500 Iraqis killed trying to recapture bridge over Euphrates (My title)

BBC ^ | 4/3/03

[LdSentinal]

0758: US military official says about 500 Iraqi troops were killed trying to recapture a key bridge over the Euphrates River, 30 km (19 miles) south of Baghdad.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

That will teach them to try to retake ground!

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[zarf]

Ted Koppel reported live from that bridge (as they crossed and dealt with the minor resistance)and the 3rd ID barely had resistance. Very few bodies were found and he was concluding that the bulk of the force had retreated to Baghdad.

[MEG33]

I just listened to an intense fire fight with marines securing a bridge over the Tigris..RGs Wow I feel like I was there .Keeping these bridges keeps the bad guys from moving and us able to move.

[struwwelpeter]

This was the only picture I could find of the elite Hammurabians.

[JustPiper]

Did anyone catch the 'live' battle with Bob Arnot on MSNBC for over an hour? It was utterly amazing!

[JustPiper]

Was it on MSNBC Meg?

[MCFujiTanker]

They really need to drop the "Elite" from the Republican Guard. Thank God that they don't know how to retreat, blow bridges and camoflage their gear. Parking it next to a school doesn't count. These nice, neat hull defilade positions for their MBTs and APCs stood out like sore thumbs on the photo recon...not even an effort to put overhead cover on them!! This is basic stuff!! Semper Fi!!

[MEG33]

Yes Bob Arnot. I'm not calmed down yet.

[dc-zoo]

Dr Bob is by far the best embeded reporter of them all. Just wish Fox had him. That was an awesome report.

[truth_seeker]

"They really need to drop the "Elite" from the Republican Guard. Thank God that they don't know how to retreat, blow bridges and camoflage their gear. Parking it next to a school doesn't count."

Hiding behind civilians is by now a well known component of muslim military doctrine. Arab-palestinians, Taliban, al Qaida, etc. Now Iraq's "professional" elite-army.

[rawbob]

It was a great report. The only problem was that airhead Alex Witt breaking in all the time to ask stupid and redundant questions. Worse than Aaron Brown.

[Stavka2]

I am amazed that they didn't blow bridges, mine more roads and blow the damns...if they do have rouge former Soviet generals advising...well I can see why these guys got fired from the Russian army. If the Iraqies followed Russian strategy, everything of use to the enemy would have been destroyed beyond all repair. There would have been oil slicks miles long and wide and defense in depth not strong point.

[Solson]

It is primarily because Command and Communications are so decimated they had no idea of when to blow the bridges. We're too vicious, too fast, and too powerful for them to succeed.

[Stavka2]

That's why you put out forward security posts and err on the safe side by blowing the bridges...unless the generals are not allowed to make any decisions without central authority...like the Wehrmacht during their long retreat on both fronts.

[MCFujiTanker]

These so called battle hardened elite troops fought a WWI style battle with Iran with modern weapons, and never really learned any lessons from it. But they do look good on parade. I remember in '91, all their mines were planted in neat rows in the sand...no "Devil's Garden's" like Rommel taught us. They are just lazy!! Even the Marines, with totally obsolete AAVs substituting for APCs are kicking their ass. In one day the 3RDID brewed up over 70 T-72s and only lost one M1A1 to RPGs (only disabled, we blew it up, because towing it failed). It ended up on Iraqi TV. Just a few more days....

[Travis McGee]

Their officers are NOT allowed to make independent decisions. To do so would mean certain execution.

They wait for orders to come, and if no orders come...they wait.

[JackelopeBreeder]

Russians import ketchup from Iraq?

[struwwelpeter]

Actually it was Ukrainian ketchup, but it's great on many Russian dishes. Even Jackelope ;-)

[JackelopeBreeder]

They do taste just like chicken...