Largest Iraq Air Assault Since '03 Begins

[PhilipShore]

ABC News/AP
Largest Iraq Air Assault Since '03 Begins
Mar 16, 2006

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1732727

BAGHDAD, Iraq Mar 16, 2006 (AP)— The United States on Thursday launched what was termed the largest air assault since the U.S.-led invasion, targeting insurgent strongholds north of the capital, the military said.

The U.S. military said Iraqi troops also were involved in the operation aimed at clearing a "suspected insurgent operating area northeast of Samarra."

"More than 1,500 Iraqi and Coalition troops, over 200 tactical vehicles, and more than 50 aircraft participated in the operation," the military statement said.

Samarra is 60 miles north of Baghdad.

[NVMojo]

1. how many children live there?

[stepnw1f]

4. How Many Pregnant Women

will die with their unborn... anybody hear an outcry by the Ant-Choice Crowd? Didn't think so...

[cain_7777]

160. Bush's Oil War

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- A U.S.-led raid on a suspected site of terror network al Qaeda in Iraq killed 11 civilians -- including five children -- according to Iraqi police, but the U.S. military said the death toll from the strike north of Balad was four.

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/03/15/iraq.main/

[Barrett808]

5. If it's like Fallujah, we warned the civilian population beforehand...

...and left it to them to figure out how to get out. This drove thousands of families into the desert. As Chomsky has pointed out, this is a war crime, and arguably genocide, in the tradition of Srebrenica. At least the Serbs trucked out the women and children.

Of course, the insurgents will be long gone.

[wtmusic]

77. They're all "insurgents" now. nt

[katty]

103. How many will die from this?!Dry Drunk strikes out...I'm pissed

and I gonna git ya'all!!! This after the ALL the polls on presstitute media central
say the DEMS will win in November-both houses!

GOP...how will you spin this today?!

[0007]

136. This is so fucking dumb, I can't believe it! And we wonder why

the world hates us.

Did we not learn our lesson well?

[janetle]

90. "Collateral Damage" expected to be high.

This is what I heard a retired Air Force General on CNN a while ago say.

[mom cat]

67. Bring pictures of wounded or dead children to the rally!

We have to put this in their face!

[coalition_unwilling]

126. Would those be "children disguised as terrorists"? (n/t)

[cain_7777]

156. Bush likes to win!

Whether its lying, cheating, or killing, Bush needs to be the best. He cheated his way into office, he lied his way into Iraq, and now he must kill more Iraqi Civilians than Saddam. Keeping America competitive, bush leads by example.

[bullimiami]

2. when you see 'suspected insurgent operating area' you can be sure

innocent civilians are being slaughtered.

Our country, our military, our government has become evil.

[MessiahRp]

3. I think we were evil long ago...

See how we burnt half of Japan's citizens to death with our firebombs in WWII.

Rp

[Stanchetalarooni]

66. I agree whole heartedly.

The history of the U.S. is rife with what you call evil.
In the past the horrors were committed under cover of informational darkness.
Today our country perpetrates these nightmares out in the open with the hopes that simple mass propaganda and misinformation will cover their tracks.

[FatDave]

83. Don't forget the internment camps!

That was a wonderful moment in US history, wasn't it?

[Spinoza]

169. You are (sadly) right.

Perhaps the worst single action against American citizens of ANY American President. So much for fucking Roosevelt.

[FyurFly]

102. Iraq vs. Japan bad analogy

Japan struck first, Iraq never attacked us. Read a history book.

[atreides1]

163. You're right

But based on Bush's concept of pre-emptive war, Japan was well within its rights to attack the US.

After all the US was responsible for cutting off important resources like oil and rubber, which they
defined as an attack, and so they were acting in self defense.

[classof56]

164. The nation of Japan attacked a U.S. territory.

I'm not sure how that justified sending Japanese in the U.S., many second and third generation citizens, to the internment camps. As a friend of survivors of one of those camps, I persist in the notion that this was a shameful chapter in our history, no matter how justified it seemed at the time. Lots of information out there on this subject. Of course, I am fully aware that nothing justifies what is going on in Iraq. Another shameful chapter being written even as we watch.

Tired Old Cynic

[manic expression]

173. That does absolutely nothing

to justify wanton slaughter of innocents. That does absolutely nothing to justify throwing people into concentration camps simply because of their race.

[MessiahRp]

181. They struck a military base...

We burned civilians alive.

I know my history.

Rp

[Radio_Guy]

101. "insurgents" are civilians

Who are the US troops attacking? They aren't attacking any country's military. If they aren't military, then they are civilians. Shouldn't civilians who break the law be arrested? Or send in the Black Hawk helicopters and shoot first? Hundreds of people are murdered in Chicago every year. Should Bush have Black Hawks go in and start shooting so-called "insurgents" there too? Stop killing civilians and bring our troops home now!

[coalition_unwilling]

128. During Katrina, troops had orders to "shoot to kill", because

the interests of this system will always come down on the side of protecting private property at the expense of people's needs.

[leftchick]

6. this accomplishes NOTHING except killing more Iraqis

I fucking hate this shit.

[chartresbleu]

138. not true, it lines the pockets of bomb makers

i'm sure the lobbyists for that sector of defense industries have been really pissed off lately. after their companies raked in buckets of dough because of shock and awe, i bet they were the happiest people on earth. but we havent been dropping enough bombs lately, and they are no doubt feeling the heat, so to speak. and afterall, the military industrial complex is what it driving this whole sick fucked up waste of energy, resources, and lives, isnt it. so from their perspective, you are wrong about nothing being accomplished, and i'm sure they have laready sent dick and dumbya thank you notes.

[PhilipShore]

7. March 18, 1969, American B-52s began carpet-bombing eastern Cambodia.

FRONTLINE/WORLD . Cambodia - Pol Pot's Shadow . Chronicle of Survival . 1969-1974: Caught in the crossfire | PBS

http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/cambodia/tl02.html

On March 18, 1969, American B-52s began carpet-bombing eastern Cambodia. "Operation Breakfast" was the first course in a four-year bombing campaign that drew Cambodia headlong into the Vietnam War. The Nixon Administration kept the bombings secret from Congress for several months, insisting they were directed against legitimate Vietnamese and Khmer Rouge targets. However, the raids exacted an enormous cost from the Cambodian people: the US dropped 540,000 tons of bombs , killing anywhere from 150,000 to 500,000 civilians.

[coalition_unwilling]

129. One oft-ignored aspect of Nixon's Vietnamization policy

was that, as U.S. ground forces were reduced from 1969-72, U.S. airstrikes in support of the puppet regime of the South increased dramatically.

The parallels to Nixon's Vietnamization and Bush's Iraqization are breath-taking. I expect to hear news of troop withdrawals soon, as Bush banks of American people not giving a shit as long as it's just dirty Arabs dying and not American soldiers.

[saigon68]

148. Ah yes "the dirty Arabs"

Or in the words of US Representative Cooksey of Louisiana

"A guy with a diaper on his head---said diaper being held on with a fan belt"

[raccoon]

183. but better than having fecal matter for brains, as many of our

office holders seem to have.

[Voltaire99]

180. Plus ça change

Nearly forty years on, and we are not a day wiser.

Thanks for the reminder, Philip.

[flamingpie2500]

8. The OFFICIAL start of the civil war-Shia agains Sunni--Way to go BUSH!

As for the civilians--they are probably the only people left in the area.
As if the insurgents couldn't see this coming.
Pure and unadulterated SLAUGHTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wordpix2]

9. this is what * does when his poll numbers go down, starts or revs up a war

[flamingpie2500]

10. He wants VICTORY!

[Drum]

98. No, he just wants

some anniversary sex from Laura. Or Condi. Or Jeff.

[katty]

127. bush is pissed...psychopath needs some blood

[Carla in Ca]

177. Yes, and trying to get those pathetic poll numbers up!

This is exactly the type of thing a dispassionate underachiever will do to sate his thirst for power. He will kill so many more innocents. Then I think of Katrina. I am completely numbed by my anger at this moment.

[chelsea0011]

11. "smells like...victory" Col. Kilgore

I thought Bush said a couple of days ago that Iraqis are in control of 20,000 square miles. Were those desert miles? Trust me. No civilians will be killed. They are all insurgents.:sarcasm:

[peaches2003]

12. BIGGEST AIR ASSAULT IN IRAQ

New 'shock and awe' air assault just launched in Iraq this morning. Hmmm... and I thought it was MISSION ACCOMPLISHED already!

[TayTay]

13. Isn't this what Sy Hersh was warning against

for the last two years. He said this is a terrible choice and will cause horrible suffering in Iraq among a lot of people. And isn't this what happened in Vietnam when the call for troop pullouts resulted in carpet bombings and such? How'd that work out anyway for us?

[sutz12]

24. Yep. Kill them all, let god sort them out. nt

[Barrett808]

27. The Pentagon said we could destroy four cities a year, according to Sy

If I'm remembering that correctly.

[yurbud]

36. just want to keep them away from the oil.

[xultar]

14. Got Civil War?

[janx]

15. Source?

I'd like to know more about this.

[peaches2003]

20. FAUX NEWS/Reuters

and I'm checking on CNN.

[sasha031]

16. Limpballs girlfriend was minimizing the deaths of children's this morning

in the resent air assault, my heart breaks for the poor Iraq's

[saigon68]

48. Here is a Photo of the American WAR CRIMES

SUPPORT THE TROOPS

[Name removed]

86. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[donkeyotay]

105. So if we kill these little insurgents in dribs and drabs, just a few

truckloads at a time, then it won't be a genocide, right?

I seem to recall something in the Geneva Conventions about the rights of citizens of an occupied country to resist, if anyone's interested.

[sabra]

17. More >> US MILITARY SAYS LAUNCHES LARGEST AIR ASSAULT IN IRAQ SINCE 2003

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L16126894.htm

US MILITARY SAYS LAUNCHES LARGEST AIR ASSAULT IN IRAQ SINCE 2003
16 Mar 2006 15:23:52 GMT

Source: Reuters

US MILITARY SAYS LAUNCHES LARGEST AIR ASSAULT IN IRAQ SINCE 2003 INVASION

[maddezmom]

28. more: 50 aircraft and 1500 US/Iraqi personnel

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060316/ts_nm/iraq_usa_offensive_dc_1

[maddezmom]

31. and it has a name; "Operation Swarmer"

:eyes:

[sabra]

38. WTF?

[maddezmom]

47. yes, SWARMER and it started yesterday

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2167746#2167798

regardless of what this statement says:
The statement said "Operation Swarmer" was launched on Thursday morning and is "expected to continue for several days as a thorough search of the objective area is conducted."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060316/ts_nm/iraq_usa_offensive_dc_2

[cureautismnow]

167. Operation Evil continues ...

Oh, and as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage.
No angel born in hell
Could break that satan’s spell.
And as the flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite,
I saw satan laughing with delight



The day the music died

-D. McClean

[truth2power]

171. Good work, Dubya. American Pie is one of my faves! ....

BTW, who are those folks in white coats? Are they waiting to take him away?? :evilgrin:

[cureautismnow]

172. Lol... We can always hope.

The one looks a little like Fitzpatrick. Fitzie could make us all have a joyous St. Patrick's Day by taking the whole evil lot away!:party:

[sinkingfeeling]

18. Maybe the plan is to simply eliminate the 25 million Iraqis to avoid civil

war. I've actually seen bumper stickers promoting that idea.

[MannyGoldstein]

100. Boston Radio Barking Head Says "Nuke 'Em"!

Jay Severin, an extraordinarily evil but well-vocabularied barking head on local Boston radio has said that we should “drop a nuke on Afghanistan and Iraq, instead of putting Americans soldiers at risk unnecessarily". :nuke:

I've also heard him call for the execution of prisoners of war.

Nice guy.

If anyone wants to do bad things to his radio station, let me know - I'd be glad to help out!

[donkeyotay]

107. I believe this policy of chaos may well be genocidal nt

[central scrutinizer]

19. taking a page from Clinton/Yugoslavia

Indiscriminate bombing and killing of civilians minimizes US casualties. There is no air force or anti-aircraft capability in Iraq so unless two planes collide, there will be zero US casualties - just like Yugoslavia. I'm surprised they didn't do this long ago.

[endarkenment]

25. Serbia had an effective air defense system.

Our planes were forced to fly above their range (15,000 ft if I recall correctly.) This of course INCREASES civilian casualties and DECREASES military effectiveness. We were unable to significantly damage the Serbian military. We were able to destroy infrastructure and kill civilians.

[Bandit]

73. I find it hard to believe their range is only 15000 feet

North Vietnamese were shooting down B-52s from forty thousand feet and that was a quarter century ago. :shrug: 50 caliber could reach fifteen thousand feet.

[coalition_unwilling]

131. Hmm, I thought Iraqi resistance shot down 1-2 Blackhawks

a few months ago. Also, Saddam had significant stocks of shoulder-fired anti-aircraft Stingers; those disappeared from Iraqi armories following the supposed "defeat" of the Baathist regime.

[Untermonkey]

21. Ok, this time they really, REALLY mean it!

They'll accomplish it this time...maybe, or perhaps the next. We'll have to wait and see.

[Barrett808]

22. Gotta put those AC-130s to good use...

..now that they're back in-country.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

49. Bastards. Against unarmed women and children. Bastards.

[Barrett808]

53. No, no -- against "anti-Iraqi forces", or AIF

AIF are whoever we say they are. If they're killed, they're AIF, even if female or undersized.

See how that works?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

55. ah, so. Ah see. Ah men.

a surgical strike with AC-130s and attack fighter bombers. Yup, just like a laser scalpel.

I suspect we will succeed in our drive to unite all of Iraq.

against us.

[OKNancy]

23. could you please post a link and a subject line

from a source? How about picking up sabra's down-thread.
It causes a lot of confusion and dupes with an unclear subject line. Thanks!

Nancy
LBN moderator

[E-Z-B]

26. On a day when Dubya's poll numbers have sunk to new lows

Coincidence?

[bluedog]

29. increased airstrikes in Iraq during the past five months

U.S. military airstrikes significantly increased in Iraq
By Tom Lasseter
Knight Ridder Newspapers

BAGHDAD, Iraq - American forces have dramatically increased airstrikes in Iraq during the past five months, a change of tactics that may foreshadow how the United States plans to battle a still-strong insurgency while reducing the number of U.S. ground troops serving here.

A review of military data shows that daily bombing runs and jet-missile launches have increased by more than 50 percent in the past five months, compared with the same period last year. Knight Ridder's statistical findings were reviewed and confirmed by American Air Force officials in the region.

The numbers also show that U.S. forces dropped bombs on more cities during the last five months than they did during the same period a year ago. Air strikes a year ago struck at least nine cities, but were mostly concentrated in and around the western city of Fallujah. This year, U.S. warplanes have struck at least 18 cities.

The spike in bombings comes at a crucial time for American diplomatic efforts in Iraq. Officials in Washington have said that the situation in Iraq is improving, creating expectations that at least some American troops might be able to withdraw over the next year.



http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/14098141.htm


************they have been bombing.....wonder why the Iraqis want the US out?............

[cal04]

30. a little more information updated now on Yahoo

U.S. and Iraqi forces on Thursday launched what was termed the largest air assault since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, targeting insurgent strongholds north of the capital, the U.S. military said.

"More than 1,500 Iraqi and Coalition troops, over 200 tactical vehicles, and more than 50 aircraft participated in the operation," the military statement said of the attack, designed to "clear a suspected insurgent operating area northeast of Samarra."

Samarra is 95 kilometers (60 miles) north of Baghdad.

The military said the operation was expected to continue over several days against insurgent targets in Salahuddin province.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060316/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_air_assault_2
OMG these poor people of Iraq

[maddezmom]

35. it started yesterday with the 11 civilians killed

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2167746

[cal04]

57. thanks for the link. Knight Ridder had an article on this too

There are risks to a strategy that relies more on aerial bombings than ground combat patrols. In the town of Samarra, for example, insurgents last month were able to spend several hours rigging explosives in the dome of a Shiite shrine that they later destroyed, in part because American troops patrolled less. The shrine's destruction triggered a week of sectarian violence that killed hundreds. U.S. soldiers interviewed in Samarra three weeks earlier said patrols in the city had been scaled back because the number of troops had been reduced by two-thirds.

Airstrikes also risk civilian casualties, driving a wedge between American forces and Iraqis, Iraqis say.


"The people of Karabilah hate the foreigners who crossed the border and entered their areas and got into a fight with the Americans," al Dulaimi said. "The residents now also hate the American occupiers who demolished their houses with bombs and killed their families ... and now the people of Karabilah want to join the resistance against the Americans for what they did."

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/world/14098281.htm?source=rss&channel=krwashington_world

[Newsjock]

32. Congressional oversight

Why aren't our lawmakers on the floor of Congress right now demanding to be told why this attack is justified and necessary right now?

Oh, sheesh, ha ha ha. Sometimes I slay myself.

[shantipriya]

42. Congress

Because ours is not a democracy.

[atreides1]

52. It's Simple

Congress no longer has any oversight authority, the King and his military advisors can do anything they want, and if a member of Congress resists they are branded as "unpatriotic".

[FatDave]

92. "unpatriotic"?

Are you sure you don't mean "helping the enemy"?

[saigon68]

112. The Dinos in Congress are being wined and dined by DLC Corporate Interests

They are Cowering before their Masters




PRESIDENT R. CHENEY

[wordpix2]

106. what's "congressional oversight?" That went out with 2000 election & FISA

law

[donkeyotay]

111. There is no Congress. It turned out to just be another liberal myth. nt

[Squatch]

33. Mission Accomplished?

or

"I lied, so scampish"

[Barrett808]

34. Nothing better than "shock and awe" to get a unity government up

Yessirree "Bob", that should whip 'em into shape.

[The Witch]

37. Against whom? The government we just installed?! What the hell!?

Please god. Let this be the straw that breaks the camel's back. This is awful.

[auagroach]

39. Sorry but don't you need a link?

[bluedog]

700 more troops +++ 3000 MN national guard

*********note this is not being aired by the media........so actually its 3700 more troops and targets........


Yes, and 3000 MN national guard are being deployed on Saturday.

http://wcco.com/local/local_story_045165757.html
Camp Shelby Plans Sendoff For Minnesota Brigade

AP) Jackson, Miss. Graduation day is rapidly approaching for thousands of Iraq-bound troops from Minnesota, and military trainers at Camp Shelby are already preparing for their next class of soldiers from more than a dozen states.

The 4,000 member 34th Brigade Combat Team, made up primarily of Minnesota National Guard soldiers, is at Fort Polk in Louisiana now but will return to Camp Shelby for a send off ceremony in March before heading to Iraq.

Camp Shelby, an expansive, 136,000-acre National Guard base south of Hattiesburg, has served a pivotal role training soldiers for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The deployment will be the largest overseas mobilization since World War II for both Oregon and Minnesota, officials said.

[The_Casual_Observer]

76. largest overseas mobilization since World War II

"Let freedom reign!"

[Marie26]

157. .. and into Iran we go. nt

[Bigmack]

41. I wish you guys would stop...

... whining!

The US has the most accurate planes and bombs in the world. We won't kill any civilians. Just like we haven't killed civilians before in this war.

Deep, dark, blood-and-body-parts :sarcasm: intended.

[MrPrax]

43. US says launches biggest air assault in Iraq

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The U.S. military said on Thursday it had launched its biggest air offensive in Iraq since the 2003 invasion.

A military statement said the operation involving more than 50 aircraft and 1,500 Iraqi and U.S. troops as well as 200 tactical vehicles targeted suspected insurgents operating near the town of Samarra, 100 km (60 miles) north of Baghdad.

The statement said "Operation Swarmer" was launched on Thursday morning and is "expected to continue for several days as a thorough search of the objective area is conducted."

Samarra was the site of a bombing attack last month on a Shi'ite shrine that set off sectarian reprisals and pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war.

Reuters

Same Reuters story at http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1732636

Another one from Xinhau:

US-Iraqi forces launch offensive against insurgents in Samarra

TIKRIT, Iraq, March 16 (Xinhuanet) -- The U.S. and Iraqi troops waged on Thursday a large-scale offensive against insurgents in a sprawling open area northeast of Samarra, 120 km north of Baghdad, a local provincial security source told Xinhua.

"Iraqi army and police forces, backed by U.S. helicopters launched a pre-dawn offensive against insurgents in the Jallamarea from several directions," the source from Salahudin province said on condition of anonymity.

The attack targeted insurgents, including the al-Qaida fighters in the open area between Samarra town to the south and the al-Dowr town to the north, and between Tigris River to the west and the Himrin mountains to the east, the source said. More
This account has a different spin, but more details of who, what, where...


Criminal Bastards...

(edited to add Chinese link)

[bluedog]

44. " create more insurgents than they kill"

"Residents worry that their homes will be bombed at any time," said Hussein Ali Jaafar, who owns a stationery shop in the town of Balad, north of Baghdad, which was targeted by bombs or missiles at least 27 times between October 2005 and February 2006. "Most of the bombing is unjustified and random. It does not differentiate between militants and innocent people."

A tribal sheik who lives on the outskirts of the troubled Anbar town of Ramadi, who asked that he be identified as Abu Tahseen instead of by his full name out of fear of possible retribution, said that the strikes create more insurgents than they kill because of the region's tribal dictates of revenge.

"They (the Americans) think: `As long as there are resistance fighters operating in this spot, we will wipe it out entirely,'" Abu Tahseen said, using the term for insurgents favored by Iraqis sympathetic to their cause. "As you know, our nature is a tribal one, and so if one from us is killed, we kill three or four in return."

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/14098141.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

[boot@9]

82. Like in Vietnam...

"We had to destroy the village in order to save it."

[coalition_unwilling]

132. Can we stop supporting the troops (or at least those

in the Air Force) now? I mean, at some point, don't we have to support the Iraqi resistance, even if it means our troops dieing and getting shot out of the sky?

[manic expression]

174. Tricky question

one that you have to answer for yourself.

Do you support people who are being used for war crimes, no matter what? Do you support unjustified aggression, occupation and murder, even if the aggressor is your country? Do you disagree with the Nuremberg Trials?

Those are some questions you need to answer in regards to this dilemma. I already know what my answer is.

[lostexpectation]

45. less troops equals more bombs :(

[eek]

46. wow. such coincidental timing

what with Feingold's press conference, aWol's 33% ....

That bush admin has the dernedest luck with these totally coincidental breaking news things, huh?:eyes:

[bluedog]

50. Are there Governors going to Iraq this week?

is he trying to kill them?

[phusion]

51. More reason to

get our asses out into the streets this weekend!

[ContraBass Black]

54. Unbelievable.

Are there any Iraqis left?

[rurallib]

56. I'll bet the generals at Freeperville are 100% behind it

By god, great fun!
Impeach that son of a super bitch now and then bring criminal charges.

[Dem Agog]

58. Guess they couldn't resist an anniversary party..

More death and mayhem - to celebrate, don't you know...

[HuffleClaw]

40. practice for the coming iran gambit

and the usual diversion from falling bushco. poll numbers. expect TERRA alert or some crap before the week is up too.

[KoKo]

59. Another "test" of his Doctrine of Pre-Emptive Strike. I wondered why

the MSM was focusing on Bush announcing his new National Security Plan and the focus by the Talking Heads was it "reafirmed his position."

Bombs away as he kills and kills and kills ...innocent people... Probably more Iraqi's than Saddam every gassed or killed.

[wordpix2]

60. Tweety, Buchanan, Milbank last night discussed how * needs new war to

keep repukes in power in '06. Buchanan suggested * would be going to Iran in October to ensure repuke victory in Congress. I guess * decided to get the poll numbers up earlier than that.

[sinkingfeeling]

108. OK, I'll say it. How does Bush's pre-emptive crap compare to Hilter?

I see it as identical. How can this be the country of my birth? When you have a political party willing to wage endless war in an effort to keep power for themselves? I now offically hate any and all Republicans!

[coalition_unwilling]

133. Hitler was a competent fascist (n/t)

[sinkingfeeling]

109. Deleting duplicate post.

[progressivebydesign]

118. I think it will backfire, but then.. I'm intelligent

apparently unlike at least half of the Americans who would vote for that imbecile.

[lonestarnot]

61. People are on to your shit bushitler!

[leftchick]

62. I think this is equal to the destruction of Fallujah

Probably the same amount of aircraft and personel. They just like to call it the biggest for the marketing effect.

[OKNancy]

64. I hope you are right

It's really stomach-turning if it isn't just a P.R. thing -

PS - I hate that SOB Bush!!!! :hi:

[leftchick]

70. I hate him more!

:hi:

[ladjf]

63. No. Get out of Iraq. Stop killing people.

[flamingpie2500]

65. I just love how they say this is being fought by Iraqi forces--

This is an AIR assault!! Iraqi's are flying OUR helicopters and C-130's?
I don't think so.

[LynnTheDem]

68. Iraqis; Life was better under Saddam

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x675236

[Mr_Spock]

69. KILL!!!! KILL!!!

We are Americans, we love to kill!!

:eyes:

Didn't the war end 3 years ago...?

[helderheid]

71. FUCK.

[Beaverhausen]

96. My sentiments exactly

:mad: :cry:

[The_Casual_Observer]

72. Another brilliant strategy from the cold war military.

This is pure desperation, it will solve nothing.

[mzmolly]

74. This is likely an attempt to manipulate the news.

Now the media is talking about our air assault and not Bush's lousy poll numbers.

Poor poor innocent souls. God I hate this President.

[democrank]

75. Perfect venue for a reinvigerated pro-Bush rally.

Operation Swarmer, Republicans` latest excuse for a "Kill, Kill" chant.

[Liberal Librarian]

135. In Need of a New Lexicon

Who in the hell comes up with these names? This isn't the fictional world of GI Joe. Are we to all say "oooh"? The only ones needing a good sting are members of the Bush crime family and their extended family.

[Pryderi]

78. Wag the Dog

[Ganja Ninja]

137. Yup! Gotta get people's attention off those low poll numbers ...

and the flap over domestic spying.

[wtmusic]

79. And what a coincidence...third anniversary of start of failed war

is only days away. :grr:

[kcass1954]

141. Happy anniversary to Iraq!

I hope they appreciate all that we're doing for them. :sarcasm:

[CoffeeCat]

80. How "pro life" of them! Bastards. (nt)

[donkeyotay]

113. It's okay to carpet bomb fetuses

You just can't issue birth control. Get with the compassion, will you?

[jokerman93]

81. Falluja 2

Who ARE these multitudes of organized terrorist insurgents anyway?

They make it sound like we've amassed troops on the front against some kind of vast organized army. We're just leveling another city and killing its citizens aren't we?

This is genocide, and we're paying the bill. Everything about this fake war is just nauseating.

:argh:
J.

[90-percent]

85. yawn

I think innocent Iraqi's should just shut up and take their "collateral damage" like a man!

Hey, Iraqi's, the USA is going to have to kill you to save you.

don't thanks us, your lives are a small price to pay for ridding your country of that evil Saddam of yours. We're making sure he won't be able to torture and mass grave you any more!

Oh, by the way, wheres all those flowers in the street you were supposed to throw at our troups when we liberated you?

Ingrates!

-85% Jimmy

[jokerman93]

153. You got that right, bro n/t

[glitch]

84. Provocation - it's what they do. Then they ignore all warnings and stand

down to allow an atrocity in the "Homeland" and whaddyaknow, their dumpster ratings spike.

Will this tired old rerun from these tired old men with their tired old ideas of (tired, old) empire work again on the stupored Americans?

[LeftNYC]

87. You've got to be kidding me...

Bush really doesnt give a shit what people think does he? How many innocent people were killed. We may never know. I HATE THIS PRICK!

I AM CONVINCED THAT 9/11 WAS IGNORED OR PURPOSELY PLANNED BY THIS ADMINISTRATION...

[killerbush]

88. This will certainly get Russ Feingold off the front pages

Now, the Republicans have something to scream about once again. Let's see if this props up Bush's numbers any!!

[Tight_rope]

89. So...they are trying to kill off all Iraqis...This will come back to hurt

the US many years from now! "GOD NEVER SLEEPS"!

[Pachamama]

178. In the Karma Bank Account of Life, the USA is now officially in default &

overdrawn....Any credit we had is now completely wiped away....I can only cringe at the Karmic backlash that is heading our country's way for these events and actions of the Bush Administration....

[raccoon]

184. I do too. And it will be American civilians who suffer, regardless

of how they felt about the Bush admin.

[sendero]

91. Let the desparate..

... destructive and completely ineffectual actions begin. When you find yourself in a hole, keep digging.

[madmark]

93. feels like some of the offensives Nixon did in the 70's when every

body knew the game was up, and were just waiting to get the hell out of there.

[TechBear_Seattle]

94. Larger than "Shock and Awe"?

Oh, THAT will help us win the hearts of the Iraqi people.

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[Pachamama]

179. It's now called "Awesomingly Shocking"...and it leaves no hearts behind...

:puke:

[kineneb]

95. Vietnam redux: loosing ground war, start carpet bombing

For people who "wanted to put Vietnam behind them"- why are they following the same script?

Here we go again...

Remind the last helicopter crew out of Iraq to please turn out the lights in the Green Zone.

[chelsea0011]

97. Discussion must get back to the war on terror. Scotty must only

speak about how we are "winning and making America safe". "Fighting them over there", so...oh, never mind.

[FatDave]

99. Any predictions?

How will this affect approval ratings?

[Bob3]

104. Remember all those BS emails comparing Iraq to post war germany?

when they tried to prove that the budding insurgency was nothing to worry about.

Those seem to have gone away, I guess since we were not carpet bombing German cities in 1948 the comparison doesn't hold much water anymore.

And I don't see the Happy talk announcements about how many schools we've built around much anymore. I wonder if any of those schools are in the target area. That would be just the sick cherry on the bloody cake yes? On top of the useless slaughter of people, the facial aspect of spending U.S. tax dollars to blow up buildings built by US tax dollars.

so how does this all square with the National Review's insistence that we're winning? Tossing bombs at insurgents implies to me at least that things are worse now than they were a year ago.

[12string]

110. More Bombs

Bush claims to be a Christian? Has he ever heard of "THOU
SHALT NOT KILL"? I am not a Christian but I still believe
in that commandment.How about Karma, the "what goes
'round,comes around"? Today I grieve for the Iraqi
people,but when the time comes for America to even it's Karmic
debt I'm afraid it will be time to grieve for our innocents
that will have to pay for these atrocities.I can not even
begin to fathom the sickness that perpetuate this behavior.I'm
a 50 year old male that has always believed in "Make Love
Not War".Today I want to cry.

[Nashyra]

116. This is simply a ploy

They will attempt to say there were more Iraqi troops than American troops, that it was led by the Iraqi's just to be able to say that "see the Iraqi's are ready to take over" They can redploy to Iran, bomb the shit out of them by saying they are protecting the democracy in Iraq and keeping us safe.

[TNOE]

121. You have said a mouthful there

and so true - Welcome to DU 12 strings :hi:

I become more and more ashamed of America with each and every passing day with these criminals in the White House - something has got to give.

You're right - I fear the payback America is going to have to endure because of this dumass.

[jokerman93]

158. Word from the fundie canon

"War isn't killing. It's war." (A fundie actually told me this once.)

See, God loves war. George Bush uses Shock and Awe. Our God is an awesome God. Shock and awe are the instruments of our awesome God. God uses war to smite his enemies all the time.
:nuke:
It's in the Baaa-bull.

[acmavm]

114. This will really endear America to the Iraqi people. And gain

support for their puppet government as well. :sarcasm:

[progressivebydesign]

115. I knew this was coming when they sent over the planes last week.

This should truly win the Iraqis over once and for all.. :sarcasm: And it will certainly help with the civil war, right? And.. now I can see that it was really only the muffed port deal that causes the Arab world to hate us, certainly it's not air assaults like these. :sarcasm: We should have known that the Idiot King would have to do something ugly around the anniversary of the invasion. Is he posturing to frighten Iran? Or is he just moving planes in the area to head on over there? Wonder how many missions we're running over Iran right now, hoping to draw fire???

[plasticsundance]

140. That is what I was thinking

"Is he posturing to frighten Iran?

It seems to coincide with the recent tough talk directed towards Iran. It may not influence Ahmadinejad, but it's my belief that the Bush Administration wants to drive a wedge between those in Iran that are not comfortable with Ahmadinejad's unrelenting position on the nuclear issue, and those that support Ahmadinejad's approach on the issue.

The Bush Administration will fail, because they simply don't understand those they wish to deem as bad guys. This is how and why they fucked up in Iraq. Iran sees that the US military is overstretched in Iraq, but the Bush Administration wants to demonstrate to Iran that the US does not have to rely on troops to cause havoc and chaos upon another country. Notice I didn't mention victory.

Iran will see through this veil attempt by the Bush Administration, because anyone with a lick of sense about these things knows that these military operations cost money. Iran will surely realize that Bush is trying to intimidate them, but that reveals the Bush Administration's weakness ... not strength. It surely reveals that using troops in Iraq have become less of an option for the US, and I'm sure Iran has picked up on that also

This is the problem with this preemptive shock and awe bullshit, it becomes less effective and impressive the more it is used. Hell ... its never worked in the first place.

In this game Washington blinked and revealed their hand.

This is my theory.

[truebrit71]

117. "Mission Accomplished!" "Major combat operations are over!"

Apparently not...

Hmmm, guess someone's approval ratings are in the shitter....:eyes:

[ArmchairMeme]

119. Shock 'n Awe Part 4

First Bagdad, then Najaf, then Falluja and then Samarra and then, and then.....

Does this have anything to do with the American who was arrested in this area in posession of explosives?

I deplore all the killing. History has not taught humans anything.

Killing does not work, it is not a solution.

Well, except for politicians.

[Joey Liberal]

120. Bush is down in the polls

So it's time to attack.

[darkism]

122. Can't win on the ground? Take to the air.

What a joke. All this will do is kill MORE civilians and get the Iraqis MORE pissed at the USA, if that's possible.

[bluestateguy]

123. I don't care

I'm washing my hands of the Iraq war, which I never supported, and seems to drag on and on anyway.

It's no longer my problem.

Any spring training games on TV today.

[robre]

124. Air Assault means a helicopter operation, no bombs.

http://www.campbell.army.mil/aas/air_assault_school.htm

[Martin Eden]

125. The "air assault" the other day used helicopters

and a bunch of women and children were killed.

If this assault is the "biggest" since the invasion, so will the death toll of innocents.

[saigon68]

139. Helicopter Rockets and Chain Guns KICK ASS TOO

Especially if you are a child (insert racial epithet here) head

[robre]

142. Transport helicopters.

If you looked at the AP photos attached to every news agency's printing of this story you would of course had known this.

[saigon68]

143. Oh Ya and a bunch of Slicks are just flying around

With no Apache escort--- Get real



An Iraqi looks at the bodies of girls killed during a US raid near the city of Balad, north of Baghdad, 15 March. Suddenly, subtly, the nature of the war in Iraq has changed, confronting the US military with the threat of a civil war and what may be its biggest test since the US-led invasion three years ago(AFP/Dia Hamid)

[robre]

149. Why would they need "apache escort."

Did you need cobra escort everywhere you went in Vietnam?

You only need attack helicopter support when you are making an opposed troop drop.

This is just a photo op mission.

[saigon68]

152. That's a hell of a photo op

In this handout photo released by the U.S. Military soldiers and aircraft are positioned on the airstrip at Forward Operating Base Remagen in advance of Operation Swarmer, a combined Iraqi and Coalition operation to clear a suspected insurgent operating area northeast of Samarra, Iraq, Thursday, March, 16, 2006. U.S. forces Thursday launched what was termed the largest air assault since the U.S. led invasion, targeting insurgent strongholds north of the capital, the U.S. military said. The American troops were joined by the Iraqi army. (AP Photo/ Sgt. First Class Antony Joseph, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs)

These slicks are carrying lots of troops

Anytime I saw this there were escorts, to suppress ground-fire

Hell read about Lam Son 719

I was there

Here is the link listen to the radio chatter


http://www.a101avn.org/LamSon719.html

[robre]

186. It was one hell of a photo-op.

Four Black Hawk helicopters landed in a wheat field and dropped off a television crew, three photographers, three print reporters and three Iraqi government officials right into the middle of Operation Swarmer. Iraqi soldiers in newly painted humvees, green and red Iraqi flags stenciled on the tailgates, had just finished searching the farm populated by a half-dozen skinny cows and a woman kneading freshly risen dough and slapping it to the walls of a mud oven.


http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1174448,00.html


Hmmmmm... at least some of us are still capable of the middle path of reasonable analysis.

[saigon68]

188. You said IT !!!!

[Supersedeas]

191. what not U.S. carrier and Presidential Jumpsuit imbedded in the photo

[Amonester]

175. It's the war-criminal-in-chief's way to win their hearts and minds...

And like everything else this evil MFer does (or doesn't), it's a complete disaster... Send the Cabal of Liars to the Hague.

[Barrett808]

144. Don't forget the white phosphorus -- shake & bake, baby. n/t

[Zhade]

155. That's right, minimize the deaths of innocent Iraqis.

Fucking reprehensible.

[robre]

161. How am I doing that?

Because I am not joining in with a gross mischaracterization of the nature of this operations as "Shock and Awe," part 2?

Sorry, I genuinely empathize with any innocent Iraqis killed in these raids.

[Kailassa]

187. no, these days war means business opportunity,

education means religious indoctrination,

health-care means business opportunity,

law means current arrangement,

charity means business opportunity,

constitution means just a piece of paper,

hurricane means business opportunity,

murder means removing a few cells of body tissue that might have one day developed into a cheap worker,

and governing a country means the best business opportunity of all time.

[Skarbrowe]

130. Bush and Cheney are angry (and mad). They HAVE to kill something. nt

[coalition_unwilling]

134. Support our Oops! (n/t)

[saigon68]

145. You forgot this creature screaming FREEDOM IS ON THE MARCH

[alcibiades_mystery]

146. So that would make this the fourth time we've "cleared out" Samarra

We also built a wall around the city, and went house to house throughout it.

These operations are a fucking joke.

[saigon68]

147. Unfortunately

As we all know

Its no joke

To the DEAD children

[Catherine Vincent]

150. Dear Lord,

Will you ever forgive us Americans for killing thousands of men, women and children in Iraq?

:cry:

[Shine]

151. WTF??! Some sort of sick "anniversary gift"

I can't believe it's been three years of this shit already. :cry: It makes me sad.

Sigh....

[w4rma]

154. What a fucking nightmare. (nt)

[malaise]

159. Democracy by murder

Fuck Bush.

[1620rock]

165. Yesterday the new torture photos, today this...

...time to peel off those 'support the troops' magnets and stickers and deposit them in the trash.

[malaise]

166. Can't take much more of this

I've had it.

[Megahurtz]

162. O - M - F - G !!!

;( And they didn't even confer with the American Public
or tell us that they were going to do this!

[belab13]

168. Provoking the Iranians no doubt

I'd like to see a map of where US military activities are taking place.

and no mainstream media coverage????

[Terran1212]

170. Another endless siege that will do nothing but cause suffering

[Name removed]

176. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[saigon68]

189. adios

[Marie26]

182. Great

So, how is an air assault going to route out insurgents? It doesn't make any sense. The insurgents will hear about the raid & simply move on to another hideout, while we bomb the unfortunate civilians who are left. As a plus, we also inspire more of those neutral civilians to become insurgents themselves or mistrust the new Iraqi gov. If massive air assaults are so effective, how com we've never tried them before? This air raid is only good for one thing - preparing the American public for the future air assaults against Iran.

[Catchawave]

185. From what "Dept of Defense" coverage I've seen.....

sure looks like 29 Palms California :tinfoilhat:

sidebar: :sarcasm: no disrespect to the troops intended.

[CanonRay]

190. Didn't we just do this last week???

It's like when they arrest a #3 Al Quaida guy.