Rumsfeld expects few civilian deaths in Falluja

Mon 8 November, 2004 20:17

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says he does not foresee large numbers of civilian casualties during the U.S.-led assault to take the rebel-held city of Falluja.

"There aren't going to be large numbers of civilians killed, certainly not by U.S forces," Rumsfeld told a Pentagon news conference on Monday, adding that no one knew how many civilians remained in the city.

"The U.S. forces are disciplined," he added. "They are well led. They're well-trained. They are using precision. And they have rules of engagement that are appropriate to an urban environment."

There is no accurate count of the number of civilian casualties in Iraq since the start of the conflict. Academics and peace activists have estimated the civilian toll at between 14,000 and 16,000.

Rumsfeld said gaining control of Falluja was necessary to ensure a peaceful Iraq.

"If Iraq is to be free and a peaceful society, one part of the country cannot remain under the rule of assassins, terrorists and the remnants of Saddam Hussein's regime," he told the briefing.

"Every effort has been made to persuade the criminals running roughshod over Falluja to reach a political solution. But they've chosen the path of violence instead."

Thousands of U.S. troops and Iraqi security forces stormed into Falluja in a fierce ground assault.

"This is an important time in the history of a new Iraq," Rumsfeld said.

"Success in Falluja will deal a blow to the terrorists in the country and should move Iraq further away from a future of violence to one of freedom and opportunity for the Iraqi people."

Rumsfield is nuts. There has been over 100,000 Civilian deaths so far in Iraq and he thinks that there won't hardly be any in this attack. *sigh*

He needs to strap on a gun and go fight with the troops then maybe he wouldn't be so crazy.

hah! Idiot.

Rummy is one clueless SOB. He couldn't find his own arse using both his hands. He has absolutely zero, nada, no idea how many civilians might or might not get killed.

It is incredible to me how anyone at all who opposes US forces in Iraq is labeled by the spinners a "terrorist" and all the US media just quote verbatim. Have the journalists no more imagination than that?

i think we need to remind americans how freaked out we all were during the midwest blackout in 2003.
no fridge, no AC, no lights, no water.
for 2 maybe 3 days. yea, a real hardship.

meanwhile,....back in Iraq..................

Rumsfeld is not a clueless idiot. He is a conniving liar. I don't believe a single word that comes out of his mouth. In my dictionary there is a photograph of Donald Rumsfeld underneath the word EVIL.

maybe he is still under the impression that our troops will be met with admiration and rose petals thrown at them.......gawd, the spin that comes out of this regime is unbelievable-it's downright scary because so many buy into this c*ap!

Rumsfeld spent all his "capital" already.

Amazing the convenient political uses of postwar "war", first they held off the marines from Fallujah so there wouldn't be additional negative news during the late part of the campaign and then after the election, in order to overshadow any negative election behaviours, or critique of their intended domestic legislative and judicial actions, they resume the Fallujah engagement.

All the while nary a thought of what was best for the troops.

Who now have their fate decided by Allawi calling the shots. And they had the nerve to pull a couple of words out of context and smear Kerry when he suggested that for legitamacy one should consult with our global community?

I hope the families of those killed in this delayed and Iraqi commanded action will march on the Oval Office and return the coffin flags as a protest.

lenal

Rumsfeld should be tried on murder charges, this man is so arrogant just like everyone else in their regime. Absolutely sickening.

Did "god" tell him that? Or was it Pat Robertson?

Rummy is just doing what he does. Of course he'll "expect few casualties" and never read the report.

Sometimes it's hard to tell the bodies one from another; some turn into greasespots; some are cut in half, etc. A Marine told me to expect about 2 civilian dead for every enemy. So, the official tally is now 600 enemy, about 20 US. Of course we don't do body counts now; that would remind people of body bags and an actual war. And certainly a ratio of 600:20 is plausible; every US soldier kills 30 people every day - right?

This IS Nam; I've seen this movie, and our guys get clobbered.

They all have blood on their hands.