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

[maquiladora]

Sky News reported that of the 2 missiles shot down by Patriots, one was a Scud. A scud landed close to where Ollie was, at that Marine camp. Also 2 smaller missiles landed harmlessly in N Kuwait and perhaps something landed in Kuwait Bay too.

[theophilusscribe]

Good call, maquiladora!
Thanks, Quilla!

[Tree of Liberty]

I think it'll happen this morning. Our paratroopers need to go into the oil fields during or before "Shock and Awe" starts, and need to drop after sun-down and before moon-rise. Otherwise, they're floating targets silhouetted against the moon light.

[MeekOneGOP]

20,000 ! Wow. There MUST be a French-Iraqi connection ? . . .

See Zee monkey

French Military Victories

Spot the Difference

Separated at birth/one and the same?

[An.American.Expatriate]

Iraq conflict hits websites hard -> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2867855.stm

[Timeout]

I was in France in October and, even then, people went out of their way to talk to us about our "dangeroux" president.

The refrain was: Americans are naive...don't understand how the world runs. All said with a dripping disdain. (keep in mind, we speak quite adequate French and certainly weren't acting like tourists are so often portrayed). We encountered a visceral hatred for the U.S. administration. they were quick to say they didn't feel this way about the American people, but their words said otherwise.

Next time, I'll go elsewhere.

[eureka!]

Bump for catching up through the day...

[TexKat]

If I'm not mistaken, Sky News is reporting an upcoming live speech by Saddam. This should prove interesting.

If so Quilla, it may or may not get through. MSNBC just reported that Iraqui tv and radio is being jammed off and on.

[Jackie-O]

Please keep me posted, I'm at work and tv deprived. Only have CBS radio reports.

[American in Israel]

There will be pretty much no action for at least 4 hours, and more likely 8. It will be 4 hours till it gets dark over here, and the full moon has been rising real early in the evening, it is up before the sun goes down. Figure 4 hours till the sun sets, and another 4 till the moon sets. Then it will be time for the Air Force to play. Why risk lives by flying in the clear skys of day? The targets arn't going anywhere...

[colette_g]

A scud landed close to where Ollie was, at that Marine camp.

Now reporting "just outside" camp. That's way more accurate than I'd expect from the Iraqui's - I hope they don't have any outside help there ...

[maquiladora]

I keeping an eye on the developments at RAF Fairford. When we see those 14 B-52's take off we'll have a rough idea when the attack will start.

[jwalsh07]

One was Chinese, also verboten according to UN resolutions, but a nice reminder to anybody who sohps at Wal MArt.

[An.American.Expatriate]

Please keep me posted, I'm at work and tv deprived. Only have CBS radio reports.

Radio? What a luxury!!

[meowmeow]

Not sure where to post this...

Meanwhile, here in DC, protesters have blocked the Key Bridge. Weather is cold and rainy. Employees are straggling in late due to traffic tie ups and delays on the Metro. Lots of sirens here in Rosslyn. Traffic snarled.

[theophilusscribe]

How much of that is Freepers, I wonder! Hee hee

[Michael81Dus]

"Krieg führende Parteien" includes UK/US and Iraq. That´s what my mother language tells me...

My impression is, that now the SPD/Greens voices against America are more silent now. They know that the war started, and that hate speeches now are useless. The discussion in the parliament was more peaceful then yesterday. I think Schröder won´t blame America in his speech this afternoon, he will express his sadness but not directly blame Washington.

[steveegg]

Iraq conflict hits websites hard -> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2867855.stm

'Tis not a problem here. Thanks, Jim and John.

And don't give me the "You just jinxed us" horse manure :-)

[Tree of Liberty]

Levanthal reporting that there were 3 scuds knocked down. 1 knocked down by the Kuwaiti military. We took down the other two. All according to a very reliable source (I'm guessing the intel officer).