U.S. admits hardest day, slams prisoner pictures

Reuters | 3/23/03

[kattracks]

U.S. admits hardest day, slams prisoner pictures

AS SAYLIYA CAMP, Qatar, March 23 (Reuters) - The United States said on Sunday that fighting around the city of Nassiriya was the "sharpest engagement" of the four-day war in Iraq so far, but it still expected to near Baghdad soon.

"It's the toughest day of resistance that we've had thus far. We understand that there may be other tough days ahead of us but the outcome is still certain," U.S. Army General John Abizaid told a news conference at Central Command headquarters.

He said 12 U.S. service members were missing in the Nassiriya area and said "less than 10" were killed.

"United States Marines defeated an enemy attack there while sustaining a number of killed and wounded in the sharpest engagement of the war thus far," Abizaid said.

"Also in the vicinity of Nassiriya a United States army suppply convoy was ambushed by regular Iraqi forces,"he added.

"A number of American service members were wounded in that action and as a result of that action 12 U.S. service members are reported missing."

"We are not over-confident in this endeavour," the general said in response to a question about U.S. optimism. "We will arrive in the vicinity of Baghdad soon," he said.

Abizaid said Iraqi troops were using "ruses" to kill U.S. troops invading their country, on one occasion dressing as civilians to ambush them.

"There were several incidents reported today in which there were types of behaviour that I can only describe as ruses that were perpetrated by the enemy."

He said that in one incident an apparent surrender was followed by artillery fire.

"In another incident there were troops dressed in civilian clothes that appeared to welcome the forces and then ambush them," he said. "So there are a number of incidents occurring to the rear of the main combat forces."

He said it would take a long time to ensure that Iraqi "regime support elements" are brought under control in cities like Basra and Nassiriya.

"I think all of us should understand that in these very large urban areas it will take a long time to ensure that various regime support elements are brought under control.

"And I think that we have done quite well actually in all the areas we have passed through," he added. "You also have to understand that we are not looking to go in and fight house-to-house in all of these areas either."

Iraqi television pictures of killed and captured U.S. troops were "disgusting," the general said, but they would not weaken American resolve.

He attacked Arab satellite news channel Al Jazeera for having broadcast the pictures which were shot by Iraq television and urged other networks not to display them.

"I would say the pictures were disgusting. I don't think that these pictures will damage either the psychology of our soldiers, the morale of our soldiers or the steadfastness of ur government or the resolve of our people. We're a pretty tough people."

Abizaid added when questioned by a reporter from Al Jazeera that "I'm very disappointed that you would portray those pictures of our servicemen."

"I saw that and I would ask others not to do that. I regard the showing of those pictures as absolutely unacceptable," the three-star lieutenant general told the briefing at Central Command headquarters in Qatar.

In the United States, President George Bush said the Iraqi footage of U.S. troops was an "interesting contrast" with U.S. pictures showing Iraqi troops surrendering "gleefully, happily."

A British military spokesman also condemned the TV pictures.

The CNN network said it had taken an editorial decision not to show the images.

[smith288]

"admits"?

War is hell.... they never said it was going to be a cake walk...geez.


I HATE REUTERS

[weegee]

The list of war crimes commited by Iraqi soliders continue to mount. The Geneva Convention means nothing to them.

Both the phrases "allegatons of war crimes" and "violations of the Geneva Convention" need to appear in all of our side's future press conferences; we have truth on our side.

[RAT Patrol]

"I saw that and I would ask others not to do that. I regard the showing of those pictures as absolutely unacceptable," the three-star lieutenant general told the briefing at Central Command headquarters in Qatar.

A British military spokesman also condemned the TV pictures.

Their word is good enough for me. NO PICTURES!!!!!

[goldstategop]

Yup... the reality of war is people get injured and if they're unlucky, they die. We knew this coming in. Our advantage in this conflict is we carry with us a simple powerful idea the enemy fears and loathes. If this war doesn't make clear the inherent superiority of a free society over a totalitarian one, nothing will.

[Randjuke]

War is hell.... they never said it was going to be a cake walk...geez.

You're right, but looking at the flip side Fox News was sure making things look like things were sailing along famously up until today. I think we all knew it couldn't last. So far I haven't found a news source that seems reliable and avoids sensationalism.

[litehaus]

Surfing channels I believe I just saw live, on msnbc, a firefight and one of our guys come out of a bldg. on fire...
I hope I am wrong, but this live war coverage is wrong!

[SONbrad]

When will we say to the Iraqis....

If one of our POWs is tortured or executed, we will put them, and you, all out of misery with a nice little Nuking of Baghdad!

Let's just kill them all and let allah sort them out.

[ambrose]

Reuters seems more like an arm of the Iraqi government than anything else.

[smith288]

Knowing how iraq treats POWs, i dont think i would want to stick around long enought to endure their abuse... Just shoot me....

Of course, im not in the situation... may God end their pain post haste.

[meandog]

One of my friends at church has a son in the Marine Corps...she's extremely distraught about his possibility of being in Harm's Way. I told her, "the Marines are the best in the world, and they've given him the best (equipment, training) in the world!" I meant every word of it, and I'm a former sailor! But, then again, I remember the Marine security force we had at DaNang--a hell of a a$$-kicking jarhead outfit who kept us safe.

[CrimeOf73]

when questioned by a reporter from Al Jazeera

Unreal. Imagine Eisenhower taking questions from a Nazi news agency in WW II.

[meandog]

Lurking on DU (I've been banned) I found comments almost as bad as Arab media...check out what this "clymer" said about the prisoners of war:

If the US POW's are being executed then I'm sorry, but the Iraqis does (sic) have legal right to do that, after all, it is THEIR country we are invading.

Hawkeye-X

[Cate]

Get us Hawkeye X's home address. We're heading there. What a horrible statement to make.

[Free Vulcan]

OK, correct me if I'm wrong, but the hardest fighting we have had so far has come from mop up engagements with Iraqi paramilitary militia loyal to Sadaam, not the Iraqi military. And that is using small group guerrilla attacks like ambushes, fake surrenders, dressing in civilian clothes, attacking and capturing less well armed rear support troops, etc. Guerilla fighting is a whole different ballgame than normal conventional warfare and can be very dangerous with lots of potential casualties.

[Steely Tom]

With regard to DU, I think there's a possibility that some over there are posting extreme material with the hope of provoking some kind of legal action from our government, in particular the Department of Justice (John Ashcroft, one of their boogymen). The same may be true of some of the more extreme "protestors" we are hearing about.

(steely)

[bellevuesbest]

Yahoo has posted still images from the TV broadcasts and attributed to Reuters.

[Salvation]

I was wondering if someone wanted to compile a list of stories on war crimes? You?

I am trying to do the surrenders.

[schu]

This is bad news for us. Our guys are now in an impossible situation; execute POWs, lie about surrender and shell us, dress up as civilians and then ambush us. It is just a matter of time until we make a mistake, take out a bunch of innocents and get blamed as bad guys.

Pray this does not happen.

[meandog]

Get us Hawkeye X's home address. We're heading there. What a horrible statement to make.

...wish I could but my account was banned (because I called the "human shields" idiots)...