KRT Wire | 11/08/2004 | As troops converge on Fallujah, some worry about the consequences: "Lt. Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, estimated the population at 'over 200,000' and said as many as 50 percent to 70 percent had left before the joint U.S.-Iraqi assault began.
By his estimate, more than 100,000 remained behind. But the general said civilian casualties should be kept to a minimum by 'a very disciplined targeting process' and Allawi's declaration of a state of emergency, which included a curfew and a ban on driving.
'We expect them to come at us with car bombs,' Gen. Casey said of the insurgents, explaining the ban on motor vehicles.
Citing the curfew, Rumsfeld said, 'Innocent civilians in that city have all the guidance they need as to how they can avoid getting into trouble.'
Intelligence reports indicated that the insurgents had 'lined the streets' with remote-controlled bombs, Gen. Casey said.
U.S. and Iraqi troops 'have a very disciplined targeting process that's designed to strike valid military targets and to avoid collateral damage and unnecessary loss of life,' he said. But 'the terrorists don't abide by those rules.'
At his Baghdad news conference, Allawi displayed an insurgent plan for the defense of Fallujah - found in the mayor's office after the initial assault Sunday night - that specifically called for using mosques and schools as bases to fight from and to hide weapons, Gen. Casey said.".......
Vickers agreed.
"Fallujah's been a bomb factory 35 miles from Baghdad," the analyst said. And the withdrawal of the Marines last April has been seen by many Iraqis as a victory for the insurgents that showed weakness on the U.S. side.
"Particularly given that the insurgents think they had their victory, they had their Alamo in April and survived and won, it's important to defeat them" there, Vickers said.
But even a victory will leave much fighting to be done elsewhere.
"It'll make things a little better, buy some time for the elections," Vickers said. "But the real, long-term struggle is getting the Iraqis to take control of their security."
Rumsfeld also said the Fallujah assault will not be the final battle with the insurgents in Iraq. Nor will it be halted as the Marine operations were in April, he added, saying that U.S. and Iraqi officials had discussed that possibility "a good deal."
"I detected no debate about whether or not it would be finished," Rumsfeld said. "The decision to go included the decision to finish and to finish together."
By his estimate, more than 100,000 remained behind. But the general said civilian casualties should be kept to a minimum by 'a very disciplined targeting process' and Allawi's declaration of a state of emergency, which included a curfew and a ban on driving.
'We expect them to come at us with car bombs,' Gen. Casey said of the insurgents, explaining the ban on motor vehicles.
Citing the curfew, Rumsfeld said, 'Innocent civilians in that city have all the guidance they need as to how they can avoid getting into trouble.'
Intelligence reports indicated that the insurgents had 'lined the streets' with remote-controlled bombs, Gen. Casey said.
U.S. and Iraqi troops 'have a very disciplined targeting process that's designed to strike valid military targets and to avoid collateral damage and unnecessary loss of life,' he said. But 'the terrorists don't abide by those rules.'
At his Baghdad news conference, Allawi displayed an insurgent plan for the defense of Fallujah - found in the mayor's office after the initial assault Sunday night - that specifically called for using mosques and schools as bases to fight from and to hide weapons, Gen. Casey said.".......
Vickers agreed.
"Fallujah's been a bomb factory 35 miles from Baghdad," the analyst said. And the withdrawal of the Marines last April has been seen by many Iraqis as a victory for the insurgents that showed weakness on the U.S. side.
"Particularly given that the insurgents think they had their victory, they had their Alamo in April and survived and won, it's important to defeat them" there, Vickers said.
But even a victory will leave much fighting to be done elsewhere.
"It'll make things a little better, buy some time for the elections," Vickers said. "But the real, long-term struggle is getting the Iraqis to take control of their security."
Rumsfeld also said the Fallujah assault will not be the final battle with the insurgents in Iraq. Nor will it be halted as the Marine operations were in April, he added, saying that U.S. and Iraqi officials had discussed that possibility "a good deal."
"I detected no debate about whether or not it would be finished," Rumsfeld said. "The decision to go included the decision to finish and to finish together."
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