GI's sending 'a message' (or at least trying to) [View All]

[Barrett808]

BAGHDAD -- Following the start of a much-touted offensive against Iraqi insurgents here, American commanders said Thursday that they intended to send the rebels "a message."

But at the site of one of the operation's primary targets, Iraqis said they were uncertain what that message was supposed to be. On the southern edge of the capital, a large building said by U.S. commanders to have been a "meeting, planning, storage and rendezvous point" for the insurgents still stood, despite reports that it had been destroyed. Although the Americans called in an airstrike on the building, Iraqis said that U.S. soldiers had come to the area several hours earlier, announcing the attack beforehand and making sure everyone was evacuated.

The building was strafed, knocking several large holes in its walls and damaging the textile machinery inside.

In the end, no one was detained in the raid. An American military spokesman said later that some "weapons of indirect fire" had been found there, but, asked to be specific, he said he was not sure what they were.

The owner of the building, who said his own guards had been warned of the impending airstrike, spent much of Thursday sifting through the damage. He said the Americans had taken away two AK-47 assault rifles used by his guards.

"Does this look like a military base to you?" asked Wa'ad Dakhil Bolane, the owner, standing in the damaged building, piled high with textile machines. "The Americans came here, told the guards to leave, and then attacked. I don't understand."

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