US troops under heavy attack west of Baghdad, as casualties mount

[Judi Lynn]

US troops under heavy attack west of Baghdad, as casualties mount
September 30, 2003


US forces used tanks and rocket-firing helicopters to fight their way out of ambushes as two convoys came under heavy attack west of the Iraqi capital.

US forces used tanks, helicopters and a fighter jet to battle their way out of a heavy ambush in Iraq as troop and civilian casualties continued to mount in what is becoming a security quagmire. (snip)

(snip) In farmland near the central town of Khaldiyah, US soldiers and Iraqi fighters waged pitched battles for more than four hours Monday after a convoy came under rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) and bomb attack.

" Four jeeps and a tank were heading for Ramadi at 9:00 am (0500 GMT) when a bomb exploded under one tank, then two jeeps were hit by rocket-propelled grenades," said Mohammad Mahmud, an 18-year-old Iraqi student.

Witnesses said the Americans took heavy casualties, and AFP correspondents saw two Black Hawk helicopters land in Khaldiyah, one of which left with four wounded. Two US ambulances rushed to the site while several helicopters and a US warplane roared overhead. (snip/...)

http://www.terra.net.lb/wp/Articles/DesktopArticle.aspx?ArticleID=110471&ChannelId=1

[mhr]

1. Too Dense to be President

must be having ***asms watching the morning dailys during his Pentagon and National Security breifings.

[Prodemsouth]

2. As long as the country is not holding his ass accountable. He is does not

give a rats' ass about the flypaper.

[LizW]

3. Has Centcom ever issued a statement on casualties

from this battle? Yesterday there were witness reports of 8 Americans who appeared to be dead. Was there ever any confirmation?

[Minstrel Boy]

4. "Major combat operations over?"

This sounds pretty major. Makes me wonder when they'll pull another "we never said that."

[chromotone]

9. ..."Major combat operations over?"...

Wait and watch for the Bushistas to say that King George really said/meant "Major combat analysis over!"

<edited for emphasis>

[Mal]

5. A Just war

fought against an unjust invader. The term "Crusade" fits this invasion perfectly, if you look at the real history and motivations behind the crusades.

[kimchi]

6. It isn't like Vietnam.

It is like Palestine.

[bemildred]

7. Yep. VietNam had trees.

But it's not like Palestine either,
the Iraqis are well armed and they
way outnumber us. But in any case,
it sucks.

[Emillereid]

8. Lebanon redux?