U.S. army bombards targets near Saddam's hometown

[NNN0LHI]

Sounds like we are mowing them down.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L17607252.htm

TIKRIT, Iraq, Nov 17 (Reuters) - U.S. troops fanned out around Saddam Hussein's hometown in Iraq overnight and unleashed mortar and tank rounds on various targets as part of a fresh military operation against insurgents.

Reporters with the 4th Infantry Division's 1-22 Battalion saw shells fired at positions from where commanders said insurgents had lobbed mortars or rockets at the division's base, inside one of Saddam's former palace complexes in Tikrit town.

The ground shook as rounds landed and flares continued to light up the night sky early on Monday in an operation coordinated with other battalions in the division and backed by attack helicopters.

In one attack, four M1 Abrams tanks perched on top of a desert cliff fired rounds at a position in the fields below, from where American troops said insurgents had fired a rocket earlier in the day. Exploding shells fired by other units thudded in the distance.

"For us this is not a display, we want to get the enemy... The message is: 'Give up, it's over'," said 1-22 Battalion commander Lieutenant-Colonel Steve Russell, before the tanks opened up.

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