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  • From: Tvoivozhd <tvoivozd AT infionline.net>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Homestead] Khaleej Times
  • Date: Mon, 15 Nov 2004 13:07:36 -0800


Khaleej Times Online <http://www.khaleejtimes.com/index00.asp> >> News >> EDITORIAL <http://www.khaleejtimes.com/detect.asp?section=editorial&col=> >> Editorial <http://www.khaleejtimes.com/subSectionhome.asp?section=editorial&subsection=editorial>

Battle of Fallujah


15 November 2004

AFTER five days of fierce fighting in Fallujah, the US and Iraqi
forces have declared that the battle is almost over, barring a few
pockets of resistance. US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has said
US forces are in control of much of Fallujah now. This must surely
be a big relief for the coalition forces who were perhaps expecting
the worst.

Since Fallujah had been a thorn in the flesh of the forces, they
expected resistance to be much stronger there, and were geared for a
longer battle. Many feared getting mired down in street battles and
urban guerilla warfare, some predicting the worst as in Vietnam.
Thankfully, that has not happened. However, the US-led forces are in
no mood to celebrate the victory, as earlier, when Iraq was declared
safe, some of the worst fighting took place, in addition to general
lawlessness. So, there’s a subdued tone in Rumsfeld’s statements
now, as he said that some areas are still difficult and the
operation is far from complete. In fact, Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad
Allawi was more outspoken when he declared “a clear-cut victory over
insurgents and terrorists.”

The battle of Fallujah can only be seen as one step towards
establishing the rule of law in Iraq. Much of the country is now in
a shambles, and there’s a lot to be done before the January
elections — most important being instilling in Iraqis a faith in
democracy. Most Iraqis have lost all hope of a quick return to
normalcy. They had welcomed the Americans as their liberators when
the US forces overthrew Saddam, but soon that joy turned to despair
when total anarchy prevailed in the country. The Americans tried
their best to restore order, but were constrained by several factors
— Fallujah being on top. The insurgents had made Fallujah their home
and terrorised the populace. Scared residents dared not incur their
wrath by becoming informers to the so-called occupying forces. The
Americans realised this and knew that if Fallujah was left alone, it
would become a festering wound and infect the whole country. So, it
had to be sanitised. The battle had to be taken there. Without that,
elections would be meaningless.

Of course, nothing comes without a price, and the Iraqis have been
paying too heavy a price for securing their liberty. In any urban
warfare, unfortunately, civilians are as much at risk as the
battling forces. Hopefully, the Iraqis will not have to see too many
dark days ahead. Afghanistan has already shown the way.





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