Bad Timing on Taunting

Leaders in Fallujah, on the eve of a visit from US Marines, are demanding the troops stop by and personally just kick their asses:

FALLUJAH, Iraq — In a warning to the U.S.-led coalition, some local leaders in this restive city said they would endorse the continued killing of soldiers and foreign civilians as part of what they described as a justified resistance to the continued occupation of Iraq.

"Every foreigner in Fallujah is a target," said Fallujah's chief administrator, Fawzi Shaf al-Aifan. "The resistance attacks are legitimate ... But the mutilation is totally rejected."

Nice distinction Fawzi. Not all Americans would agree though. Other Fallujah leaders dissented also:

After last week's attacks, Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, deputy commander of military operations and a coalition spokesman, said the coalition would use overwhelming force to pacify the city unless local leaders moved to hand over the people responsible for the ambush of the civilian contractors.

But local council member Muklis Khanfer said city leaders had no authority to surrender the attackers. If coalition authorities want them, Khanfer said, then they should send troops in to get them.

"Why should the Americans come to us and ask us to help deliver these guys?" Khanfer said. "We have nothing to do with it."

Another offered an explanation of why his city's citizens so enjoy killing and mutilating the people who are trying to improve their living conditions:

Council member Sami Farhood al-Mafraji said it has been difficult to support the coalition because locals are not seeing the improvements that the occupation authorities promised to bring to the region.

It's go time.