***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 4 - LIVE THREAD***

Everywhere! | 23 Mar 2003 | An.American.Expatriate

[null and void]

Good Morning.

This is the Daily Thread of Operation Iraqi Freedom - LIVE THREAD.

It is designed for general conversation about the events of the day. In depth discussion of events should be left to individual threads - but links to the threads or other articles is highly encouraged. This allows us to stay abreast of the situation in general, while also providing a means of obtaining specific information.

Please have mercy on us dial up limited FReepers! Limit the big graphics, post links instead. A breif description of what the graphic is would help:

To all who helped this get started, thank you!

Special thanks to An.American.Expatriate for staring the daily threads, Mo1 for the screamer, the AdminMods for their tolerance, and, of course, Belly Girl...

[thedugal]

So we get to Baghdad and the Iraqi forces withdraw to inside the city. Then what do we do?

Your talking about 60,000 men. It's not like they can hide in a basement. If they haven't surrendered by the time we get there they will be slaughtered. Everyone blabbers on about RG, RG, RG, elite RG, blah blah blha. We have met these guys before and we slaughtered them. When we meet them again, they will be slaughtered. All of our weapons have a longer range than theirs. All of our weapons have far greater accuracy than theirs. We control the skies. We control their supply routes. They have absolutely no chance in hell.

The media knows we are winning and going to win. But there's more news value in disaster. There have been casualties and there will be more, but that's why its called war. The battle of Umm Qasr we saw today that the media are rattling as "fierce resistance" was 120 men in 2 buildings. The end result, 4 1/2 hours later a few surrenders, the rest dead, not a single US casualty.

There may be a few thousand men who manage to get dug in with civilians. They will slowly be routed out and killed if they don't surrender. We will probably go straight for the leaders to try to topple the regime. THere are going to be good days ahead when people realize that Saddam is dead. The celebrations will be seen in the streets. Decades of terror aren't wiped away the second you see US troops, afterall, the people in the south saw Americans 12 years ago and we pulled out. How do they know we are serious this time.. they will soon know, and when they are no longer afraid that Saddam will rape their wives, they will celebrate.

[colette_g]

Just watched it now, watching them taking out the resistance. Anyone read any news on the soldier that was badly burned ?

[Fledermaus]

Better than the Oscars...here's a comment from AndrewSullivan.com that is priceless:

AFFLECK'S STYLIST, I MEAN CONSCIENCE: Are you as sickened as I am by the prospect of the Oscars tonight? My dismay at these half-brained actors is slowly beginning to morph into outright contempt. But at least Ben Affleck is being completely genuine when he talks of his preparations for tonight:

"Donning an anti-war totem is also popular. Among the actors who have said that they will wear anti-war badges are nominees Day-Lewis, Adrien Brody, Pedro Almodóvar Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore as well as veteran star Dustin Hoffman. Yet even that decision has been difficult for some actors to make. Ben Affleck is among those who has apparently not yet made up his mind. Instead he has announced that the final decision will rest with his stylist."

Yep, his stylist. They don't sell their souls in Hollywood any more. They have publicists to do that for them.

[slimer]

Thanks RC

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

What are you seeing? FN weekend's more suited to entertainment news.

[RummyChick]

can you post a link that is working
every link I go to doesn't work for sky news

[section9]

Reports are that Coalition Forces are within 100 miles (or probably less) of Bagdad. Tomorrow should be a tale-tell day to see whether the Republican Guard will fight or fold.

The Guard will probably fight. They've got nothing else left to fight for. Sort of like the SS at the end of WWII.

The Regular Army simply wants to survive as an institution and in the field. That's okay. We'll need them after the war.

How and ever, notice that much of the resistance has been from Ba'athist Militia, SRG's and Guard. These are people with a stake in the regime, and the Candy Store is about to close.

Today's prisoner incident was basically an outrage, but doesn't change the strategic situation on the ground. We own the air, and own the night. We have the armored formations that are worthy of the name, they don't. We will attack Baghdad when we're ready, and not before. I strongly suspect that Tommy Franks is moving his four divisions into place, and is about to bring down a hammer from the West out at that mystery airport, H-3.

The war continues. We will advance on Baghdad, and when we do, it will be a relentless tide of destruction, characterized by speed, manouvre, and horrifying destruction.

I understand that videotape of dead American soldiers were shown on Al Jazeera. I also understand that some people believe that some of the dead were executed out of hand. If so, then the Iraqis have made a terrible mistake.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Wphile]

I've calmed down abit and figure that the US military, the Pentagon and the administration have had quite a bit of time to think this through. I just can't believe they have miscalculated or misjudged as badly as that guy made it out to sound.

Christopher Ruddy from NEWSMAX already has a scathing article about the failure of "shock and awe." How we haven't taken out Iraqi TV and the Iraqi Defense building because we are supposedly negotiating with them. I don't know. At this point I have to put my faith in the administration and the military brass. They know a heck of a lot more than the armchair quarterbacks.

Reminds of all the hand wringing in Afghanistan. Too many people expect all our wars to be over in days. We never would have won WWII had we had the press we have today.

[mware]

I heard Tom Hanks is not going to attend the Oscars tonight.

[Fledermaus]

There may be a few thousand men who manage to get dug in with civilians. They will slowly be routed out and killed if they don't surrender.

Or the civilians will rat them out!

[Starrgaizr]

Recall the early WWII movies that showed brutal Japanese machine-gunning parachuting US pilots and finishing off the wounded in foxholes? If crude, it made a point. I am not saying we should show this stuff for entertainment or repetitively to the point of desensitization. But most people never saw the 9-11 jumpers, for example. That was plain wrong. At least now and then, it is important to see what we fight, while preserving the dignity of individuals by hiding identifying images.

[Wphile]

Geez...where have you been? I always love your commentary and sure could have used it earlier today!

[Cboldt]

Congratulations on your status as "Mr. Belly Gal."

Nice summary of the near future. You seem to have your head screwed on straight.

[colette_g]

Sky News - Fort Bliss News Conference : Re POWs - "No new information to give, maybe tomorrow"

[Tree of Liberty]

No. He, and a few others, bowed out earlier this week.

Ft. Bliss conference on

[LiveFreeOrDie2001]

Those Limosuine Liberals at the Oscars BETTER NOT be Anti-American tonight, especially after this horrible day.

[Guenevere]

Eagleberger is good and mad!

[Cboldt]

Been looking for your detail reports, or even summaries. Thanks bunches for your level-headed and well expressed contributions.

[EaglesUpForever]

Ft Bliss conference ends, called off due to "insufficient information." I pray for those families.

[colette_g]

Sky News - Fort Bliss News Conference - Conference over. Now new information to give.