Military Force May Be Next Option In Fallujah, Myers Says

[UpInArms]

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr2004/n04162004_200404162.html

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2004 -- Further military action may be necessary in the city of Fallujah, where despite a cease-fire and strained negotiations, insurgents still are shooting at Marines, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during an April 15 news conference in Baghdad.

Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, in Baghdad to meet with coalition military commanders, told reporters that although discussions in Fallujah are ongoing, "I think we have to be prepared and prepare ourselves that there may be further military action."

He said that negotiations in the city are ongoing. "We'll have to see how they play out. They can't go on, I don't think in my mind as a military man, forever," he said. "At some point, somebody has to make a decision on what we're going to do, and we certainly can't rule out the use of force there, again, depending on how the negotiations go."

The general also assured reporters there is "sufficient military force" to deal with both the situation in Fallujah and resistance in the south around Najaf. "That is not the issue, and we will deal with it," he said.

...more...

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. But thisis just a sign of further success RIGHT SIR?

Yep, Myers is a student of Westmoreland... not Patton

[Failure]

3. What he's really saying is...

They're not gonna negotiate their way outta this, and they're really going to have to kill every single one of the "enemy" (ordinary iraqi's-patriots fighting for their country against a foreign occupier). BTW, Geneva conventions say people of an occupied country have the right to resist.

[tabasco]

9. No, Myers is a STAR WARS disciple.

Despite ABMs not being the primary threat, Bush made this boob Chairman because he is a Star wars expert. Greed and profiteering is the primary motivation of the Bush administration, not the security of the Amerrican people. So now we have a Star wars geek in charge of the military with two ground wars in progress.
STAR WARS is NOTHING but corporate welfare. It detracts from our security by diverting massive amounts of money into an ineffective weapon system.

[Brotherjohn]

2. Bush JUST SAID 2 days ago we're "communicating with the insurgents...

...so that the resumption of military action does not become necessary." (in his press conference)

The obvious implication was "Look, we don't want to fight. We're LIBERATING these people. We'll make nice, and 'this tough weeks' I just referred to is (are?) all over! No more dead Americans, I promise!"

I guess, though, like all of his statements, this one had about a 2-day half-life.

[pinto]

13. looks like Rumsfeld "corrected" Busboy.

Sarcasm aside, I'd read in the last couple of days about a brittle rift between the negotiation sponsors and the military option folks...I assume the reference was made to another State/Pentagon split.

I think Bush literally repeats the last thing he's been told. I, agree, in two days he'll be mouthing the Pentagon line.

[gulfcoastliberal]

4. I Think they already Picked that Option

Did anyone catch the very brief footage of the soldier shooting up a flare out of his grenade launcher and his squad firing at full auto into the town? And the sniper pumping out shot after shot with his bolt action rifle and the soldier next to him jamming in the next round? And the reports of the C-130 gunship blasting houses? Yeah, I think the military option has been decided on. What's next, a MOAB? This is ridiculous.

[RoyGBiv]

5. Still Shooting

where despite a cease-fire and strained negotiations, insurgents still are shooting at Marines

I'm getting really irritated at these kinds of statements, especially in light of the following:

"But despite the deal clashes continued on Wednesday and Thursday between US forces and Iraqi guerrillas there, and Byrne said US fighters were trying to draw insurgents out into battle.

"US military trucks had begun blaring taunting messages and heavy metal music at suspected rebel sites in the hopes of luring out guerrillas to kill them.

"'Marines are awake 24 hours. Stop hiding behind your women's skirts and fight,' loudspeakers stacked on trucks blared out.'"

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=5&u=/afp/20040415/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_unrest_fallujah_040415221638

[daleo]

6. Sounds like kids on a playground

Unfortunately, this sort of mentality is not confined to the playground.

In my reading, I have noticed that military leadership does not like static warfare in general. They feel that if troops go too long without fighting, they will naturally lose their desire for it. Thus, there were trench raids in WWI between major battles, raiding parties sent out during winter lulls in Italy in WWII, etc. I suppose this might be the same thing.

[Just Me]

7. In other words, mass murder,...

,...just as I said over a week ago. The deaths of four Americans are being used to justify massive killings. Un-freakin-believable!!!

I have an idea,...why don't you just leave them alone, you murderous ass? Even better, how's about you give these people jobs so that they can survive? How's about you give these people a voice in their destiny? Show them the "freedom" you are supposedly delivering,...instead of a violent, deadly oppression.

Good gawd,...I sometimes wish I could magically transpose the positions of people. I just know it would make an impactful difference upon how certain human beings operate.

[seemslikeadream]

10. I thought they had just about wiped them all out already?

And remember he is just getting started

Every death creates new enemies

http://www.bushflash.com/pax.html



Jean-Bernard Prevalis, suspected of being a supporter of Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, is detained by rebels in the streets of Cap-Haitien, Haiti, Monday, Feb. 23, 2004. Rebels who overran Haiti's second-largest city of Cap-Haitien began detaining people identified as supporters of Aristide on Monday and said they would attack the capital of Port-au-Prince soon. (AP Photo/Walter Astrada)



A supporter of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide cries outside the presidential palace in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, after his departure Sunday, Feb. 29, 2004. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)



Supporters of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide march in the Bel-Air district of Port-au-Prince, Haiti on Thursday March 11, 2004. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)

[Just Me]

12. KILL any potential opposition,...

,...isn't that in complete contradiction of what these freon neocons pretend to deliver, "freedom" and "democracy"?

I am in mourning. I am mourning.

[seemslikeadream]

15. Yesterday was just about the worst

I can't imagine how those 20,000 soldiers felt when told they weren't coming home for another 3 months.

[lebkuchen]

8. Better start reaching for your G-string of restraint, Chimpy

Sure, you'll kill lots of Iraqis, but you will take on many added US casualties, most coming from divisions like the 1AD, which you were supposed to have redeployed home by now. How is that going to read in even the most conservative newspapers? Military spouses would be on your commanders' asses in short order.

[DinahMoeHum]

11. SOS. . .another military solution to a political problem.

Sheeesh, they NEVER learn, do they??

:grr::grr::grr:

[54anickel]

14. And how many 2K pound bombs will they use there?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x490735