U.S. Marines Can't Easily ID Enemy in Iraq

NEAR FALLUJAH, Iraq - Scouring turnip patches and dimly lit homes, U.S. Marines on patrol outside the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah search for guns, mortar rounds and rockets in villages where the Marines believe people smile by day — and launch deadly projectiles by night.



In a fight without front lines against civilian-clothed enemies, Marines in central Iraq (news - web sites) can't easily identify enemies called "The Muj" — short for mujahedeen, or Muslim holy warriors — who boobytrap roads and fire into U.S. bases from nearby hamlets.


"They're watching us right now. They're everywhere, but you can't tell who they are," says Sgt. Alexander Munoz as he leads a 1st Marine Division patrol through one town. "They wave and salute — then they bomb you."


The Marines have stepped up activities in Iraq's restive Sunni Triangle and are laying plans to attack Fallujah, whose rebel leadership is believed a leading force behind the insurgency as well as the hostage-takings, bombings and beheadings.

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=736&e=8&u=/ap/20041101/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_who_s_the_muj

:puke: :puke: :puke:

They even called them "hamlets".

"They're watching us right now. They're everywhere, but you can't tell who they are," says Sgt. Alexander Munoz as he leads a 1st Marine Division patrol through one town. "They wave and salute — then they bomb you."

that sounds just like Viet Nam to me. They help build the phone lines in the daytime and at night they blow them up, along with us.

When this ol' Marine was trying to stay alive back in '67...... Beggers by day, blow you away by night: these are the people that we are "liberating". (Who can blame 'em?)

says the same. He doesn't know who the enemy is. He's in the states, now. Due to go back to Iraq in January, for the "elections."
He voted for Kerry by absentee.
Semper Fi.

Hope he comes back intact, and my regards to you.

Hang in there, "help is on the way" with Pres. Kerry.

If the Chimp somehow manages to win.

I hope after a couple of tours he doesn't have the urge to re-enlist.

if you cannot identify the enemy...you should not be there...

people who are likely to be civilians.

that a good remake of "Operation Phoenix" wouldn't cure...

they used to go by haircuts, posture, suntans and other bs clues.

but i guess that has been long forgotton.

peace

Another screw up in the planning stages by the White House folks who brought you the "light, quick, and agile" military, roses from the masses, and "no casualties".

Boy, if this administration's decision makers were any smarter, broccoli would be getting nervous about it's place on the evolutionary scale.
The Professor

Hmmm Hamlets--- where Have I heard that before ????????????????