Operation Iraqi Freedom - Day 1 - LIVE THREAD

20 March 2003 | An.American.Expatriate

[An.American.Expatriate]

This is a thread to collect all the breaking stories regarding the Libration of Iraq

[ezoeni]

this is going to be a busy thread

[OXENinFLA]

bump

[An.American.Expatriate]

I hope we can collect a bit of the ongoing reports into one thread to get an overview . . .

[Green]

This should be in breaking news so that all the various threads that are starting would all come here instead of starting a thread with one or 2 comments.

[wolficatZ]

True, right now there are 4 or 5 threads all posting the same breaking news. I can't keep up.

[OXENinFLA]

FNC saying Iraq will be sending media to Oil site hit neer civilan housing soon.

1st propganda out of iraq.

[An.American.Expatriate]

I agree, HEY, Admin Guy, what do you think??

[anniegetyourgun]

It's a good idea, AAE....but Mods probably need to referee. I suppose it should have been a part of their pre-war planning to establish such threads so as not to have to maintain hundreds of small similar ones.

[OXENinFLA]

3 SCUDS shot down PER. Ollie FNC

[The Wizard]

I see over 3000 hits on this one

Ollie's area has been attacked for the third time at Freedom base, Partriots have been taking them out of the skys

[OXENinFLA]

OH wait, now he's saying it could have been 1 of 3.

[Green]

Ollie keeps referring to them as "Scuds" but Major Garrett reporting from the Pentagon a little while ago said the Pentagon has confirmed it is NOT scuds but rather surface to surface and not as easy to shoot down as the scuds are because they have a lower arc to them whereas the scud has a much higher arc.

[OXENinFLA]

1 out of 3 type of missiles.

not 1 of 3 shot down.

[An.American.Expatriate]

So far, I count:

Initial attacks on iraq,
several missile attacks against US forces in Kuwait
"Crop Duster"
etc...

Any other "news" yet?

Any confirmation on "SCUDS". If this is true, we need to start blasting this everywhere.

[OXENinFLA]

Larua Green on FNC asked it Oiile could confirm if they were if fact SCUDS, then Ollie came back w/ could have been 1 of 3 types.

[The Wizard]

I'm with you, let's have some shock and awe

[OXENinFLA]

IRAQI NEWS CONFF>LIVE

[An.American.Expatriate]

Thanks. I'm cubicle bound and no chance for feeds.

[maquiladora]

Kuwait said they were 3-tonne medium range missiles. It seems they are Scud, or Scud variants.

Reports of Kurds engaging Iraqi forces up north.

Reports of Iraqi forces setting fire to oil filled trenches.

[The Wizard]

Iraq presser: Bush and Blair should be targeted: sounds Like we must ahev hit close to Saddam

[Green]

Can you listen to CNN radio online? There is a link on their website. (I know...CNN, but better than nothing)

[An.American.Expatriate]

I hope we got extremely close . . .

[Oldeconomybuyer]

02:54 PST IN THE KUWAITI DESERT (AP) -- Iraq fired missiles across the Kuwaiti border toward U.S. troops Thursday, prompting soldiers to don gas masks and chemical protective gear. At least one of the rockets was intercepted by a Patriot missile, U.S. officials said.

There were no immediate reports of any casualties or damage, and soldiers were given the all-clear.

At Camp New Jersey -- one of at least two encampments in the Kuwaiti desert where soldiers put on their protective gear because of missile attacks -- officers said the missile appeared to be an Al Samoud 2, which is smaller than a Scud.

Col. Michael Linnington of the 3rd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division said the missile did not appear to have a chemical warhead.

"Our information was an Al-Samoud missile was launched against U.S. forces assembling in forward attack positions," Linnington said.

Earlier, in what appeared to be a separate attack, Kuwaiti Defense Minister Sheik Jaber Mubarak Al Sabah told The Kuwait News Agency two Iraqi missiles fell on the border with Iraq. There were no casualties or damage, another official told KUNA.

[An.American.Expatriate]

No Sound on this "pizza box". I am like totally multi media challenged here.

[The Wizard]

Patriots intercepted three suds aimed at Freedom base

[Green]

Yikes...sorry to hear that. I'm headed off to work soon but I can at least listen to CNN radio online. I wish Fox news would activate their live feed again during this war.

[The Wizard]

Presser: Iraq has done everything they were supposed to but the little bush and his father want to occupy Iraq

[The Wizard]

Colin Powell a villian, Iraq is just the beginning, prior to that the villian Kissinger wanted to take over Iraq

[wolficatZ]

Screw this Iraqi press conf. The only thing I want to hear from them is 'I surrender".

[An.American.Expatriate]

Yes, sad but true.

I am totally dependant upon FReeRepublic for my news.

Any and all updates as they occur would be highly appreciated!

FReeRegards

[Green]

Everyone is a villain except the regime in Iraq, I suppose.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

12:54 Iraqi Information Minister: Baghdad buildings hit by U.S. strike were empty

12:49 Iraqi Information Minister: One civilian killed in U.S. strikes on Baghdad that hit TV/radio, customs building, suburbs

12:40 Kuwait and U.S.: Total of four Scuds fired at Kuwait, Patriots used to intercept two of them

12:15 U.S. officer in Kuwait desert says told Al-Samoud missile launched against U.S. forces, brought down by 3 Patriots

[An.American.Expatriate]

Wouldn't that be grand??

So, i'm off for 20 Minutes or so . . .

keep this bumped and let's get some more FReepers on this.

[Tree of Liberty]

FNC confirming SpecOps in Iraq now to soften up the battleground.

[battlegearboat]

Two camels and a lucky strike!

[Oldeconomybuyer]

For U.S. troops, start of war welcomed after long wait in the desert -AP Breaking News
KIMBERLY HEFLING, Associated Press Writer
(03-20) 03:04 PST CAMP NEW JERSEY, Kuwait (AP) -- U.S. troops got their first real scare Thursday when Iraqi missiles streaked across the border into Kuwait, forcing the Americans to quickly climb into protective suits and put on gas...[snip]

[Green]

Now don't laugh all....I'm headed to the shower! ha! Have to try to get ready for work while trying to keep up with all this too...

[Tree of Liberty]

Ollie North out of gas mask. No cassulties at the base.

[The Wizard]

Ollie said these missiles have really pissed off the troops and they are READY

[theophilusscribe]

THREADS SO FAR:

Small Aircraft Crashes Near 1st Marine Expeditionary Force: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869776/posts

SMALL "CROPDUSTER" TYPE PLANE CRASHES NEAR TROOPS: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869774/posts

U.S. officials: Two Scuds hit Kuwait, two more inbound: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869773/posts

FNC reports chemi-drone crashed near Marine Base: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869772/posts

China Strongly Calls for Immediate Stop of Military Actions Against Iraq: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869770/posts

EXPLOSIONS IN KUWAIT CITY:http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869766/posts

Bush calm, confident in decision to begin attack: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869748/posts

TARGET: IRAQ Elite U.S. forces take leading role: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869744/posts

Missiles fired at Kuwait had no chem/bio agents -TV: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869743/posts

Air Raid Sirens in Kuwait City: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869739/posts

Iraqi Missiles Hit Kuwait: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869728/posts

U.S. Forces Unleash First Salvos Against Saddam; Bush Says World Security Is at Stake: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869702/posts

1,000 U.S. Troops Sweep Into Southern Afghanistan in New Hunt for Al-Qaida Suspects: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869678/posts

Explosion North Kuwait, 2nd Bio-Chem Alert, Not a drill: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869677/posts

CNBC: U.S. Now Has Control Of Iraqi Radio: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869673/posts

Al Arabia TV station reports Iraqi missile fell on Kuwait border; troops don gas masks: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869670/posts

China Demands End to Attack on Iraq: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869662/posts

US Troops in N. Kuwait told to put on gas masks: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869651/posts

Haartz Flash News- 07:25 Monte Carlo Radio: Iraqi forces begin setting oil wells on fire.: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869587/posts

'CONSCRIPTS TO SURRENDER' (2/3 of Iraqi Conscripts): http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869577/posts

"Iraqi TV has gone off the air in Baghdad" -- Brian Williams: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869575/posts

Sky News (via FOX News) reporting 5 top Iraqi leaders killed: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869567/posts

CBS Radio: 2 Iraqi Divisions Negotiating Surrender: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869539/posts

FROM FOX NEWS...U.S. TROOPS GO AFTER AL-QAEDA IN AFGHANISTAN: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869529/posts

Baghdad Hit by Sustained Air Raid: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869526/posts
***President's Speech, 10:15 EST Official Thread***: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869434/posts

BOMBING SEEMS TO HAVE BEGUN NEAR BAGHDAD, CHECK THIS WEBCAM, YOU CAN HEAR THE BOMBS IN THE DISTANCE: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869389/posts

[Oldeconomybuyer]

13:12
Iraqi missiles hit Kuwait after U.S. assault targets Iraq leaders
U.S. officer: Patriot anti-missiles reportedly intercept al-Samoud missile before it hits American troops poised to attack Iraq.
11:57
U.S. hints forces operating in Western Iraq to foil Scud attacks on Israel
Israeli officials: Powell gave Sharon 90-minute advance warning of U.S. missile assault.

[The Wizard]

I'll be here, FWIW...this Iraq Freedom, day 1 and that's where we are

[theophilusscribe]

More . . .

Turkish president criticises US Iraq action: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869784/posts

U.S. strikes Iraq - Success of initial stage of war 'too early to tell':
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869769/posts

First strikes were limited in scope: US defense officials: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869734/posts

Kuwait probes explosions in north:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869731/posts

U.S. Troops Welcome Start of War: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869726/posts

Info on the ships (and the F-117) that fired the first shots: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869700/posts

U.S., Iraq exchange fire on Iraq-Kuwait border: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869676/posts

U.S. May Use 'E-Bomb' in Iraq Invasion: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869671/posts

[An.American.Expatriate]

US officials say Iraq has fired at least one Scud missile into northern Kuwait, which was intercepted by a Patriot missile.

For more details: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news

[Dog]

I need to know was Saddam allowed Scuds??

[ZAKJAN]

There is a large group of us on PALTALK with live CNN feed audio and video......we are monitoring and discussing the war.
join us if you like

http://www.paltalk.com
Groups, social issues, Wake up America/UK/Allies Let's roll room... freepers let me know you are here...ZAKJAN_
Let's roll!!

[Tree of Liberty]

Breaking from the Pentagon by Major Gerrett on FNC --

First missile was indeed a SCUD, and was taken down by a Patriot. Exploded in flight, indecating a pak3 Patriot. Second missile was probably an anti-ship, sunburn variant. Difficult to engage. Went of course.

[Dog]

Second missile fired by Iraq was their version of the SUNBURN type anti-ship missile it landed harmlessly..

[Tree of Liberty]

Saddam was fobidden to use SCUDS as part of the '91 cease fire. His possession of them is in violation of that pact.