More Than 200 U.S. Fallujah Casualties Reported

The news follows reports that more than 200 U.S. soldiers have been seriously hurt in the offensive and flown to Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany.

The Center is usually used to treat severely wounded troops, but there are no official casualty figures yet from the military about the battle for Fallujah.

Two planes carrying about 90 wounded Marines and soldiers were due in from Iraq today. Those are troops too seriously injured to be treated at U.S military hospitals in Iraq.

Originally posted by REASON
We can always rest assured that zcheng will be here to look and let us know about any casualty reports and deaths that our country takes because when your passionate about it, it comes easy.

Two, since when did the Administration say that the offensive on Falluja would be a cake walk? Please show a link to this assumption.

later,

Reason

Originally posted by Aelita
Cstyle226,

is it your picture in the avatar?

Thanks,

Aelita

Viva Turkie

Originally posted by zcheng
Anyone doubt above news, and think it is a cake walk like Bush/Cheney said?

Excerpt from:
Rewriting The Record
By E. J. Dionne Jr.
Friday, September 10, 2004; Page A29

Presciently, the report declared: "Long-term gratitude is unlikely and suspicion of U.S. motives will increase as the occupation continues. A force initially viewed as liberators can rapidly be relegated to the status of invaders should an unwelcome occupation continue for a prolonged time. Occupation problems may be especially acute if the United States must implement the bulk of the occupation itself rather than turn these duties over to a postwar international force."

But the administration seemed to think it was wiser than a bunch of smart military guys. On "Meet the Press" in March 2003, Cheney blithely dismissed Tim Russert when the host asked what would happen if "we're not treated as liberators but as conquerors." Would the American people be "prepared for a long, costly and bloody battle with significant American casualties?"

Not to worry, said Cheney: "I don't think it's likely to unfold that way, Tim, because I really do believe we will be greeted as liberators." Cheney dismissed Gen. Eric Shinseki's view of how many troops an occupation would require: "To suggest that we need several hundred thousand troops there after military operations cease, after the conflict ends, I don't think is accurate. I think that's an overstatement." Have we forgotten this, too?

Many also forget the context of Bush's famous "bring 'em on" line of July 2, 2003. It was in direct answer to a question about whether, in light of rising casualty rates, the administration might want to get "larger powers" to join the U.S. effort in Iraq. Bush said he wasn't worried. After the "bring 'em on" line, his next sentence was: "We've got the force necessary to deal with the security situation."

"We walked right into a hornet's nest today," said a sergeant with the worn look of a survivor. Their names and units involved could not be released, in line with military rules that prevent such details until the wounded's next of kin have been notified. "They were probing us and fired six RPGs before we went for it. They lassoed us right in."

Centcom
BAGHDAD, Iraq - As of 8 p.m., Baghdad time, Nov. 11, there have been 18 Multi-National Forces killed in Operation Al Fajr, as well as reports of five Iraqi Security Forces killed. One hundred and seventy eight Multi-National Forces and 34 Iraqi Security Forces have been wounded in action during the operation. All of those injured were evacuated to the appropriate medical facilities for treatment.

Due to operational security in order to prevent the anti-Iraqi forces and other terrorist elements from gaining useful battlefield intelligence, there could be delays in announcements of battlefield casualties.