As Iraqis return to Fallujah, many find everything they knew destroyed

[floda]

FALLUJAH, Iraq - (KRT) - Mustafa Kareem climbed off the bus into a crowd of women in ankle-length black robes who were clutching bottles of water and stacks of blankets. The mid-day sun beat down, and their faces were weary.

They had returned to Fallujah this week wondering whether their houses were still standing and how they might start their lives again.

Kareem - 21, clean-shaven and handsome, with carefully slicked back hair and dirt on his jeans - wondered the same as he proclaimed his humble mission.

"I want to bring my sister toys," Kareem said. "She just keeps crying for them."

As Iraqi and American politicians talk about the promise of democracy and national elections scheduled for the end of this month, only a fraction of Fallujah's 300,000 residents have returned home. Many are coming from the cold, filthy camps they fled to before a U.S. offensive in November to retake the rebel town.

more...

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/nation/10599363.htm

[saltpoint]

1. This is supremely embarrassing for the United States.

We're blowing these people's lives up under sheep's clothing of 'freedom on the march' and 'bringing democracy to the Middle East' etc.

I'm typing this at 5:01 p.m. Eastern, and the headline on NPR's newscast speaks of a multi-ton bomb dropped on an unintended target, with many casualties.

It's embarrassing and disgusting.

[NYC]

2. Earlier, I heard 550 lb. bomb dropped on wrong house in Mosul, 14 dead,

but U.S. claims only 5 dead.

[saltpoint]

3. Hi, NYC.

Yes -- I think it was in Mosul.

Thank you for the update info.

[NYC]

4. Now it was a 500 lb. bomb. Here's a link.

Same incident.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1133901

[saltpoint]

5. Thanks.

There isn't much to celebrate in the news from Iraq.

[NNN0LHI]

6. Someone is going to pay dearly for this shit. Just wait and see n/t

[peacebird]

7. this is a total cluster f**k

Destroy a town roughly the size of Philly, turn it into a huge rubble heap destroying the lives and livelihoods of over 300,000 people. Those who survived by fleeing still face the total loss of everything they own. Most have likely lost friends or family members and in addition to killing people we've destroyed things that are dear to everyone - like their family photos, heirlooms and mementos of all the special moments in their families lives.

And all our guys can say is "We've thrown the terrorists out"? Dear god - they have just created thousands and thousands MORE. Destroy the village to save it, a ploy that never works. Because now the villagers who remain will seek revenge for their dead.

Fallujah was called the city of Mosques wasn't it? Is this our Dresden?

I feel ill. Dear god - and this "catastrophic success" is being waged IN OUR NAMES.

:puke:

[jmcgowanjm]

8. Is this our Dresden? No, it's our Stalingrad

Or consider another break in the regular stream
of consciousness. No reporter has set foot in the city or after
the 22nd of November (notice
no eyewitness reporting, only witness ). 

A "Great Victory" like this and no
footage? 

These anomalies are noteworthy. Therefore it is very
unclear whether this is indeed the case or as a matter of
fact,
the converse is indeed the
case. 

Fallujah has not been taken. Not only has Fallujah
not
been taken, but the coalition forces have staged
several
retreats and are now confined largely to the outside of
the
city. 

The Iraqi resistance is currently in control of most of the
city
and have forced back at least three (5 as of today) of the
largest
armored assaults in recent history. 

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article7529.htm


http://www.swans.com/library/art10/mdolin03.html

[jmcgowanjm]

9. Hey, USenbeds, ask about Fatimah and her letter

Friday, 7 January 2005.
al-Fallujah

Resistance spokesman: booby traps kill 80 US troops
in an-Nazal neighborhood on Thursday-Friday.

The Shaykh apologized to Mafkarat al-Islam's correspondent
for not letting him into the city during the heavy combat
on Thursday, saying that the reason was the intensity of
the battle and their fear lest the correspondent be hurt,
since Mafkarat al-Islam is the only one that brings the news
of events and fighting in al-Fallujah to the outside
world.

The correspondent reported that the barrage left four Iraqis
dead, as well as the Iraqi woman prisoner known as
Fatimah whose letter, smuggled out of the prison two
weeks earlier disclosed outrages such as gang rapes that
the US forces regularly perpetrate against the prisoners in
the ill-reputed facility. (See below for Fatimah's letter,
reprinted here from the Iraqi Resistance Report of, 18
December 2004.) Friday's barrage also severely wounded
one 22-year old Iraqi woman.

Fuck you Senators, w/ no backbone, for even dealing
with the Torturer General
Gonzales should be EMBARRASSED TO SHOW HIS
FACE
after those torture memos leaked into broad daylight!
But
instead the Bushistas stand their ground and the
wimpocrats
sit dully and let the thugs take our civil
rights
away.

http://www.davidcogswell.com/
http:/www.rense.com

has started posting the
latest IRR

[bpilgrim]

10. why don't we get any pictures from Fallujah?

more...
http://news.globalfreepress.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=1

peace




Japanese aircraft bombed south Shanghai Station Aug.28,1937.
About 200 people in the waiting room were dead or wounded by the bombing. A crying baby was left alone after the bombing. - Life Oct. 4, 1937

google GEACPS

[struggle4progress]

11. No pics, no public outcry. eom

[leftchick]

12. AFP photo from today in Fallujah.... poor baby

An Iraqi boy watches as US Marines from Lima Company patrol the devastated city of Fallujah, some 50 kilometers west of capital Baghdad.(AFP/Hrvoje Polan)


and another... :(



An Iraqi girl looks through a hole in the door formed by a grenade in a damaged house as her family outside watch US Marines from Lima Company patrolling the devastated city of Fallujah, some 50 kilometers west of capital Baghdad.(AFP/Hrvoje Polan)

[bpilgrim]

13. OMG! that poor child looks TERRIFIED...

:cry:

thanks i will add these to the gallery

peace