Sometime Friday night, a captain in the 5th Battalion, 3rd Brigade of the Iraqi army deserted after receiving a full briefing from the Americans on the plan for the assault, military officials said.
U.S. soldiers think that the captain, a Kurd, simply became frightened after receiving the briefing. He is thought to be heading north, toward Kurdish territory, and officials do not consider him a threat to leak the plan to insurgents. But the military is trying to locate him through Iraqi sources.
CNN reported yesterday that the captain was believed to have taken notes during the briefing, and that when he departed, he left behind only his uniform and a cot.
...Reports are circulating among Iraqi and U.S. officials that large numbers of insurgents have already left the Fallujah area in anticipation of the coming invasion.
The militants are reportedly fanning to other cities in the Sunni Triangle, where they will stage diversionary attacks รข€” and underscore that despite an expected defeat for insurgent forces in Fallujah, the rebel movement remains strong.
U.S. soldiers think that the captain, a Kurd, simply became frightened after receiving the briefing. He is thought to be heading north, toward Kurdish territory, and officials do not consider him a threat to leak the plan to insurgents. But the military is trying to locate him through Iraqi sources.
CNN reported yesterday that the captain was believed to have taken notes during the briefing, and that when he departed, he left behind only his uniform and a cot.
...Reports are circulating among Iraqi and U.S. officials that large numbers of insurgents have already left the Fallujah area in anticipation of the coming invasion.
The militants are reportedly fanning to other cities in the Sunni Triangle, where they will stage diversionary attacks รข€” and underscore that despite an expected defeat for insurgent forces in Fallujah, the rebel movement remains strong.
No, it's obvious that they will not be defeated. Still, the Crusade continues...
 U.S. Marines line up for a prayer at their base outside Fallujah yesterday. --Seattle Times |
The main hospital in Fallujah was suffering from shortages of doctors and nurses and supplies. Many doctors and hospital officials have already fled the city and American checkpoints are gradually closing access roads, said Thamer Abdulla, a medic.
A new hospital, built with Saudi financing and fully furnished with medical equipment and ready to open its doors, was destroyed by a pair of missiles yesterday, witnesses said. It was unclear who had fired the missiles, but U.S. jets had pounded the city in the heaviest airstrikes in six months - including five 500-pound bombs.
A new hospital, built with Saudi financing and fully furnished with medical equipment and ready to open its doors, was destroyed by a pair of missiles yesterday, witnesses said. It was unclear who had fired the missiles, but U.S. jets had pounded the city in the heaviest airstrikes in six months - including five 500-pound bombs.
All Falluja posts.
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