***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 4 - LIVE THREAD***

Everywhere! | 23 Mar 2003 | An.American.Expatriate

[null and void]

Good Morning.

This is the Daily Thread of Operation Iraqi Freedom - LIVE THREAD.

It is designed for general conversation about the events of the day. In depth discussion of events should be left to individual threads - but links to the threads or other articles is highly encouraged. This allows us to stay abreast of the situation in general, while also providing a means of obtaining specific information.

Please have mercy on us dial up limited FReepers! Limit the big graphics, post links instead. A breif description of what the graphic is would help:

To all who helped this get started, thank you!

Special thanks to An.American.Expatriate for staring the daily threads, Mo1 for the screamer, the AdminMods for their tolerance, and, of course, Belly Girl...

[Sacajaweau]

There is a part of man (woman) that enables him (her) to put a strong emotion in a box until the existing danger passes. It may be as simple as a 9-11 call or as complex as being in the throes of war.

It was VJ day. There was a great outpouring in our city. I was 17 months old.

A soldier on leave came up to my mother and asked if he could hold me as he had no one in the city.

She said, "he took you gently from my arms, cuddled you and cried".

God Bless Our Troops!

[abnegation]

The tape does not show them being executed, but shows the dead bodies of executed soldiers, shot in the head.

[colette_g]

Thanks for the info, much appreciated.

[Catspaw]

[ Printer Friendly ]   [ EMail This Article to a Friend ]Mar. 23, 2003
EXCLUSIVE: US TROOPS CAPTURE CHEMICAL PLANT
By CAROLINE GLICK
An Najaf, Iraq

Caroline B. Glick

About 30 Iraqi troops, including a general, surrendered today to US forces of the 3rd Infantry Division as they overtook huge installation apparently used to produce chemical weapons in An Najaf, some 250 kilometers south of Baghdad.

One soldier was lightly wounded when a booby-trapped explosive went off as he was clearing the sheet metal-lined facility, which resembles the eery images of scientific facilities in World War II concentration camps.

The huge 100-acre complex, which is surrounded by a electrical fence, is perhaps the first illegal chemical plant to be uncovered by US troops in their current mission in Iraq. The surrounding barracks resemble an abandoned slum.

It wasn't immediately clear exactly which chemicals were being produced here, but clearly the Iraqis tried to camouflage the facility so it could not be photographed aerially, by swathing it in sand-cast walls to make it look like the surrounding desert.

Within minutes of our entry into the camp on Sunday afternoon, at least 30 Iraqi soldiers and their commanding officer of the rank of General, obeyed the instructions of US soldiers who called out from our jeep in loudspeakers for them to lie down on the ground, and put their hands above their heads to surrender.

Today's operation is the third engagement with Iraqi forces by the First Brigade of the US army's 3rd Infantry Division, since Saturday afternoon.

So far in the campaign, the brigade has suffered no losses. But two were wounded Saturday night in an ambush on the outskirts of As-Samwah in southern Iraq.
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[palmer]

BBC showed it

Then they said they won't show it again.

[Green]

There are lots of people in this country with sattelite feeds and internet.

[Wyatt's Torch]

FNC interviewed a US commander on the treatment of Iraqi EPW's. In his first sentence he used, "our responsibility" and "preserve their dignity". He went on from there but after that first sentence, the cokmparison was over. We're dealing with evil, animals. Religon of peace my ass.

[SoldiersGirl]

I need to reboot...is there any way someone could find me a link to the video or anything?

[Mo1]

BBC just announced they were going to hold off in showing the video again for concern of the families of these soldiers

[Peach]

Catching up on thread - I think this has been fought brilliantly, as well. Having said that - there is always room for improvement and learning how to handle forward movement better. Would like to see more big bombs before our ground troops get there. I have full faith in this administration and military leadership.

[oceanview]

Yes, I am asking the same thing. Why aren't we bombing them? My guess is that they have advanced so quickly, they are have gone faster then the recon can identify the Iraqi positions for targeting.

Oh, how Rick says there are jets in the sky. Heavy chain gun firing from Rick's vehicle.

[Catspaw]

HOLY SHIITE!

Keep them safe, Lord, keep them safe.

[OXENinFLA]

we do need to let the families of those affected be notified

I agree, but it needs to be shown uncut like it was 1st ran out of Al-Jeereza to point out how Arab news slants news and how the Iraqi Regime treats Pow's.

Didn't the VP of Iraq state hours before the tape was released that the world would soon see Captured Americans. He knew, and most likey gave the orders to film it and send it out.

[baseballmom]

That's the way I feel - I don't care about these Iraqis, I only care about our guys.

I just want our guys safe.

I haven't been able to post for a while my fingers are shaking so bad. These Iraqis in charge of this must PAY !!

[gop212]

Sounds of WAR on Fox are chilling.

[ztiworoh]

Wow, this is surreal, hearing Rick Leventhal reporting from inside a firsfight

[Cboldt]

My blood has been boiling since 9/11/2001. I am so proud at the way our campaign is unfolding (looking at the entire time, from then to now). Bless the deliberate restraint, and effective use of all tools, diplomacy, military, media. I am in awe. God surely has a hand in the process, and is with GWB.

[Dog]

Thanks for that article...

Hey Hans Blixy......you freaking idiot we found you missed..

[ican'tbelieveit]

Again, I have no problem with the video being run, in its entirety, just as they saw it in the ME, but after families are notified. I am also one for having the people leaping to their deaths from the WTC played over and over to keep in our mind what these animals are capable of.

[Peach]

Oh, no. The video sounds awful. It's the Iraqi MO - they regularly videotape rapes and torture of woman and children to show the men they want to intimidate.

Firefight on Fox - turn it on.