US Marine Jets Bomb 2 Bridges in Iraq

[beetbox]

U.S. Marine Jets Bomb 2 Bridges in Iraq

Tuesday September 6, 2005 1:01 PM

By SAMEER N. YACOUB

Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - U.S. Marine jets Tuesday attacked two bridges across the Euphrates River near the Syrian border to prevent insurgents from using them to move foreign fighters and munitions into major cities, the U.S. command said.

A Marine statement said U.S. and Iraqi forces also destroyed a ``foreign fighter safe house,'' killed two foreigners and arrested three others during a raid Tuesday in the same area as the bridge attack.

The fighting occurred a day after U.N. chief Kofi Annan said Iraq had become an even greater terrorist center than the former Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Attacks attributed to al-Qaida's wing in Iraq have increased in the Baghdad area and western Iraq.

A Marine statement said F/A-18 jets dropped bombs shortly after midnight on two light bridges near Karabilah, about 185 miles west of Baghdad.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5259008,00.html

[leveymg]

1. Looks like they don't expect to retake that area anytime soon.

Is the beginning of Bush's BugOut from all of Iraq, except the oil fields and Baghdad?

[shadowknows69]

2. So now we have to bomb major infrastructure

to stop an insurgency in its "last throes" from moving against us? Oh yeah, we're winning.

[Ready4Change]

7. That was my thought.

Bombing bridges is a strategic action. But what we're being told about things should only require tactical action.

In other words, we're still fighting a full out war.

[Barrett808]

18. Furthermore, this is a desperate attempt at interdiction...

...and foreign jihadis are among the least of the occupation's worries. What kind of delusion keeps them from understanding that the insurgency is overwhelmingly indigenous?

[Tesha]

24. We're only destroying them in order to save them. (NT)

[LeftHander]

3. Ho Chi Mihn Trail?

Sounds familiar...

[saigon68]

10. It does and it is

[Benhurst]

4. Looks like the Bush Crime Family is using a similar management

style in Iraq to the one it's using in New Orleans.

[okoboji]

5. omg

what happened to re-building Iraq? they are stil over there distroying it .... the madness must be end

[SheepyMcSheepster]

6. mission accomplished!

i see things are going so well they are actually having to destroy stuff to make everyone more free! excellent!

:sarcasm:

[ladjf]

8. Another big boost to Iraq's economy. We are making progress!

[formercia]

9. Area Denial

.05% Insurgent traffic+ 99.95% civilian traffic. Go figure.

[jwirr]

11. Halliburtin was probably running out of things to rebuild.

[The Stranger]

12. New Orleans is much like Iraq -- except the Iraq disaster is man made.

One Nation, under PNAC, with illegal war and injustice for all.

[saigon68]

19. HALLIBURTON IS IN BOTH TO CLEAN UP $$$$$$$$$$$$

[lonestarnot]

13. And the quagmire continues!

[PunkPop]

14. Freedom's march will be stopped at the river

because their bridge is gone.

This should slow that nasty insurgency down. Yup, this should do the trick quite nicely. :sarcasm:

Their recruitment efforts have just been bolstered care of the US military. Rightwingers and War Cheerleaders take note: This should do more to 'aid' the enemy than a million Cindy Sheehans ever could.

[Gregorian]

15. Your taxes hard at work. But it's only half the story.

Your taxes will pay Halliburton to rebuild that bridge. Unless we stop their madness NOW.

Get our troops out of the Middle East. And George Bush out of the White House.


People, where do you want your taxes to be working? In Iraq, or in the USA?

[Tesha]

25. But what's good for M&M Enterprises is good... (NT)

[daleo]

16. Bombing bridges in Iraq instead of fixing them in New Orleans

Typical Bush behavior. There isn't enough money to do both.

[gizmo1979]

17. Man,who's going to pay for that?

[Barrett808]

20. U.S. Marine Jets Bomb Two Bridges in Iraq (desperate interdiction attempt)

U.S. Marine Jets Bomb Two Bridges in Iraq
Tuesday September 6, 2005 9:16 AM
By SAMEER N. YACOUB
Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - U.S. Marine jets Tuesday destroyed two bridges across the Euphrates River near the Syrian border to prevent insurgents from using them to move foreign fighters and munitions into major cities, the U.S. command said.

The attacks occurred a day after U.N. chief Kofi Annan said Iraq had become an even greater terrorist center than the former Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Attacks attributed to al-Qaida's wing in Iraq have increased in the Baghdad area and western Iraq.

A Marine statement said F/A-18 jets dropped bombs shortly after midnight on two light bridges near Karabilah, about 185 miles west of Baghdad.

``The purpose of the strike was to prevent al-Qaida in Iraq terrorists from using the structures,'' the U.S. statement said. ``The munitions used in the strike were designed to crater the bridges, rendering them inoperable but not destroying them.''

Karabilah is one of a cluster of towns near the Syrian border, a major infiltration route for foreign fighters heading for Baghdad and other major cities. Iraqi officials say al-Qaida in Iraq, led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has taken over parts of the area after local residents fled fighting between tribes supporting and opposing the insurgents.

(more)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5258762,00.html

[krkaufman]

21. Ummm..... If we control Iraq, couldn't we simply post troops...

... at those bridges, to inspect everything coming and going?

[Nihil]

23. Yeah, and in the time between passing vehicles ...

... they could dig their own graves ... that'll soon be the biggest
cemetery in the region ...

[jody]

22. If we can't control just TWO bridges we have major problems. n/t