Terrorists and propoganda.

Washington posts reports that US soldiers are taking fire from Iraqi children and women in Falluja.

"...the district was relatively quiet, though the units reported being fired on by women and children armed with assault rifles. "There were multiple groups running around shooting at us," said Air Force Senior Airman Michael Smyre, 26, of Hickory, N.C., an airstrike spotter attached to the 1st Infantry who was wounded when a rocket hit his armored vehicle. "You could see a lot of rubble, trash everywhere. It was real nasty-looking.""

The Post doesn't explore further, but every article needs a hook to lure in the reader, right? Our troops engaging in fire with local children and their mothers is a good hook. It is so horrific.

I suppose those women and children did not hear: Insurgents warn Iraqis: stay home.

"A POSTING on an Islamist website has warned Iraqis to stay at home today in Baghdad and other cities or they would be "putting their lives in danger". The statement, in the name of eight known militant groups, said the unified "Islamic resistance" would step up operations against the "American enemy" in retaliation for the US-led attack on the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah. The statement urged Iraqis to stay at home today "to avoid putting their lives in danger"."

Another example of a good hook: US Declares War on Hospitals, Ambulances:

"In a series of actions over the weekend, the United States military and Iraqi government destroyed a civilian hospital in a massive air raid, captured the main hospital, and prohibited the use of ambulances in the besieged city of Fallujah. Saturday morning, witnesses in Fallujah reported that an overnight air strike by U.S. fighter crews had completely razed a trauma clinic, which was recently constructed using Saudi donations. Also destroyed were two adjacent facilities used by health care providers. A Reuters photograph of the devastation shows only a sign that reads "Nazzal Emergency Hospital" still standing. There have been mixed reports of injuries and deaths resulting from the bombing."

Couple that report with this one:US air raid on Fallujah clinic kills dozens: witnesses:

"Dozens of Iraqi people,including at least 20 medics, were killed in a US air raid on a government clinic in the center of Iraq's western city of Fallujah overnight, witnesses said Tuesday. "Over 20 medics were killed in the air raid and dozens others,including wounded people, were killed as a result of the US raid on the city early Tuesday," local residents told Xinhua. The sources said the one-storey Community Clinic, which had beenreceiving wounded insurgents and civilians, was totally destroyed. "

And why are we doing this, to catch al-Zarqawi, terrorist du jour, of course, except according to a US forces Commander: Zarqawi Likely Not Among 3,000 Insurgents in Fallujah:

""I think we're looking at several more days of tough urban fighting," said Lt. Gen. Thomas Metz, commander of ground forces in Iraq and of the U.S. Army's III Corps, based at Fort Hood. "The fight in Fallujah is far from over." Speaking of al-Zarqawi, who is accused of beheading American and other hostages in grisly videotapes posted on the Internet, Metz said it was "fair to assume that he has left.""

And according to other reports, that assumption hold true for many of the insurgents, as Advancing forces meet an eerie stillness:

"The streets were eerily still in the initial advance last night, with few signs of the resistance fighters that the incursion was designed to roust"

Perhaps they went to Ramadi? Iraqi insurgents seize centre of Ramadi:

"Rebel fighters massed in the centre of the restive Iraqi city of Ramadi Tuesday after US military snipers withdrew from their positions following 24 hours of clashes, an AFP correspondent said. The US military could not immediately be contacted for comment. US snipers left a hotel from where they were able to control most of Ramadi's main roads, but the military remained in its headquarters in the governor's office nearby, the correspondent said. Other US soldiers left the city for their bases in the east and west of the city."

Thick fog of war.

Islam Online is reporting US troops are using chemical weapons and gas on Falluja:

"US troops are reportedly using chemical weapons and poisonous gas in its large-scale offensive on the Iraqi resistance bastion of Fallujah, a grim reminder of Saddam Hussein’s alleged gassing of the Kurds in 1988. “The US occupation troops are gassing resistance fighters and confronting them with internationally-banned chemical weapons,” resistance sources told Al-Quds Press Wednesday, November 10. The fatal weapons led to the deaths of tens of innocent civilians, whose bodies litter sidewalks and streets, they added. “They use chemical weapons out of despair and helplessness in the face of the steadfast and fierce resistance put up by Fallujah people, who drove US troops out of several districts, hoisting proudly Iraqi flags on them. Resistance has also managed to destroy and set fire to a large number of US tanks and vehicles. “The US troops have sprayed chemical and nerve gases on resistance fighters, turning them hysteric in a heartbreaking scene,” an Iraqi doctor, who requested anonymity, told Al-Quds Press."

DemocracyNow! comments on a Washington Post report that U.S. Reportedly Firing White Phosphorous Rounds:

The Washington Post reports that the U.S. has begun firing white phosphorous rounds that create a screen of fire that cannot be extinguished with water. Iraqi doctors are reporting that corpses are being brought into the hospital with their skin melted -- a reaction consistent with white phosphorous burns.

CNN is reporting "gunmen" have kidnapped members of Prime Minister (ci-)Allawi's family:

"At least two members of Iraqi interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's family have been kidnapped at gunpoint from their home in Baghdad, amid conflicting reports from government officials and sources close to the family. A group called Ansar al-Jihad has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping on a Web site. The group demanded the release of all Iraqi prisoners and an end to the attacks on Falluja within 48 hours. It said the hostages would be beheaded if its demands were not met. Ansar al-Jihad has made several claims for attacks before, but this is its first claim for kidnapping. The Web site, previously used to post claims from the group, claimed there were three hostages. An Allawi adviser and a source close to the family also said three family members were abducted. But Allawi's office Wednesday said it was aware of the abduction of two family members -- Allawi's cousin, Ghazy Allawi, 75, and his cousin's daughter-in-law. "

Oh and where does the Iraqi Resistance Report come from...hmm? CIA?

Anyway, seems we will soon take the city:

" The fighters are simply moving from street to street, attacking US troops where they can and allowing them through where they can't " - Fadhil Badrani journalist in Falluja

As in all guerrilla wars, the real war begins when the major battle ends.