Military Attack 'Wrong Way to End Fallujah Revolt'

[leftchick]

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3700276


~snip~

A military assault is the wrong way to end the insurgency in Fallujah, and a bloodbath is exactly what Saddam Hussein followers and foreign fighters want, Iraq’s Interim President Ghazi al-Yawer said.

US troops have been gearing up for a major assault on the insurgent stronghold west of Baghdad in a bid to restore control to it and to other Sunni Muslim areas ahead of January elections.

~snip~

“I absolutely disagree with those who believe a military attack is necessary,” al-Yawer said in a newspaper interview during a visit to Kuwait.

“The way the coalition is managing the crisis is wrong. It is as if someone shot his horse in the head to kill a fly that landed on it. The fly flies away and the horse dies.”

[anarchy1999]

1. Finally, a voice of reason in the madness. If we citizens of this country

we call the US of A, allow our government to carry through with military might upon this town of Fallujah, we ourselves will be guilty as well of crimes against humanity.

Good god everyone, while we stand in lines and push touch screens and punch cards and pretend to vote our government is getting ready to blast a town of 200,000 + out of existence. We have to care more than this.

[MSgt213]

2. I thought earlier he was for military action?

[Briar]

21. Allawi is for military action

the CIA's man. He was the one issuing mafia style threats to Fallujah.

[Dhalgren]

22. That was the Prime Minister (Bush puppet),

this is the President (not Bush puppet).

[watrwefitinfor]

3. Have we been warned?

"If we citizens of this country we call the US of A, allow our government to carry through with military might upon this town of Fallujah, we ourselves will be guilty as well of crimes against humanity."


Well said.

I have been thinking that perhaps the deleted part of the OBL tape concerns exactly this. Was it not interesting that nothing was said about Iraq in the part of the tape the world was allowed to hear? Could the deleted part have been a warning about what is to come if we allow *Co to do what they're about to do there in our name?

Wat

[Media_Lies_Daily]

4. Instead of adopting your usual "holier-than-thou" attitude,...

...perhaps YOU can offer some specific actions that we can take that will actually change the course of action our illegal government has decided to take in Fallujah.

Additionally, not knowing what to do or how to get it done is NOT a sign that we don't care.

"Good God" yourself.

[anarchy1999]

6. Careful, I've been posting about this town for months, since 04/03

I know someone personally that was there last April in 2004. What do you know of the history of the actions in this town?

I've been suggesting actions, we've made calls to DC and to Media, we may have even played a small hand in April of 2004 in stopping the carnage. I myself am at a loss right now and filled with a great sense of dread for what seems to be coming. There are no Reps for us to contact, they are all out campaigning, everyone is too busy with the election/selection, an all out assault will go unnoticed by us here in the US while the world screams in shock and awe.

("Good God" yourself, was rather harsh, and so was "your usual holier than thou" reference, but okay, nerves are on edge everywhere!)

[Wols]

5. We must destroy the city to save it

Damn, Westmoreland would be proud of me. Seriously, the city is controlled by fundamentalist clerics and terrorists. Military leaders see it as the head of the insurgency. Dialogue with the city leaders has been shown to be a complete waste as they haven't negotiated in good faith. There will likely be a ton of innocent civilians killed. Yet more tragedy placed at the door of Bush. But I think in this instance we have been left with few options other than the military one. Let's face it- we're in Iraq until we can restore a semblance of order. And once that happens we can get the hell out. Is it too late to restore Saddam Hussein so we can get out? God this war has turned into a complete debacle.

[anarchy1999]

7. Just where do you get your info?

How long have you been following the story of this suburb? You are so out of line. Go to google, enter in Fallajuh and April of 2003, then carry yourself all the way foreward and think about how you might feel had you been a resident of this place. Born and raised there and just last week lost most of your family to a "strategic bomb", taking out insurgents.

[Wols]

9. "You are so out of line."

How so? Because I happen to think that further negotiations with the people who really control Fallujah will produce nothing. Yes, it would be a nightmare to be a citizen of Fallujah under the control of those murderous lunatics AND having to worry about American bombs. But if your premise is that we should continue non-productive negotiations with the city leaders and allow the city to remain a destabilizing force for the rest of the country then I don't agree.

[anarchy1999]

11. Did you do what I suggested earlier, did you go google Fallujah?

April 2003 and go forward and spend any time reading anything? I predicted this action would happen in April of 2003 and it is wiping me out. Our troops drove into a town after the fall of the statue and occupied a school that the townspeople had already reopened for their kids. After a couple of weeks the people marched into the square in protest, peaceful, asking the troops to leave the school. Our troops opened fire. It is well documented, and there have been a couple of independent investigations. Go forward from there my friend. I predicted the day that that action happened and subsequent other disasters that Fallujah would be leveled before it was over. Just out of resentment for what we the US had done.

Now go do some homework okay, I don't want to be banned and you are pushing my last nerve.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bridget Burke]

8. That kind of thinking didn't work in Vietnam.

Why do you think it will work now?

[Merlin]

10. Do you have any idea what it would take to impose a military solution?

It would take not just leveling the city--which we're very good at--but then sending our GIs in to man every street corner in the city from now for the next 3 years. Meanwhile every GI in there would be a sitting duck. And of course you would need a cluster of several of them at every post. And of course, they would need the shelter of an armored vehicle. So we could use up a quarter our entire force of 130,000 soldiers in Iraq just attempting to "secure" the city of Fallujah.

And did I mention how many people we will piss off forever and ever by destroying their city and killing many, many innocent civilians.

This reminds me of Waco all over again.

GODAM YOU FUCKING PENTAGON MORONS! JUST SURROUND THE CITY AND WAIT THEM OUT. IS THAT TOO DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND?

Pardon my fury. I have a lot of hostility left over from our similar insane antics in Vietnam.

[Wols]

12. Well, surrounding the entire city and checking everyone

entering or leaving will also tie up a ton of manpower. And for how long? One or two years. Longer? But, I agree, that sounds like the most reasonable solution. As to whether or not I think the military solution will work in Fallujah- no, I'm extremely skeptical. But I'm also skeptical of the success of further negotiations with religious fundamentalists.

[Merlin]

18. So just don't do anything. Surround the city and let them stew.

It's a no brainer. Sure it takes manpower. You might need 2,500 troops to do a pretty good job. But you control the environment, and you're not surrounded by buildings with an infinite number of hiding places and sniping spots.

[NNN0LHI]

14. How you plan on restoring a semblance of order before the big pull out?

Just keep bombing and killing until the Iraqis submit to us maybe? I don't get it. Call me misguided if you wish, but I am beginning to think the Iraqis are not going to stop killing Americans until they leave. So assuming that is the case, what will this semblance of order look like as we prepare to depart?

When one finds thyself in a hole it would be wise to quit digging.

Don

[MacDo]

23. I hate to say

but yours is the most rational post I've read on this thread.

To those who would have us pull out of Iraq without finishing the job. Brilliant, just brilliant. Lets create another pre 911 Afghanistan.

[anarchy1999]

25. I'll give you a welcome to DU and then I'll say to you the same thing,

go do your homework on Fallujah. Then come back and say we have to level this town. I'm in shock at what some people can say and for how far removed they seem to be. "...most rational post..."?

Sick.

[tabasco]

15. I thought US forces had to have Iraqi permission ...

before conducting major operations. I guess that sovereignty thing ain't what it used to be. Of course, ultimately, our lackeys will approve whatever we want to do.

Falluja is the size of Pittsburgh. We do not need to attack this city. We must begin reducing our impact in Iraq. I am confident that Kerry will get us the hell out of there. Kerry stated that it is a goal of his first term to disengage from Iraq.

Conquest of the Middle East is an option only if we go to a WWII footing, reinstate the draft, and accept unending war. It that what the republicans really want??? If so, they are not Americans, but Romans, who will lead us to the same fate as the Roman Empire.

[Doohickie]

16. You would think Bush would know what "Remember the Alamo!" means

It was the fact that the Alamo was mercilessly crushed that inspired the remaining Texans to strike back against the Mexico and became the rallying cry that carried the Texans to victory.

I know Bush is no student of history, but considering he calls Texas home, I would think he would at least know that much.

[anarchy1999]

17. Interestingly enough, we live in Texas and I said "remember the Alamo"

to my hubbie last night in comparing the two. Not good.

[NNN0LHI]

19. I sure hope the Iraqis don't know when a "good cop, bad cop" con job...

...is being pulled on them. If they don't this amateurish CIA PSYOP might work. But I wouldn't count on it.

Don

[maddezmom]

20. AFP link:Iraqi president opposes Fallujah assault, accuses Iran-rate it

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=8&u=/afp/20041101/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_kuwait_iran_041101110136

[anarchy1999]

24. Please DU'ers, rate this story. It may be our only chance to save

Fallujah.