U.S. Targets Fallujah Underground Bunker

[Tab]

U.S. troops bombarded an underground bunker complex in Fallujah Monday in the second week of fighting to rout Iraqi insurgents.

The targeted complex had entranceways large enough to drive trucks into and steel-enforced tunnels in the southern part of the city. Various reports said the complex was used by insurgents to store weapons, ammunition, food and medical supplies.

As army and Marine units battled block-by-block, bodies of Saudi, Jordanian and Palestinian nationals were found littering the streets. In some cases, it was deemed too risky to retrieve the bodies, some of which were being gnawed by dogs, the BBC reported.

The U.S. military said it has killed about 1,200 militants, while 38 U.S. soldiers have been killed and 275 wounded in the offensive on the city. Six Iraqi government troops have also died.
http://www.wgst.com/script/headline_newsmanager.php?id=364734&pagecontent=nationalnews&feed_id=59

[Minstrel Boy]

1. Anyone else remember the Amiriya Shelter,

and it's 400 dead from the first Gulf War?

Supposedly another underground "command and control" centre.

A smart bomb down the ventilation shaft of an air raid shelter.

That's what I think of reading this story.

[MrUnderhill]

2. Were they all carrying passports?

Can you reall tell Saudis, Jordanians and Palestinians from Iraqis just from glancing at their (probably damaged) bodies?

As a second note... 1200 to 38 sounds like an awfully high ratio for urban conditions. One or both of those numbers must be exagerated.

[Tempest]

4. U.S. militaryspeak

1,200 insurgents really means 120 insurgents and 1,080 civilians.

Same thing as was done during Vietnam.

[Moderator]

3. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=990451