Fallujah: The Most Dangerous City in Iraq Quiz

Answer: US soldiers engaging 'rioters'

Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne fired on 'rioters'. According to official accounts, the Rules of Engagement allowed the use of deadly force when being fired upon by armed hostiles. Despite being asked to disperse, and smoke cannisters being employed fist, deadly force was used as a last option. Seventeen Iraqis were killed and over 70 were wounded.

Answer: To allow the riot and rioters to exhaust themselves and calm down

The MEF (Marine Expeditionary Force) which had responsiblty for Fallujah, recommended no military action until the riot and rioters had expended itself, when there was calm, take appropiate action without the use of armour or fixed wing aircraft. This was overuled without even anyone bothering to consult with the Marine forces outside Fallujah.

Answer: President Bush

President Bush who was outraged by the incident, gave the order for the Marines to go into Fallujah. He was never informed that the Marine Expedionary Force disagreed with the his order or why they disagreed.

Answer: The Imans

Night and day the Imans preached radical Islam and insurgency to the people. The influx of foreign fighters who were more than willing to wage jihad along with career criminals and disgruntled Ba'athist who refused to accept the Coalition Government, created a volatile mix. However, the clerics who inflamed them must take the greater blame.

Answer: Foreign Fighters there for jihad

Residents of the city of Fallujah called the mujahadeen foreign fighters 'ali babas'. Throughout the fighting and ceasefires, leaders of the insurgents swore there were no foreign fighters or heavy weapons. The Marines captured Fighters who were from Syria, Saudi Arabia and one from Chechnya.

Answer: Moqtada Sadr

Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr was responsible for the insurgency around Najaf in southern Iraq. Accused of murder and not wanting to be tried, he urged his Mahdi Army of Shiites to arms to oppose the Coalition, in ths case the US Army. The fighting ceased when the Coalition shelved the charges against him.

The 1st US Division would have eliminated this nuisance if allowed to proceed with its mission if that had not occured.

Answer: Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera gave favorable press and media coverage to the insurgents inside Fallujah. What it failed to report was the presence of foreign fighters, heavy weapons and a segment of the populace who did not want an extreme brand of Sharia Law and the countless incidents in which the extremist punished anyone who dared show or voice an opinion that did not fall in line with their agenda.

Answer: The Brigade was commanded by Ba'athists and Insurgents

The Fallujah Brigade was commanded by a Ba'thist general whose loyalty was in question and it was composed of the very insurgents who were engaging US Marines. This unit was expected to restore 'order' inside the city. What it did do was insure that the insurgency remained alive and well. This compromise was made by the Coalition Government, in spite of misgivings by the military.

Answer: A mosque

If capture seemed likely in a firefight, the insurgents were assured that a mosque would shelter them. US Rules of Engagement forbade firing on one even if an insurgent was seen entering one. When the final battle for Fallujah commenced in November of 2004, countless weapons caches were recovered from these sanctuaries.

Answer: IEDs and car bombs

While Fallujah remained in the hands of the insurgents, Abu Zarqawi and his al- Qaeda associates built an enormous factory for the manufacturing of IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and car bombs. His brand of terror was exported to other cities and towns in the Sunni Triangle. This too could have been avoided as early as April 2003.