Key US General criticizes Fallujah attack

[JoFerret]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5983400/

FALLUJAH, Iraq, Sept. 12 - The outgoing U.S. Marine Corps general in charge of western Iraq said Sunday he opposed a Marine assault on militants in the volatile city of Fallujah in April and the subsequent decision to withdraw from the city and turn over control to a security force of former Iraqi soldiers.

That security force, known as the Fallujah Brigade, was formally disbanded last week. Not only did the brigade fail to combat militants, it actively aided them, surrendering weapons, vehicles and radios to the insurgents, according to senior Marine officers. Some brigade members even participated in attacks on Marines ringing the city, the officers said.

The comments by Lt. Gen. James T. Conway, made shortly after he relinquished command of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force on Sunday, amounted to a stinging broadside against top U.S. military and civilian leaders who ordered the Fallujah invasion and withdrawal. His statements also provided the most detailed explanation -- and justification -- of Marine actions in Fallujah this spring, which have been widely criticized for increasing insurgent activity in the city and turning it into a "no-go" zone for U.S. troops.

<more>
Outgoing commander questions US strategy on Falluja
CNN International - 5 hours ago
... James T. Conway said Sunday that he was ordered to attack parts of the city west of Baghdad after insurgents ambushed and killed four US contractors March 31. ...
Falluja policy criticized by former commander International Herald Tribune
Commander disagreed with Fallujah attack order The Age
Iraq Spins Out of Control AlterNet
Los Angeles Times (subscription) - The Hindu - all 37 related »

[alittlelark]

1. Will this get mainstreamed?

ALLUJAH, Iraq, Sept. 12 - The outgoing U.S. Marine Corps general in charge of western Iraq said Sunday he opposed a Marine assault on militants in the volatile city of Fallujah in April and the subsequent decision to withdraw from the city and turn over control to a security force of former Iraqi soldiers.

That security force, known as the Fallujah Brigade, was formally disbanded last week. Not only did the brigade fail to combat militants, it actively aided them, surrendering weapons, vehicles and radios to the insurgents, according to senior Marine officers. Some brigade members even participated in attacks on Marines ringing the city, the officers said.

The comments by Lt. Gen. James T. Conway, made shortly after he relinquished command of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force on Sunday, amounted to a stinging broadside against top U.S. military and civilian leaders who ordered the Fallujah invasion and withdrawal. His statements also provided the most detailed explanation -- and justification -- of Marine actions in Fallujah this spring, which have been widely criticized for increasing insurgent activity in the city and turning it into a "no-go" zone for U.S. troops.

[Julian English]

2. The Washington Post also had this story

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16309-2004Sep12.html?nav=headlines

I really think this is far more important than W's lies about his guard service. While W's dishonoring and dodging of his Guard duty shows his predisposition to selfishness and his lack of honor, the fiasco in Fallujah shows his crooked administration is incompetent at issues of national security and is losing the war.

[creeksneakers2]

3. I remember when we pulled out of Fallujah

the Bushies claimed they had nothing to do with the decision. They said it was a tactical decision made by the commanders on the scene.

[troublemaker]

4. permakick - this story matters

[REVOLT823]

5. Hahaha, leave it up to a jarhead general to kick Shrub

squarely in the nuts. Marines have been known to voice their disapproval when incompetence rears its ugly head, especially when it requires them getting shot at.