[Timesink]

Besides the text of the article itself, and the fact that it currently the top story at CBSNews.com, note well:

• This was sent out as a breaking news alert by CBS News, even though it is obviously not breaking news:

  From: "CBSNews---Breaking_News"
  Date: Sat Mar 22, 2003 3:18:59 PM America/New_York
  Subject: CBSNews.com Alert! Toughest Fighting Ahead?

  U.S. forces may soon face heaviest opposition yet on the southern approach to Baghdad guarded by Iraqi Republican Guards, troops most likely to fight hard and use chemical weapons, reports CBS News' David Martin.

• Note selective, America-hate pull quote

[Timesink]

bump for bump lists

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Iraq's best ain't jack. We shouldn't get complacent, but I know we'll nail them. The Iraqi military wants to mess with the best and, to their detriment, they'll get their wish. They'll wind up wishing they'd stayed home.

[fellowpatriot]

The latest CBS News/New York Times poll shows Americans are feeling optimistic about the progress of the war in Iraq, but they believe President Bush hasn't been clear about all the possible consequences of military action.

This is what drives me nuts about the media. Anyone with a functioning brain doesn't need the President to explain the 'consequences of war' to them.

[Waco]

E-Lights, won't last as long as the Alamo, I'd reckon.

[BobP]

Firepower like no other!!!
Any battle out in the open will be over quickly....

[Bobby777]

call in the airstrikes ... Daisy Cutters if they refuse to surrender peacefully ... terrible to say but I'd rather save American and British soldiers ... guess they could drop a Daisy Cutter a mile or two away as a warning ...

there's no rush ... do it right ...

[Enemy Of The State]

"U.S. May Face Elite Iraqi Troops"

Oh NO! We better send in the local girl scout troops to take care of them!

[Cicero]

The chief difference between the division that surrendered yesterday and the Republican Guard is that the first consisted of Shiite conscripts who didn't want to fight in the first place and hate Saddam, whereas the Republican Guard troops are bullies who are complicit in Saddam's tyranny. But they won't fight effectively. Instead of surrendering, they are more likely to run, as they did in the first Gulf War.

[PhilDragoo]

Iraqi Republican Guards, troops most likely to fight hard and use chemical weapons

CBS' Dan Rather got it straight from the Camel's Anus that Iraq has no chemical weapons.

Just to be safe, march Dan Rather on point as we approach Baghdad.

Per his reporting he should have nothing to fear.

[The Louiswu]

On the way to...

[deport]

Should the Republican Guard chose to there could be a battle..... But why would the Coalition Forces chose to fight a pitched battle with them when we have the aerial superiority and capability to do to them what was done to Saddam's Palaces in Baghdad. I think if the RG decides to wage a battle then 'shock & awe' will be brought to bear upon them like they've never dreamed.

Same with street battles in Baghdad.... why fight. Surround the city and stop all things going in such as supplies (food)..... take out a few key locations but easily replaced things such as pumps (water), transmission lines (electricity), then sit and wait. They can't survive forever. At some point they will have to come out.

Just my opinion.

[chainsaw]

If Iraq has elite forces, the forces of the US are SUPER ELITE. Superior in every respect bar none.

[Conservative4Ever]

Right from the gate the reports have been it will get tougher the closer the troops get to Baghdad. I trust Tommy Franks, Condi Rice, President Bush and all to know what the hell they are doing. This compaign has been brilliant.

[MindBender26]

Sorry about that, but your headline breaks the first rule of good reporting. It is not backed up fact in the story.

It may be your opinion that CBS is "praying for blood" but please, with all respect, don't state that as a fact unless the story backs it up, and this one does not.

Secondly, where is the "America-hate" pull quote? The story seems pretty straightforward to me. The reality is that there is a lot of heavy fighting yet to do, and the fighting will get harder, and the opposition get better, as we close on their SOG.

Trust me, two tours in RVN doing LRRPs and covering a few wars as a reporter, I have learned it's never easy. Some of this armchair bravado posting stuff (not yours) is BS, and almost an insult to the grunts on the line who are being shot as we write.

We will win, but underestiating the enemy is fatal.

[sissyjane]

CBS News now reports possible terrorist attack in Kuwait.SSix injured.Don't know if it was a motar or grenade.

[Straight Vermonter]

Never forget what Stormin' Normnn said about the Elite Republican Guard, "Elite is a relative term".

[madison46]

If we have Abrams M-1, it won't be any different.. They die*

[JoeSchem]

Iraqi officials said more than 200 people have been injured in the bombing so far. One death has been confirmed.

According to liberals, the economic sanctions of the past twelve years have killed over two hundred thousand Iraqi children.

The problem with the liberal viewpoint is that food and other necessities have been supplied to Iraq by the international aid community, and furthermore Iraq has been able to sell its oil in exchange for foodstuffs. So if children have been dying, it ain't because of the sanctions. It's because of Saddam. Saddam has been killing forty children a day, sixteen thousand a year, two hundred thousand in all for twelve years.

Now, if two hundred soldiers dead now stops two hundred thousand children from dying over the next twelve years, who's to say that's a bad thing?

[lodwick]

I fart on your beards.

Bend over and kiss it good-bye Iraq.

[Mike Darancette]

Imagine these "Elite Troops" hunkered down waiting to be attacked by colums of tanks, mobile artillery and 20,000 other elite troops. If you withdraw you will be shot and your family killed. If you fire your artillery it will be immediately destroyed. When it is dark they can see you but you are blind. They have food and water and shoes, you do not.

The attackers have complete air superiority with weapons like hypobaric bombs, gun ships and guided bombs you have no way to shoot them down.

Yep, I'll bet the Iraqis can hardly wait.