Eyewitness: Falluja's grief and defiance

[gottaB]

***

In parts of Falluja you could still smell death in the air. Many hundreds of Iraqis civilians are believed to have died during the course of the fighting.

In one area, Jolan - the scene of the fiercest fighting - I saw houses that had been completely flattened by American bombs.

There was a lot of anger there. I spoke to one man who said he was just locking up his door, and had just got his family out of the house, when a bomb hit. It destroyed his house - and he was injured in the leg.

He told me the bombing was everywhere - it was random. He said he had nothing to do with the resistance, he had no weapons.

Falluja's grief and defiance....

[bluedeminredstate]

1. Thanks for posting that

It's very sad for the Iraqis and it seems that Fallujah will be the turning point at which we lost the war. The Marines appear to have retreated in weakness and fear.
You can't destroy people's homes, bomb entire families and ruin their city and expect them to just move on.
I am so frightened for all the troops who are in Iraq.

:cry:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

2. the last reported # of Falujian deaths i read was "over 700"

for 4 dead mercenaries we killed "over 700"...i think Israel has taught bush something

[keithyboy]

3. Yes, they have taught Bush how to be worse than what you say you abhor

But how much teaching do you have to do for one to learn that dropping bombs on essentially defenseless people is the true act of cowardice and fighting for defense of your land and your country even if it means blowing yourself up in the process is true courage?

[gottaB]

8. Your comment recalled a use of the word "disproportionate"

It was on NPR a few weeks back, by Scott Peterson of the Christian Science Monitor. He was describing the kinds of attacks that were being launched despite the "truce":

And as a senior U.S. commander told me today, "We don't want to play fair," in the sense that if they can send a message by dropping a 500 pound bomb, meaning, sending a disproportionate message to the insurgents, then that is what they will do.

U.S. Strikes Continue in Fallujah

The use of disproportionate force for such a reason is of course questionable under international law, and, for that reason, official policy of the military is that the force being applied in Fallujah is proportionate. Said General Sanchez on April 12th:

The tactics being used in Fallujah are fairly straightforward. We've been attacking to secure the city of Fallujah, and we're running into active resistance. It is very clear where we're taking fire from, and where we're taking fire from we're applying the appropriate, proportionate combat power to eliminate that resistance. We are being very deliberate and precise in the application of that combat power to prevent any wounding or injuring of noncombatants in the area.

DoD Updates its Lies about Iraq, 4,12,2004

Well, I googled some of Peterson's Falluja stories. They're all quite good, imo, but these three stand out as highly relevant:

• Tough US tactics quell Fallujah unrest, but at what cost?


• US tips toward restraint in Fallujah


• Marines see gains in Fallujah

In that first story of his, the criticism you make about the US adopting Israeli tactics is given serious consideration. Whoa. What a recipe for disaster. Is that a military thing? Their inability to think and act wisely? You might jump to that conclusion, but then read through some of these stories, and get to this:

The moderate tone at the command level here is in stark contrast to the ultimatums given to insurgents last week to disarm or face a full military offensive, which stemmed from uncompromising rhetoric in Washington over the Fallujah standoff.

Op citera

Think about it. Rumsfeld is a war criminal for sure. He needs to go now.

[Just Me]

4. Random bombing,...very, very bad.

That would be a war crime.

The military is covering this up, too, I suppose.

:cry:

I feel such sadness and regret for all the people whose lives have been ruined by this corrupt administration.

[Just Me]

5. Kick

This article includes a great deal of evidence that, apparently, there was little distinction exercised to ascertain who was innocent or guilty.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Apparently our pResident believes having enough deadly weapons

protects you from the humiliation of recognizing how desperately cruel and wrong you have been, and the embarrassment of shame.

[BeHereNow]

7. AND NOW, he wants 25 BILLION MORE

Tax payer dollars to continue random bombings in Iraq.
CALL YOUR CONGRESS PEOPLE
and tell them they are OUT on their asses if they approve
this request.
25 BILLION to pay merc soldiers?
25 BILLION to kill civilians?
25 BILLION to commit further atrocities in OUR names?
I DON'T THINK SO!

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

BHN

[leftchick]

9. shameful...

and sickening. :(

[Just Me]

10. .

:kick:

[colonel odis]

11. and when a terrorist, either solo or part of a group

commits some insane act that kills thousands of americans, this administration can look back upon this and things like the abuse of iraqi citizens in prisons and have no one to blame but itself.

of course, they'll blame everything from bill clinton's penis to this site to whoever's in their covetous crosshairs at that moment -- then probably use it as a shining example of why we need further tax cuts.

but if they ever wonder what caused the upsurge we're almost guaranteed to see in terrorism that will haunt us for the next generation, they can look back on stupidity such as this.

damn george bush and his whole crew. may they all rot in hell.

[Fridays Child]

12. Where I come from, we call this "losing."

"The irony is that the Americans have had to turn to former soldiers in Saddam's army - who only a year ago they were celebrating victory over - to restore order in Falluja."

[ufansdilligaf]

13. I guess we just have to trust Caroline Hawley

Since she didn't quote any names or cite any officials we will just have to accept that whatever Caroline Hawley say is happening is the gospel. No thanks.

[gottaB]

14. huh?

A. She offered herself as a witness. Her and her cameraman.

B. If you watched the video (on the right, realmedia), or saw it when it was broadcast last night, you'd know she talked to several Iraqis there in Falluja. She named a Mr. Hassan and a Mr. Abbas.

C. Is there some specific piece of info that you distrust?--Because her story comports with other reports I've seen, heard and read.

[Bridget Burke]

15. Right, and what's this "BBC" she works for?

Nobody ever heard of them.