Here’s the latest on how the “heavy weapon” turn-in is going in Fallujah.
Marine Lt. Gen. Jim Conway, in Fallujah, said only about “a pick-up full” of weapons have been turned in.
He agreed with a characterization that the weapons collected so far have been “junk,” saying the weapons are “things I wouldn’t ask my Marines to fire.”
A Marine news release listed weaponry handed over so far: Six machine guns and two SA-7 missile launchers — all broken beyond repair; one sniper rifle and a flamethrower — neither in usable condition; seven rocket-propelled grenade launchers — some inoperable; 21 RPG projectiles that were not explosive and 113 corroded and rusted mortar rounds.
I think part of the problem is that the good General is confusing the Fallujah rebels with statements like this:
Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, an Army spokesman, said the handover so far “is not a serious expression of intent” and said the minimum required is “a large field full of the heavy weapons that have been used against the people in Fallujah and been used against the coalition forces.”
So, they don’t actually have weapons that were used “against the people of Fallujah,” because they are the people of Fallujah so what should they turn in? Very confusing.
Finally, we get a reporter asking the CPA spokesman Senor what on earth they’re babbling about when they say stuff like this:
Senor said Fallujans must oust “foreign fighters, drug users, former Mukhabarat, Special Republican Guard, former Fedayeen Saddam, and other serious, dangerous, violent criminals operating out of Fallujah.”
Drug users?
Asked by reporters about the drug remark, Senor said city leaders said “that many of the individuals involved with the violence are on various drugs. It is part of what they’re using to keep them up to engage in this violence at all hours.”
Oh, so that’s why the Fallujah rebels have fought the Marines to a standstill! Those cheaters are using drugs!
This stuff would be funny if it weren’t so deadly.