On January 9, 2014 Senator John McCain asked for and was granted permission to address the United States Senate regarding his concerns regarding recent setbacks in Iraq.
“Some of us were in the Senate 10 years ago in 2004 when U.S. troops led two major offensives against Al Qaeda and other militants in the Iraqi city of Fallujah.”
“Some of us remember how 146 of our brave men and women in uniform lost their lives and more than 1,000 were wounded. Those fights were some of the bloodiest and toughest battles since the Vietnam war. Success was costly, but success we had. Ten years later, Al Qaeda fighters have once again raised their black flags over Fallujah, and they are battling to control other parts of Iraq”, he said.
“This tragic setback is leaving many of our brave Iraq war veterans–and especially those who shed their blood, risked their lives, and lost their friends in fighting against Fallujah–questioning what their sacrifice was worth. Sadly, they find themselves agreeing with Congressman Duncan Hunter, a former marine who fought in Fallujah”, said Senator McCain (source: Congressional Record http://thomas.loc.gov).
During the first battle for Fallujah 27 US troops were killed 90 plus wounded. During the second battle for Fallujah 95 US troops were killed, 560 wounded (source: Wikipedia).