THOUSANDS OF U.S. AND IRAQI TROOPS SET UP OUTPOSTS SUNDAY IN SOUTHERN PARTS OF RAMADI AS PART OF AN OPERATION TO ESTABLISH IRAQI ARMY BASES IN THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST SUNNI ARAB CITY AND BEGIN WRESTING IT AWAY FROM MONTHS OF INSURGENT CONTROL. U.S. COMMANDERS STRESSED THAT THE OPERATION WAS NOT A LARGE-SCALE ASSAULT ON THE CITY _ ARAB TELEVISION NETWORKS AND SOME WESTERN OUTLETS HAVE REPORTED ON AN IMPENDING ATTACK ON THE CITY _ BUT RATHER AN «ISOLATION» TACTIC TO PREVENT INSURGENTS FROM RECEIVING SUPPLIES OR REINFORCEMENTS FROM OUTSIDE. TWO LONG COLUMNS OF U.S. AND IRAQI ARMORED VEHICLES LATE SATURDAY ENCIRCLED THE SOUTHERN SIDE RAMADI, THE CAPITAL OF VOLATILE ANBAR PROVINCE, AND MET LITTLE RESISTANCE, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED. «THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE DIDN'T GET AS MUCH RESISTANCE AS WE'RE PREPARED FOR,» SAID LT. COL. V.J. TEDESCO, COMMANDER OF THE 1ST BATTALION, 37TH ARMOR REGIMENT, 1ST ARMORED DIVISION. «I REALLY THINK THE FIGHT WILL BE IN THE COMING DAYS.»
