Iraqi Column Near Basra Largely Destroyed-UK Official

Reuters ^ | March 27, 2003 | Reuters

[Mister Magoo]

Iraqi Column Near Basra Largely Destroyed-UK Official

Thu March 27, 2003 01:27 AM ET

AS SAYLIYA CAMP, Qatar (Reuters) - U.S.-led forces have destroyed much of a column of Iraqi tanks and armored personnel carriers trying to leave the southern city of Basra, a British military official said on Thursday. The official, speaking at the U.S. and British Central Command forward headquarters in Qatar, said initial reports of the overnight battle indicated that "a lot of the column was repelled and destroyed."

The Iraqi convoy, which was estimated at between 70 and 120 vehicles, came under fierce attack by U.S. and British warplanes and artillery as it headed south of Basra.

A television reporter with British marines south of Basra said there had been initial confusion over whether the convoy was a counter-offensive or a retreat from a reported uprising against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in Basra.

[dark_lord]

Nice of them to so stupidly sortie out of Basra like that. If they had stayed in place we would have had to dig them out. But - it might be because there is a report that Saddam has replaced a bunch of his military commanders with Fedayeen and had those commanders shot. Nice to have some stupid, untrained thugs in charge of their units. Makes it easier for us.

[nanomid]

The uprising must have been bigger than initially stated.

Death if they stay, death if they go.
Misuse of the white flag was their final mistake.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Very good!

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[Mo1]

Is this the column that CNN was worried about?

[dixiechick2000]

So, I guess this was the...

THE SORTIE OF DEATH!!!

Waaay coool! May they have many more...

[BurbankKarl]

Brits are holding a briefing now...they just showed the bomb sniffing dolphins...

[xm177e2]

The uprising must have been bigger than initially stated.

Yet there are no signs of it existing right now... who knows what's happening?

I doubt they ran away because they couldn't bear to fire on their countrymen...

[Ancesthntr]

Buh-Bye! Next!

[EternalVigilance]

The Shiites have had a dozen years to sharpen their knives.

Uday's goons took the easy and quick way out...

[nanomid]

Oh crap! Smallpox!?

Is this why they left the city?
They shut off the water days ahead of the campaign.
They're obviously ready to sacrifice the entire city.

[bart99]

I think CNN was also talking about the 1000 vehicle Republican Guard coming south out of Baghdad.

Seems they just repositioned themselves though.... instead of going south.

[VOA]

Shame on me...but I want at least a few "reduced-scale Highway Of Death" photos or videos.

I expect at least some decent footage for my tax dollars!

[CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC]

Waaay coool! May they have many more...

But what if Valhalla runs out of virgins?

[CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC]

Seems they just repositioned themselves though.... instead of going south.

I thought it was our planes and artillery that "repositioned" their convoy? Heh heh!

[dixiechick2000]

Ouch! That would be a shame...heheheh

[norcalvet]

But hey, they just said on the news that we couldn't hit the column because of the sandstorm?

Ha ha ha, silly reporters.

As soon as I heard about this column, images of the "highway of death" danced in my head. Knew it was only a matter of time.

It's fun being right.

[Rasputin_TheMadMonk]

Valhalla was exclusively for the Vikings, Islamicists are going to HELL.

Please get your afterlifes straight.


;-)

[lunatic12]

"Nice of them to so stupidly sortie out of Basra like that."

Boycott the "S" word. It's French!!!