TV networks showed battles as US troops entered Baghdad

Agence France-Presse | April 5, 2003

[HAL9000]

PARIS (AFP) - International television networks Saturday showed viewers around the world astounding footage of battles in which US mechanized units stormed in and out of a southern district of the Iraqi capital.

The networks, including Fox News, Sky News, CNN and BBC World showed pictures taken mostly by their own cameramen embedded with armoured US forces, or by cameramen working for other networks.

In some of the most impressive footage, Fox TV and Sky News viewers were able to acompany a tank column advancing on an Iraqi highway and actually watch as what seemed to be a speeding Iraqi military truck was stopped by machine gun fire from a tank turret.

In two similar separate incidents, civilian vehicles with apparent hostile intent, a white pick-up truck and a white sedan, were also gunned to a halt. The sedan, which was approaching the column from the side crashed onto the highway's central barrier missing two tanks in its path.

US and British military have been wary of suicide attacks on their forces. According to the correspondents, every effort is made to turn civilian vehicles away from the advancing US forces.

A US tank hit by enemy fire was also shown as soldiers jumped out and accompanying tanks closed in to protect the damaged vehicle from further attack.

Later on, a man in green uniform holding up his hands and then lying on the pavement to signal surrender could be seen on the side of the road as the tank column passed by.

A second man suddenly emerged from behind nearby trees prompting someone, apparently the television network's correspondent himself, to holler: "Watch out, there's another guy. Don't shoot him."

The footage also showed narrow side streets in what US military spokesmen said was a district in southern Baghdad. Some Iraqis could be seen waving at US forces.

The networks also showed viewers many minutes of what was described as an ongoing attack on an Republican Guard barracks in Baghdad.

Iraqi Information Minister Mohammad Said al-Sahaf claimed in an interview with the Al Jazeera network that the footage being shown by the Arabic and Western media was not shot on the outskirts of Baghdad, but near a town further south. He also said the international airport was still in Iraqi hands.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I have been watching the replays that Greg Kelley made on Foxnews since yesterday.

Just really a great piece of war action video!

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[GailA]

>Ya'll are gonna LOVE this link. HUNDREDS of DOD photos of Operation Iraqi Freedom (I posted it as a thread so all could have a chance to go look.

Operation Iraqi Freedom Images

[witnesstothefall]

astounding footage ,.

Shocking! Awesome even.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I have been looking thru the photos, some good stuff for sure.

Found this one that I think has shown up in the papers:

The Department of Defense announced today that Pfc. Jessica D. Lynch, 19, of Palestine, W.Va., was recovered and returned to U.S. control as the result of a successful rescue mission, April 2, 2003. Lynch had been listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown following an ambush of her convoy by enemy forces on March 23, 2003. Lynch is assigned to the 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company, Fort Bliss, Texas. (DoD photo) (Released)

Photo by: DOD PHOTO,
Record ID No. (VIRIN): 030402-D-0000X-001 >

[World'sGoneInsane]

Did you see him with his father on tv before. The side by side pictures of both of them was incredible. They look so much alike. It was very striking.

[Rudder]

What a picture---more than a thousand words!

From the Ohio side of the Ohio Valley, I hereby swear off West Virgina jokes.

[Dog Gone]

I have been watching the replays that Greg Kelley made on Foxnews since yesterday.

The guy deserves a Pulitzer Prize. Since he reports into Fox, don't count on it.

[Happy2BMe]

Saw it all - FOX is Da News!

I couldn't quite make out what happened to the white land rover-looking vehicle that was fired on as it approached from under the highway bridge - then turned back while still being fired on.

The driver finally got out and looked liked he was on his hands and knees then suddenly a few men ran up from the left of the picture.

Were those U.S. or enemy?

Very, very tricky business it will be inside Baghdad - tricky indeed.

[jackbill]

Greg Kelly's stuff was certainly Pulitzer material, but then he works for Fox.

I'm wondering what happened to Rick Levanthal, also Fox, who was on early this morning reporting about an incursion into Baghdad with the Marines in the east, with whom he's embedded. Since then, nothing. Something must be going on over there and they must be embargoing him.

Rick had pictures similar to those of Kelly.

[HAL9000]

Greg Kelly's stuff was certainly Pulitzer material, but then he works for Fox.

Television reporters win Emmys, not Pulitzers. Kelly will be a strong contender for one. Personally, I'd like to see Rick Leventhal win.

The Pulitzer will go to John F. Burns at the New York Times (again).

[laz17]

A second man suddenly emerged from behind nearby trees

And if you watch closely, you can see the second guy start to get up again after he had flattened himself on the ground. He was obviously faking his surrender and picking up a discarded weapon. You can see the puffs of smoke as the Americans shoot him, and when the camera pans back to the first Iraqi soldier, he's looking back at the second guy and watching as he is hit. Then the first soldier turns back to the Americans and continues to wave his hand to assure them that he is indeed surrendering, unlike his pal.

[Freeper Lady]

Mmmm very interesting. But perhaps the second guy intended to kill his buddy who surrendered first?

[Semper911]

Former FoxNews Tagline: We report, You decide.
New FoxNews Tagline: If you ain't watching FoxNews, You ain't watching the war!

Or...
Kelly and Leventhal. The new face of the American Media.

[jlogajan]

I saw the puff of smoke, so something happened. I don't know if he shot or was shot at. The guy on the ground looked concerned, though.