US forces 'one kilometre from Basra'

scotsman.com ^ | 03-30-03 | Ben Judge and Stewart Kirkpatrick

[bootyist-monk]

US forces have invaded Iraq and are just one kilometre from the southern city of Basra, according to unconfirmed reports from the state news agency of Iran (IRNA).

Quoting the Supreme Assembly of Islamic Revolution in Iraq, the Tehran-backed main Shi-ite opposition group, IRNA said American troops were likely to attack the city in the very near future.

• You can read the story on their website here.

Earlier, IRNA said quoted similar sources as saying there had been a revolt by Iraqi troops and civilians in southern Iraq.

The news came as US forces launched intense artillery barrages near the Iraq-Kuwait border. Large explosions were reported near Basra. Witnesses reported seeing many artillery flashes every second.

Officials had warned that a ground invasion was coming. Major General Bufourd Blount of the US Army had said that an artillery barrage would start the first phase of the ground war.

Meanwhile, three oil wells are on fire in southern Iraq, according to a US marine commander, with flames reported in the Basra area.

Positions of UK and US troops before the invasion

Witnesses in Kuwait just south of the Iraqi border said flames were spotted after a series of explosions rocked buildings in the area.

Donald Rumsfeld, the US Defence Secretary, said he had heard indications that "two or three" oil wells might have been set on fire in southern Iraq.

Kuwait television reported that the wells near Basra had been set alight by Iraqi troops, while Iranian media outlets claimed US jets had bombed the oilfields.

[bootyist-monk]

Not sure of the source, but interesting if true...

Bootyist

[Redbob]

Or, you could read the report on their website HERE:
http://www.irna.com/en/tnews/030320193234.etn02.shtml

[Grampa Dave]

Looks like they are getting ready to clean up the Shi-ite mess in Basra!

[Colorado Doug]

Or, you could read the thread, already posted HERE:

href="http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/870085/posts?page=1"

[MEG33]

We're selectively bombing Baghdad.My hope for early surrenders in Basra.

[Grampa Dave]

Lets kill Saddam, his sons, his family members and the top 100 killer/thugs under him. Then the war can end. Then, Freed Iraqi and Kurds can try the rest as war criminals.

[bootyist-monk]

General McInerny (sp?) on Fox just said that he believes that the Marines are on the outskirts of Basra.

[MEG33]

I'm with you.

[Grampa Dave]

Armed Shiite Muslim Hizbullah tries to run away from the US Marines in Basra, Iraq!

"HOLY SHIITE! BOOTS DON'T FAIL ME NOW! THOSE US MARINES ARE DIFFERENT THAN KILLING UNARMED JEWISH SCHOOLKIDS. THE MARINES SHOOT FIRST AND KILL US! JIHAD IS SHIITE"

DAMN SUPER GLUE ON MY GUN HAND!

[MEG33]

The screens have gone blank for the media center in Dohah (sp) lest the operations be compromised.

[Icthus]

I'm not sure I agree with the minute by minute updates regarding the position of our troops by the media.

Watching Ollie North this morning state that the missiles landed just west of Camp Freedom makes me wonder if the Iraqi's are monitoring as well...and making adjustments.

[Stavka2]

While the Kurds fight the Turks, the Army of Islam (eastern Kurdistan), the Turkmani and the Arabs. While the Sunni Arabs fight the Shiete Swamp Arabs, while the various Shiete clans nad political parties fight each other. While the Turks and Iranians fight each other and the remains of the Sunni Arabs for what ever they can grab. While the three main Kurdish parties fight each other. While the ..... while the US troops get caught in the middle of all this crap.

[Grampa Dave]

Just watch and learn how a real country and a real military does it. We are not Russia.

[Stavka2]

I know how the US operates, there Gramps, been in it long enough. Why is everyone so defensive when you point out the geopolitical reality on the ground? Paranoia? Sorry to burst a bubble but life is not black and white and what will be going on between the different clans/tribes/ethnic groups/religions is not going to be neat and cute, no matter if the US army had Deathstars and giant robots...reality is reality.

[Stavka2]

Here, since you don't want to face reality, this is what Iraq is about to turn into...a little foreshadowing:

Turkey, Iran set sights on Northern Iraq