks in advance!

[Dhalgren]

1. Answers as I see them:

1.) The Iraqi citizens; if they look like Iraqi citizens.
2.) We will know we have won when we are told that we have.
3.) Nothing. Yes. Not at first, but later, yes.
4.) Nothing, it will return to the status quo.

I think that about covers it. You're welcome.

[BeyondThePale]

2. Thank you D, I understand...

Bush = good...
Falluja = bad...
Saddam = Osama...
slaughtering = liberating...
up = down...
2 + 2 = 5...

It is all clear to me now (how could I have wasted my vote on Kerry?)

[Dhalgren]

4. No problem t.

The real issue is you want to know what we are doing and why. You want to be able to justify American actions, at home as well as abroad, to yourself and other citizens as these actions are being taken in your name. You would like someone in a position to know to be able to explain what it is we are really doing in Iraq and why; and you want it to be the truth. Once, long ago, you have been considered a good citizen with a conscience and a set of moral values; but now you are a dangerous traitor with a one-way ticket to Gitmo. I'll see you there, brother; I think they have my ticket ready, too...

[BeyondThePale]

5. Right on all counts D!

Just as *'s Iraqi adventure was initially based upon blatantly false assertions (e.g., WMD, 911 link), actions like the impending slaughter in Falluja simply take us further into the moral cesspool. The administration offers the American populace platitudes like "Freedom is on the March," while bringing hell-on-earth to the Iraqi citizenry and American soldiers.

Freedom is on the march alright--it is just that it seems to be marching in the opposite direction.

[Ducks In A Row]

3. answers

1) Nobody. Lots and lots of nobodies
2) When fallujah is gone. Nobody living, no buildings
3) We will sow the field with salt
4) Hard to have quo with nothing left


that was easy.

[Darranar]

6. Okay...

1) We are attacking anyone who wishes to resist the US occupation, and sometimes people who just might possibly wish to do so. We know that they're enemies when we're told that they're "terrorists", or when our soldiers decide to shoot them, whatever the reason.

2) We know we have won when the city is once more under our control, its inhabitants properly cowed or murdered.

3) When the battle is over we will probably keep forces there, targets or no.

4) We won't prevent that.

[Buzz Clik]

7. Falluja is simply a "mopping up" operation

Perhaps you weren't listening to the Prez when he was strutting around the aircraft carrier in his flight suit.

[tngledwebb]

8. And WHY are we attacking?

Why now? To keep election fraud questions at bay, especially in UK and EU?

[Bucky]

9. Great questions, but only sad answers

1) Who are we attacking and how will we know who is the enemy?

To some extent, it is guess work. Since everybody there pretty much hates us now, there's no shortage of enemy sympathizers. There are armed insurgency groups, but for the most part they will not stand and fight. They're probably already deploying elsewhere about the country to attack pro-US groups elsewhere in Iraq. This is all fairly predictable. If Zarqawi was ever in Fallujah, he's not there now. One key to fox hunting is not giving the fox advanced warning and a 72-hour head start in avoiding you.


2) How will we know if we have won?

This is not a concern since we won't "win" per se. We'll drive them out, but smart folks in Texas know that there's a difference between exterminating cockroaches and just making them scatter by turning on the lights.


3) What will happen when the battle is over? Will we leave a large garrison to be picked off by snipers and IEDs? Will we pull out altogether?

We'll probably stay and occupy the joint and lose guys in a drip drip drip fashion. The sham attempts at building up a domestic security force will continue, but our guys will do all the heavy ilfting.


4) What will prevent the situation from returning to status quo once we pull out (especially given the fact that killing the residents and destroying their homes will only create more insurgents/rebels/freedom fighters)?

If you can pull off an election, the theory goes, by January, then you make it harder for hte insurgents to keep on fighting. I'm not sure it's a good theory, but I'm less sure that we have any other options.

[Kablooie]

10. Some perspective from an Iraqi girl's blog

http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/

"People in Falloojeh are being murdered. The stories coming back are horrifying. People being shot in cold blood in the streets and being buried under tons of concrete and iron... where is the world? Bury Arafat and hurry up and pay attention to what's happening in Iraq."