By deciding to pursue their enemy into the city center, the Americans appeared to have enraged many of the Iraqi civilians who live there, including those who said they were predisposed to support the American effort.
One of those, Mustafa Mohammed Ali, a medical assistant at the Saddam Hospital, said he had spent much of the day hauling dead and wounded civilians out of buildings that had been bombed by the Americans. Mr. Ali that said he had no love for the Iraqi president but that the American's failure to discriminate between enemy fighters and Iraqi civilians had turned him decisively against the American invasion.
"I saw how the Americans bombed our civilians with my own eyes," Mr. Mustafa said, and he held up a bloodied sleeve to show how he had dragged them into the ambulances.
"You want to overthrow Saddam Hussein's regime?" Mr. Mustafa asked. "Go to Baghdad. What are you doing here? What are you doing in our cities?"
What are you doing here? What are you doing in our cities?"
We are kicking the asses of the chickenshit Republican Guards who are in civilian clothes and civilian vehicles. You know, the ones who were using women and children for human shields while they were firing at our soldiers.
But I think before you start trumpeting coalition with every other post, maybe you ought to consider this.
Is there or is there not more countries as part of the coalition than there was in the first Gulf War? The shouts of "unilateralism" have been proven to be false time and time again, yet we continue to see people trying to make it appear as it is only us against Iraq. Meanwhile, there is more news of countries joining us almost daily. These countries may not be able to supply troops from their small armies, but they do supply things such as bases and landing strips that are needed and welcomed.
The cries of "unilateralism" can be considered misinformation at best.
Nigeria has even offered it's troops to help us. I say that we turn these ruthless bastards loose on Baghdad and see how long before the Republican Guard runs out of town.
Northland residents took to the streets and parks Saturday to make their voices heard about the war in Iraq, where a U.S.-led coalition is trying to uproot a regime that squelches free speech.
At Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth, thousands turned out for a rally organized by a 16-year-old girl and headlined by a national radio talk show host flown in on a corporate jet owned by Jeno Paulucci...
...A News Tribune crowd count estimated about 1,500 to 2,000 people shortly after the rally's 3 p.m. start, about the same as an estimate by one of the rally's organizers, Mike Deraas of Duluth.
Beck said he heard estimates of 3,000 people toward the end of the rally.
"I am tired of antiwar protesters dominating the media," said rally organizer Sydney Whitmyer, 16, of Duluth. "I never actually realized I could make a difference."
You have little idea about which you speak as usual.
We went into this war expecting it to be a cakewalk and that we would be in Baghdad by today with the locals slobbering all over us. Welcome to reality.
What would you know about reality. They have and will once the Feddayeen Saddamn and Iraqi guard are extracted and taken out. It's probably hard to say much with a Baath party member dressed as a farmer looking at you.
All the machismo from the military brass made even me think that the takeover of Southern Iraq would be a facile exercise – with the blood and gore in the assault on Baghdad.
Anybody I talked to that's still in never thought so. Anytime you go into a country, resistance from the faithfull is going to stiffen. The media perhaps thought it was going to be easy but not one person I spoke with thought so. ESPECIALLY when you take the steps we have to avoid civilian casualties. There was no 34 days prep strikes. After a month of being shelled an enenmy is fewer and alot less effective of a force. If it was simply a matter of marching into Bagdhahd regardless of civilians we would have prepped the areas for days and weeks with massive and broader strikes. We didn't.
We are getting the crap whipped out of us even in trying to reach Baghdad. I am sure we will still make mincemeat of the Iraqis – but Christ, my tax money has been squandered. And all this unnecessary loss of life.
LOL. Did Al Jezeera tell you that or are you still on the payroll ?
By the way, all this crocodile tears from Rum and gang about the Geneva Convention. Rummy declared that prisoners taken by the US in Afghanistan would not be accorded the protection of the Conventions. The suspected al-Qaeda captives, he declared, were "unlawful combatants"; and the US had the right to do with them what it wished. Yes, we are civilized and do not execute our prisoners because of the outcry from us ACLU members – but we set the precedent for thugs to follow.
Yea Naradar, if we hadn't have given them culturally sensative meals allowed prayer and the red cross, I'm sure they wouldn't have executed our prisoners. Ask any POW from 91' how they were treated. Oh that's right, we set the example, They knew in 91 we were going to go into Afghanistan 11 years later. Before that they were teddy bears I forgot, we're bad.
While this can't be totally confirmed, but there are reports now that in Basrah, the Iraqi people are uprising because they are thirsty and hungry. They don't blame the coalition forces apparently because they are uprising against the Iraqi forces? The Iraqi reponse is to fire on these uprising civilians. Coalition forces are attempting to stop the Iraqi forces from doing this. I think this is an interesting development, and I wonder how Al-Jezeera will portray this.
Coalition forces were talking with an Iraqi farmer. He apparently was under the impression that we would come in and leave an American president in charge of Iraq afterwards. He didn't want that, he wanted an Iraqi. You have to wonder what has been told to the Iraqi people.
Coalition forces were talking with an Iraqi farmer. He apparently was under the impression that we would come in and leave an American president in charge of Iraq afterwards. He didn't want that, he wanted an Iraqi.
You have to wonder what has been told to the Iraqi people.
Tuesday, March 25, 2003 Posted: 6:08 PM EST (2308 GMT)
NASIRIYA, Iraq (CNN) -- U.S. Marines on Tuesday seized a hospital in Nasiriya and captured nearly 170 Iraqi soldiers who had been staging military operations from the facility, U.S. authorities said.
No civilians were in the facility, which U.S. Central Command said was "clearly marked as a hospital by a flag with a Red Crescent." Marines confiscated more than 200 weapons, more than 3,000 chemical suits with masks and Iraqi military uniforms in the hospital, and found a T-55 tank in the hospital compound, Central Command said.
Marines had been fired at from the hospital a day earlier.
No civilians were injured in the operation and none were found in the hospital when Marines from Task Force Tarawa of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines went in, according to Central Command. Before they moved in, Marines used loudspeakers to instruct any medical personnel or patients inside to evacuate, authorities said.
Marines said the Iraqi soldiers were not armed when they were captured, but were wearing what Central Command described as "a mixture of mostly civilian clothing with parts of military uniforms."
Col. Ron Johnson, operations officer for Task Force Tarawa, said Marines believed Iraqi soldiers dressed as civilians were being bused into Nasiriya to stage attacks on U.S. forces there. The Iraqis were taking weapons and ammunition from the hospital before entering the city, he said.
Coalition leaders have accused Iraqi forces of luring coalition troops into ambushes and attacks by dressing as civilians, as well as by feigning surrender.
Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Tuesday, "Some of the biggest losses we have taken are due to Iraqis' committing serious violations of the law of armed conflict and the Geneva Conventions by dressing as civilians and luring us into surrender situations and opening fire on our troops."
The Pentagon has lashed out at such tactics, calling them "deadly deception" that marks "serious violations of the laws of war." Officials said Tuesday that conducting military operations under a Red Crescent flag is also a violation.
There was no immediate report of any casualties on either side as the Marines seized the hospital and took prisoners.
Nasiriya was the site of a second day of intense fighting Tuesday as U.S. Marines moved through.
CNN Correspondent Art Harris, embedded with the Marines, said that as his unit rolled into Nasiriya just before dawn Tuesday the main road was "wall-to-wall" with Marines. They were lying flat on the ground, M-16 rifles at the ready, facing in both directions, he said.
At every intersection were tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, Harris said.
Ten Marines were killed in action in Nasiriya early in the battle and at least five others were taken prisoner by Iraqis on Sunday, military authorities said.
The southern Iraqi city is a key center in the war because it is the site of bridges across the Euphrates River.
AN NASIRIYAH, Iraq (AP) - U.S. forces sealed off 36 bunkers earmarked as potential sites of weapons of mass destructions at an Iraqi air base outside An Nasiriyah, military police said.
A U.S. Army infantry battalion also seized six vehicles loaded with weapons and ammunition at the base, killed two men and captured 11, officials said.
Some of the bunkers, which were to be opened later with news media present, had been looted.
The three trucks, one fuel truck, one taxi and one bus were seized Monday when one of them tried to speed into the air base, which is under the control of U.S. forces, said Capt. Jeff Searl of the 709th Military Police Battalion.
All of the captured and killed were wearing civilian clothes, and it was not clear why the vehicle was headed toward the base. The men appeared to be trying to get hold of weapons from different caches stored earlier.
``There seems to be plenty of weapons around - enough to cause concerns for the security of our troops,'' said Lt. Col. Richard Vanderlinden of Gladstone, Mich., commander of the MP battalion.
The unit is holding almost 250 prisoners of war, and MPs started putting up tents to protect them from sandstorms.
Two wounded POWs have died in the past two days, despite receiving medical care. They were buried and their personal details were recorded so their families will be able to claim the bodies.
A large prisoner camp for 8,000 people is being built closer to the Kuwaiti border.
Iraqi paramilitaries are using civilians as human shields, Sky News has learnt.
Militiamen facing besieging British troops outside Basra are forcing locals to march in front of them as they fire on soldiers, UK forces claim.
Up to 1,000 Iraqi irregulars are thought to be in Basra standing firm against the British troops now responsible for fighting in southern Iraq.
Emma Hurd, who is at the UK forces' base in northern Iraq, was told British troops were struggling to break the stand-off because of the tactic.
"Irregular forces are using civilians as human shields," she said.
"Men with guns advance out of the city with civilians in front of them towards the British forces.
"These civilians are being forced into this.
The men are firing on the troops and they are unable to return fire.
"The stand-off continues."
Pockets of resistance are continuing in the southern Iraqi city, which is home to some 1m people.
But British commanders insist UK forces are not about to go in and take out the paramilitaries.
Meanwhile, British forces have destroyed up to seven Iraqi tanks on the edge of Basra.
Captain Alan Massey, of the flagship aircraft carrier Ark Royal, said British light tanks, helped by small helicopter gunships and surveillance helicopters, had been battling a breakout by up to 50 Iraqi tanks.
They were trying to press southwards from the edge of the city, he said.
British forces have surrounded Basra and secured its airport.
The longer the allied forces stay, the less welcome they will become.
Opening graph in today's Wall Street Journal front page story
"As the telethon "Our Kin in Iraq" aired aired across the Arab world yesterday on Dubai's satellite TV channel, the screen flashed with images of charred toddlers and American bombs exploding over Baghdad. Pledges reached the $1 million mark. Than a portrait of Dubai crown prince Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum appeared on the screen, signaling his endorsment of the show."
Strong Iraqi resistance is starting to make them look kinda cool on Al-Jazeera, the WSJ says.
First of all. As JT pointed out it's been a week. They knew we were coming. Because of trying to avoid civilian casualties we did no prepratory air strikes so when we walked in, the areas hadn't been touched. As far as the large forces that we are running into it hasn't been a problem. If we wanted to simply take a city it could easily be done. The air and arty that could be used would take them out, you move through and you sweep through what's left of a decimated force. If we weren't trying so very hard to limit civilian casualties we could do so and it would be over by now or close to it IMO.
The other difference other than that issue is of course the pockets of urban fighting that have to be done. Those take longer. Logistically and planning wise are alot different. Eventually they will have to be dealt with and that's why I think the 2 prong plan of one force moving up and the other dealing with the cities etc. will work. What I do take issue with or disagree with is I think we need to do is take the gloves off a bit more. It will shorten the conflict and in the end save lives on each side compared to a long drawn out conflict. I was glad to see that we cancelled the Saddamn show.
The other difference is of course this time they are also fighting for their "homeland" Some more than others. We didn't have 40 days of prep strikes to lessen numbers and morale. They know the terrain and the people. It's obvious though what tactics these douchebags use. So there's alot of things that come into play. Frankly I think we should wait and draw as many troops oout of the city as we can. Bait them and take them out. As we speak there are apparently 1,000 vehicles headed for a meeting with my bretheren Marines and more than likely they will meet their maker or surrender. When you look at the distance traveled, the logistics and all those factors it's amazing to me anyone doesn't see the success greater than the failures.
We don't want to be in Bagdhad yet IMO. Why not draw them out and take out as many as you can before you go in ? Why go in when they are still coalated, organized and equipped. I think we will see that happen and we will clean up areas in the south over time. It seems today they are opening it up a bit more with less restrictions. Now some especially the reporters will wonder why or say we're bogged down outside of Bagdhad. We should wait. We should also have some patience. It's not a drive through war with a McVictory. Any of the people I talked to that are in the know didn't expect a cakewalk. I think the only surprise has been the tactics some of these assholes are using. Considering what's been done thus far, the casualty count is always tragic but in perspective and excluding accidents it's a different picture. It would no doubt be lower if we weren't concerned about friendly's. I applaud their efforts of what and how they've conducted themselves.
Expand your horizons by viewing the other side of the coin.Also, it is always good to know what the enemy is saying to the whole world. US credibility is at its nadir now and even news channels and print media are disbelived. My faith in the American media has also plumetted.
From NYT online
Two cruise missiles struck a residential area in Baghdad on Wednesday, killing 14 people, Iraqi defense officials said -- the worst single reported instance of civilian deaths since the U.S. bombing campaign began a week ago.
Thirty others were reported injured in the attack, which occurred around midday in the heavily populated northern Baghdad neighborhood of Al-Shaab. The area consists of homes and about 30 shops, mostly inexpensive restaurants and auto repair shops.
as soon as graphics are available they will be served up.
L2F - We don't want to be in Bagdhad yet IMO - thinks like the American killing machines in Iraq -
Allied forces have shifted the focus of their land campaign in Iraq to concentrate on defeating the fedayeen and other militias serving Saddam Hussein in the south before beginning the battle for Baghdad, senior officers said tonight.
The American strategy had been to bypass Iraq's southern cities and drive toward the capital to take on the Republican Guard and ultimately topple Mr. Hussein's government.
But the resistance from the militia groups to the rear of the advancing allies has been so stiff that commanders have concluded that this Iraqi threat has to be addressed first.
The attack on the Republican Guard will be delayed while American and British forces fight in and around Iraq's southern cities.
The reason though is the gross underestimation and piss poor plannaing - perhaps brought on by Yankee arrogance - as conceded by even military top brass (NYT on line)
The nation's top military officer acknowledged today that the Pentagon's strategy to shock the Iraqi government quickly with a devastating early air assault has not worked exactly as desired.
But Gen. Richard B. Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that even if Saddam Hussein's government was still standing after six days of intense bombing, control was slipping away from the Iraqi leadership as American forces closed in on Baghdad.
March 25 — On Monday, Maj. Frank McClary grew more and more sullen as the day’s news filtered in. The operations officer for the 3-7 Infantry Batallion, part of the 3rd Infantry Division, McClary first heard a report on his short-wave radio about the American POWs and corpses shown on Iraqi television. Then he learned that the 1st Brigade Combat Team, to which the 3-7 belongs, lost its first soldier in combat, to a sniper who struck on the outskirts of the central Iraqi city of Najaf. “Oh, it’s on now,” he muttered at one point in the afternoon. “I ain’t f-king around today.”
I think this is a wonderful country, though, that gives everyone their voice of dissension. I am all for people expressing their views publicly because it makes it much easier for us to identify the truly foolish, and to know who cannot be counted on in times of crisis. These are the weak and cowardly who, when the enemy is crashing through the front door, will cower in the back room, counting on better men than themselves to make and keep them free. Well, the enemy is at our front door, and isn't it interesting that those who cry loudest and most often for their rights, are usually those least willing to defend it." Â Â
""What happened to the phrase: There's no such thing as a stupid question?"
It Didn't Take Into Account "Reporters".... "
I've interviewed Generals in the past. The one I talked with occasionally treated me like an insect. It was kind of funny the contempt he showed for absolutely no reason.
My hair was a bit long, but I wore a tie and sportcoat. I showed up on time.
It's often a game among reporters. They got egos and reputations and they don't want to be seen as lobbing softballs. They'll phrase a question that tries to snare them.
That's not to say they're not seriously after information. Sometimes the questions come from the editors.
Military brass at that level recognize the game and are usually pretty good at playing along. They know the good reporters and the ones that are trying to roll them.
I do actually laugh though at Al Jezerra and a few others.
There questions usually go something like this.
Reporter: Since you are an evil imperialist bloodthirsty empire and are worse than the Nazi's, do you think this latest incident will hurt your image in the world ?
General: I have no information on that currently availible. (Which IMO is either code for go screw yourself or he really doesn't know)
I've interviewed Generals in the past. The one I talked with occasionally treated me like an insect. It was kind of funny the contempt he showed for absolutely no reason.
When I was in the military anyone above the rank of Col. seemed to do that with everybody. There were a few exemptions but I think most of them do have a swelled head.
It does seem like the reporters at the briefings are really trying to trip the military up, second-guess their strategy, and ask them questions they can't possibly know the answers to in order to make them look bad on TV. And some of them just beat subjects to death, even after they've been given all the answers they're going to get.
I'd be interested in knowing where all of you are getting your information, just for comparison's sake. We watch about 55%-45% Fox News and MSNBC, occasionally hopping over to CNN for different photo perspectives. I check the Yahoo headlines two or three times a day and follow the links that interest me. How about the rest of you?
I'm an official flipper ABC, NBC, MSNBC, CNN, FOX, BBC (when I can get it) I watch what interests me at the time depending on what's being covered and who's on. There's a few I flip immeidately if I see them, Arron Brown on CNN comes to mind. He's horrid.
I did see a reporter ask a question that went something like "Since you have not found any WMD and the Iraqi's have not used them, does that mean that it was all a lie to get us to go to war?" The general snickered and told him that we had been at war for less than 72 hours and have not had time to check every nook and cranny of Iraq yet. He said that we were more concern with other things at this time.
Mostly radio and print, some Internet newspaper coverage. CNN early in the morning.
What would be the motive of "making them look bad." Believe me, the military brass will just as easily send a reporter on a wild goose chase, or attempt to manipulate and use them for their own purposes. I can't think of anyone who would want be a propaganda tool.
So a lot of what you see is a professionally advesarial relationship, built on mutually earned mistrust. And I dont think any of you conseravatives mind that when it comes to government and the media.
this one for the gold digger - East Side Digger 3/24/03 7:53pm
By deciding to pursue their enemy into the city center, the Americans appeared to have enraged many of the Iraqi civilians who live there, including those who said they were predisposed to support the American effort.
One of those, Mustafa Mohammed Ali, a medical assistant at the Saddam Hospital, said he had spent much of the day hauling dead and wounded civilians out of buildings that had been bombed by the Americans. Mr. Ali that said he had no love for the Iraqi president but that the American's failure to discriminate between enemy fighters and Iraqi civilians had turned him decisively against the American invasion.
"I saw how the Americans bombed our civilians with my own eyes," Mr. Mustafa said, and he held up a bloodied sleeve to show how he had dragged them into the ambulances.
"You want to overthrow Saddam Hussein's regime?" Mr. Mustafa asked. "Go to Baghdad. What are you doing here? What are you doing in our cities?"
What are you doing here? What are you doing in our cities?"
We are kicking the asses of the chickenshit Republican Guards who are in civilian clothes and civilian vehicles. You know, the ones who were using women and children for human shields while they were firing at our soldiers.
But I think before you start trumpeting coalition with every other post, maybe you ought to consider this.
Is there or is there not more countries as part of the coalition than there was in the first Gulf War? The shouts of "unilateralism" have been proven to be false time and time again, yet we continue to see people trying to make it appear as it is only us against Iraq. Meanwhile, there is more news of countries joining us almost daily. These countries may not be able to supply troops from their small armies, but they do supply things such as bases and landing strips that are needed and welcomed.
The cries of "unilateralism" can be considered misinformation at best.
Nigeria has even offered it's troops to help us. I say that we turn these ruthless bastards loose on Baghdad and see how long before the Republican Guard runs out of town.
"Nigeria has even offered it's troops to help us. I say that we turn these ruthless bastards loose on Baghdad"
So does that mean you recently watched Tears of the SunDan?
Yes, great movie. A little fakey at times, but overall, highly suggested by me.
I saw it for free. I wouldn't pay for it.
Northland residents took to the streets and parks Saturday to make their voices heard about the war in Iraq, where a U.S.-led coalition is trying to uproot a regime that squelches free speech.
At Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth, thousands turned out for a rally organized by a 16-year-old girl and headlined by a national radio talk show host flown in on a corporate jet owned by Jeno Paulucci...
...A News Tribune crowd count estimated about 1,500 to 2,000 people shortly after the rally's 3 p.m. start, about the same as an estimate by one of the rally's organizers, Mike Deraas of Duluth.
Beck said he heard estimates of 3,000 people toward the end of the rally.
"I am tired of antiwar protesters dominating the media," said rally organizer Sydney Whitmyer, 16, of Duluth. "I never actually realized I could make a difference."
I wonder if Dennis was there?
Naradar,
You have little idea about which you speak as usual.
What would you know about reality. They have and will once the Feddayeen Saddamn and Iraqi guard are extracted and taken out.
It's probably hard to say much with a Baath party member dressed as a farmer looking at you.
Anybody I talked to that's still in never thought so. Anytime you go into a country, resistance from the faithfull is going to stiffen. The media perhaps thought it was going to be easy but not one person I spoke with thought so. ESPECIALLY when you take the steps we have to avoid civilian casualties. There was no 34 days prep strikes. After a month of being shelled an enenmy is fewer and alot less effective of a force. If it was simply a matter of marching into Bagdhahd regardless of civilians we would have prepped the areas for days and weeks with massive and broader strikes. We didn't.
LOL. Did Al Jezeera tell you that or are you still on the payroll ?
Yea Naradar, if we hadn't have given them culturally sensative meals allowed prayer and the red cross, I'm sure they wouldn't have executed our prisoners. Ask any POW from 91' how they were treated. Oh that's right, we set the example, They knew in 91 we were going to go into Afghanistan 11 years later. Before that they were teddy bears I forgot, we're bad.
While this can't be totally confirmed, but there are reports now that in Basrah, the Iraqi people are uprising because they are thirsty and hungry. They don't blame the coalition forces apparently because they are uprising against the Iraqi forces? The Iraqi reponse is to fire on these uprising civilians. Coalition forces are attempting to stop the Iraqi forces from doing this. I think this is an interesting development, and I wonder how Al-Jezeera will portray this.
TMK,
Al Jezeera Headline: Dateline March 25th 2003 Basrah Iraq.
Brave citizens catch bullets in support of Saddamn after coalition troops starve and opress them.
Or......Americans dressed up as villagers killed by the brave Fedayeen who protect Saddamn's loyal people from the evil Americans hordes.
Coalition forces were talking with an Iraqi farmer. He apparently was under the impression that we would come in and leave an American president in charge of Iraq afterwards. He didn't want that, he wanted an Iraqi. You have to wonder what has been told to the Iraqi people.
Well they have been watching Al Jezeera.
read this you warmongers
http://wn.com/link/nph-link.cgi?guantanamo/mainsearch.txt&19545047&http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Enewsunlimited%2Eco%2Euk%2Fcomment%2Fstory%2F0%2C3604%2C921192%2C00%2Ehtml
Help, Help!
Naradar is calling us names!
Oh shush THX, you privateschoolmonger.
Minnesotaindividualincometaxreductionmonger.
Naradar's heroes captured in a supposed hospital they used to supply arms to other Iraqi soldiers.
U.S.: Marines seize hospital hiding Iraqi soldiers
Tuesday, March 25, 2003 Posted: 6:08 PM EST (2308 GMT)
NASIRIYA, Iraq (CNN) -- U.S. Marines on Tuesday seized a hospital in Nasiriya and captured nearly 170 Iraqi soldiers who had been staging military operations from the facility, U.S. authorities said.
No civilians were in the facility, which U.S. Central Command said was "clearly marked as a hospital by a flag with a Red Crescent." Marines confiscated more than 200 weapons, more than 3,000 chemical suits with masks and Iraqi military uniforms in the hospital, and found a T-55 tank in the hospital compound, Central Command said.
Marines had been fired at from the hospital a day earlier.
No civilians were injured in the operation and none were found in the hospital when Marines from Task Force Tarawa of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines went in, according to Central Command. Before they moved in, Marines used loudspeakers to instruct any medical personnel or patients inside to evacuate, authorities said.
Marines said the Iraqi soldiers were not armed when they were captured, but were wearing what Central Command described as "a mixture of mostly civilian clothing with parts of military uniforms."
Col. Ron Johnson, operations officer for Task Force Tarawa, said Marines believed Iraqi soldiers dressed as civilians were being bused into Nasiriya to stage attacks on U.S. forces there. The Iraqis were taking weapons and ammunition from the hospital before entering the city, he said.
Coalition leaders have accused Iraqi forces of luring coalition troops into ambushes and attacks by dressing as civilians, as well as by feigning surrender.
Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Tuesday, "Some of the biggest losses we have taken are due to Iraqis' committing serious violations of the law of armed conflict and the Geneva Conventions by dressing as civilians and luring us into surrender situations and opening fire on our troops."
The Pentagon has lashed out at such tactics, calling them "deadly deception" that marks "serious violations of the laws of war." Officials said Tuesday that conducting military operations under a Red Crescent flag is also a violation.
There was no immediate report of any casualties on either side as the Marines seized the hospital and took prisoners.
Nasiriya was the site of a second day of intense fighting Tuesday as U.S. Marines moved through.
CNN Correspondent Art Harris, embedded with the Marines, said that as his unit rolled into Nasiriya just before dawn Tuesday the main road was "wall-to-wall" with Marines. They were lying flat on the ground, M-16 rifles at the ready, facing in both directions, he said.
At every intersection were tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, Harris said.
Ten Marines were killed in action in Nasiriya early in the battle and at least five others were taken prisoner by Iraqis on Sunday, military authorities said.
The southern Iraqi city is a key center in the war because it is the site of bridges across the Euphrates River.
I wonder if Blix will be the one to open these up?
U.S. Forces Seal Off Suspicious Bunkers
By DENIS GRAY
AN NASIRIYAH, Iraq (AP) - U.S. forces sealed off 36 bunkers earmarked as potential sites of weapons of mass destructions at an Iraqi air base outside An Nasiriyah, military police said.
A U.S. Army infantry battalion also seized six vehicles loaded with weapons and ammunition at the base, killed two men and captured 11, officials said.
Some of the bunkers, which were to be opened later with news media present, had been looted.
The three trucks, one fuel truck, one taxi and one bus were seized Monday when one of them tried to speed into the air base, which is under the control of U.S. forces, said Capt. Jeff Searl of the 709th Military Police Battalion.
All of the captured and killed were wearing civilian clothes, and it was not clear why the vehicle was headed toward the base. The men appeared to be trying to get hold of weapons from different caches stored earlier.
``There seems to be plenty of weapons around - enough to cause concerns for the security of our troops,'' said Lt. Col. Richard Vanderlinden of Gladstone, Mich., commander of the MP battalion.
The unit is holding almost 250 prisoners of war, and MPs started putting up tents to protect them from sandstorms.
Two wounded POWs have died in the past two days, despite receiving medical care. They were buried and their personal details were recorded so their families will be able to claim the bodies.
A large prisoner camp for 8,000 people is being built closer to the Kuwaiti border.
Some of Naradar's heroes are using women and old men as human shields.
'IRAQ USING HUMAN SHIELDS'
Iraqi paramilitaries are using civilians as human shields, Sky News has learnt.
Militiamen facing besieging British troops outside Basra are forcing locals to march in front of them as they fire on soldiers, UK forces claim.
Up to 1,000 Iraqi irregulars are thought to be in Basra standing firm against the British troops now responsible for fighting in southern Iraq.
Emma Hurd, who is at the UK forces' base in northern Iraq, was told British troops were struggling to break the stand-off because of the tactic.
"Irregular forces are using civilians as human shields," she said.
"Men with guns advance out of the city with civilians in front of them towards the British forces.
"These civilians are being forced into this.
The men are firing on the troops and they are unable to return fire.
"The stand-off continues."
Pockets of resistance are continuing in the southern Iraqi city, which is home to some 1m people.
But British commanders insist UK forces are not about to go in and take out the paramilitaries.
Meanwhile, British forces have destroyed up to seven Iraqi tanks on the edge of Basra.
Captain Alan Massey, of the flagship aircraft carrier Ark Royal, said British light tanks, helped by small helicopter gunships and surveillance helicopters, had been battling a breakout by up to 50 Iraqi tanks.
They were trying to press southwards from the edge of the city, he said.
British forces have surrounded Basra and secured its airport.
Stormin Norman" and/or Colin Powell would have been in Baghdad by now, and possibly even WON by now
It's been a week for God's sake.
I'm surprised we've gotten as far as we have.
The longer the allied forces stay, the less welcome they will become.
Opening graph in today's Wall Street Journal front page story
"As the telethon "Our Kin in Iraq" aired aired across the Arab world yesterday on Dubai's satellite TV channel, the screen flashed with images of charred toddlers and American bombs exploding over Baghdad. Pledges reached the $1 million mark. Than a portrait of Dubai crown prince Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum appeared on the screen, signaling his endorsment of the show."
Strong Iraqi resistance is starting to make them look kinda cool on Al-Jazeera, the WSJ says.
Our forces will be in Iraq for a long time.
No choice in the matter, now, that's for sure.
That "we just want to free these people and go home" attitude won't work here.
That "we just want to free these people and go home" attitude won't work here.
I think that attitude is sincere, I just don't think those in power in Iraq would allow it.
They'll continue on as long as they can, and fight as nasty as they can, in hopes that we'll just pack up and leave, and they'll regain power.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,82129,00.html
'Bill - Fold' 3/26/03 4:31am
Bill,
First of all. As JT pointed out it's been a week. They knew we were coming. Because of trying to avoid civilian casualties we did no prepratory air strikes so when we walked in, the areas hadn't been touched. As far as the large forces that we are running into it hasn't been a problem. If we wanted to simply take a city it could easily be done. The air and arty that could be used would take them out, you move through and you sweep through what's left of a decimated force. If we weren't trying so very hard to limit civilian casualties we could do so and it would be over by now or close to it IMO.
The other difference other than that issue is of course the pockets of urban fighting that have to be done. Those take longer. Logistically and planning wise are alot different. Eventually they will have to be dealt with and that's why I think the 2 prong plan of one force moving up and the other dealing with the cities etc. will work. What I do take issue with or disagree with is I think we need to do is take the gloves off a bit more. It will shorten the conflict and in the end save lives on each side compared to a long drawn out conflict. I was glad to see that we cancelled the Saddamn show.
The other difference is of course this time they are also fighting for their "homeland" Some more than others. We didn't have 40 days of prep strikes to lessen numbers and morale. They know the terrain and the people. It's obvious though what tactics these douchebags use. So there's alot of things that come into play. Frankly I think we should wait and draw as many troops oout of the city as we can. Bait them and take them out. As we speak there are apparently 1,000 vehicles headed for a meeting with my bretheren Marines and more than likely they will meet their maker or surrender. When you look at the distance traveled, the logistics and all those factors it's amazing to me anyone doesn't see the success greater than the failures.
We don't want to be in Bagdhad yet IMO. Why not draw them out and take out as many as you can before you go in ? Why go in when they are still coalated, organized and equipped. I think we will see that happen and we will clean up areas in the south over time. It seems today they are opening it up a bit more with less restrictions. Now some especially the reporters will wonder why or say we're bogged down outside of Bagdhad. We should wait. We should also have some patience. It's not a drive through war with a McVictory. Any of the people I talked to that are in the know didn't expect a cakewalk. I think the only surprise has been the tactics some of these assholes are using. Considering what's been done thus far, the casualty count is always tragic but in perspective and excluding accidents it's a different picture. It would no doubt be lower if we weren't concerned about friendly's. I applaud their efforts of what and how they've conducted themselves.
English site – http://www.aljazeerah.info/
Expand your horizons by viewing the other side of the coin.Also, it is always good to know what the enemy is saying to the whole world. US credibility is at its nadir now and even news channels and print media are disbelived. My faith in the American media has also plumetted.
From NYT online
Two cruise missiles struck a residential area in Baghdad on Wednesday, killing 14 people, Iraqi defense officials said -- the worst single reported instance of civilian deaths since the U.S. bombing campaign began a week ago.
Thirty others were reported injured in the attack, which occurred around midday in the heavily populated northern Baghdad neighborhood of Al-Shaab. The area consists of homes and about 30 shops, mostly inexpensive restaurants and auto repair shops.
as soon as graphics are available they will be served up.
L2F - We don't want to be in Bagdhad yet IMO - thinks like the American killing machines in Iraq -
Allied forces have shifted the focus of their land campaign in Iraq to concentrate on defeating the fedayeen and other militias serving Saddam Hussein in the south before beginning the battle for Baghdad, senior officers said tonight.
The American strategy had been to bypass Iraq's southern cities and drive toward the capital to take on the Republican Guard and ultimately topple Mr. Hussein's government.
But the resistance from the militia groups to the rear of the advancing allies has been so stiff that commanders have concluded that this Iraqi threat has to be addressed first.
The attack on the Republican Guard will be delayed while American and British forces fight in and around Iraq's southern cities.
The reason though is the gross underestimation and piss poor plannaing - perhaps brought on by Yankee arrogance - as conceded by even military top brass (NYT on line)
The nation's top military officer acknowledged today that the Pentagon's strategy to shock the Iraqi government quickly with a devastating early air assault has not worked exactly as desired.
But Gen. Richard B. Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that even if Saddam Hussein's government was still standing after six days of intense bombing, control was slipping away from the Iraqi leadership as American forces closed in on Baghdad.
later folks - with unsanitized veracity.
Naradar- Go to hell. You SOB.
one last post before the evening .
and fuck you -
jethro bodine 3/26/03 9:09am
The two sides of news
Naradar arote: and fuck you -jethro bodine 3/26/03 9:09am
Actually that is what I wanted to say to you. You anti-American f-ing asshole. Take your sorry ass over to Iraq and fight for Saddam, you b******.
Must have taken your small mind a whole week to think of that one. Is it any wonder.......Aw, nevermind. Keep on a cluckin' Noradar.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/890762.asp
Hell, Schwartzkopf made it almost as far
Really? They were 50 miles outside of Baghdad within a week?
It's coming around again, people complaining about the questions reporters ask. They're "incessently stupid" says Limbaugh.
What happened to the phrase: There's no such thing as a stupid question?
The only stupid question is the ONE THAT ISN'T ASKED.
C'mon, there's Fox News, if you want the "rah-rah for the military" questions.
Pffft.
"What happened to the phrase: There's no such thing as a stupid question?"
It Didn't Take Into Account "Reporters"....
This Boy is a Hoot!
I wonder if he does Bar Metzhas...
I heard a few excerpts of his excrement.
BTW,
Welcome to this neck of the woods. :)
""What happened to the phrase: There's no such thing as a stupid question?"
It Didn't Take Into Account "Reporters".... "
I've interviewed Generals in the past. The one I talked with occasionally treated me like an insect. It was kind of funny the contempt he showed for absolutely no reason.
My hair was a bit long, but I wore a tie and sportcoat. I showed up on time.
Rick,
I don't think any of the personel have been unprofessional towards the reporters.
You don't think any of the questions were a bit naieve either intentionally or unintentionally ?
It's often a game among reporters. They got egos and reputations and they don't want to be seen as lobbing softballs. They'll phrase a question that tries to snare them.
That's not to say they're not seriously after information. Sometimes the questions come from the editors.
Military brass at that level recognize the game and are usually pretty good at playing along. They know the good reporters and the ones that are trying to roll them.
That's a fair analysis I would say.
I do actually laugh though at Al Jezerra and a few others.
There questions usually go something like this.
Reporter:
Since you are an evil imperialist bloodthirsty empire and are worse than the Nazi's, do you think this latest incident will hurt your image in the world ?
General:
I have no information on that currently availible. (Which IMO is either code for go screw yourself or he really doesn't know)
I've interviewed Generals in the past. The one I talked with occasionally treated me like an insect. It was kind of funny the contempt he showed for absolutely no reason.
When I was in the military anyone above the rank of Col. seemed to do that with everybody. There were a few exemptions but I think most of them do have a swelled head.
It does seem like the reporters at the briefings are really trying to trip the military up, second-guess their strategy, and ask them questions they can't possibly know the answers to in order to make them look bad on TV. And some of them just beat subjects to death, even after they've been given all the answers they're going to get.
I'd be interested in knowing where all of you are getting your information, just for comparison's sake. We watch about 55%-45% Fox News and MSNBC, occasionally hopping over to CNN for different photo perspectives. I check the Yahoo headlines two or three times a day and follow the links that interest me. How about the rest of you?
Hi Muskwa,
I'm an official flipper ABC, NBC, MSNBC, CNN, FOX, BBC (when I can get it) I watch what interests me at the time depending on what's being covered and who's on. There's a few I flip immeidately if I see them, Arron Brown on CNN comes to mind. He's horrid.
Ditto on the news coverage, Muskwa.
I did see a reporter ask a question that went something like "Since you have not found any WMD and the Iraqi's have not used them, does that mean that it was all a lie to get us to go to war?" The general snickered and told him that we had been at war for less than 72 hours and have not had time to check every nook and cranny of Iraq yet. He said that we were more concern with other things at this time.
Mostly radio and print, some Internet newspaper coverage. CNN early in the morning.
What would be the motive of "making them look bad." Believe me, the military brass will just as easily send a reporter on a wild goose chase, or attempt to manipulate and use them for their own purposes. I can't think of anyone who would want be a propaganda tool.
So a lot of what you see is a professionally advesarial relationship, built on mutually earned mistrust. And I dont think any of you conseravatives mind that when it comes to government and the media.
Those three jokers on Fox and Friends in the morning are disgusting.
They're snide and smug. Today they were mocking a group of protester and slavishly fawning over one of the soldiers they were interviewing.
That's terrible. Why can't they play it down the middle, or at least make an attempt?