And does anybody know WHO THE HECK IS JIMMY VALENTINE? : )
Congratulations, Jimmy Valentine’s brother ! Our FReeper of the day. Nice to meet you.
I hope you enjoy your day in the spotlight !
55 degrees as I post this . . .
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Elite Iraqi Guard Heads Toward Marines
A large contingent of Iraq's elite Republican Guard, including 1,000 vehicles, headed Wednesday toward U.S. Marines in central Iraq - an area that already has seen the heaviest fighting of the war.
Intelligence officers with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force said the Iraqi forces were headed south from Baghdad on a route that avoids advancing U.S. Army forces and leads them directly to the Marines who have been fighting in recent days around An Nasiriyah.
The intelligence officers said about 3,000 Republican Guard troops were spotted in one town along Highway 7 and 2,000 more at another.
In the far south, British forces fought on the fringes of the beleaguered city of Basra, while the first substantial relief convoy reached Iraq on Wednesday after weathering a blinding sandstorm.
To the west of where the Republican Guard was advancing, the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division drew to within 50 miles of Baghdad, and other American forces were expected to join soon in squeezing the capital from several directions. Allied bombardments over the past two days have pounded Republican Guard divisions assigned to defend the city.
A military source said the U.S. Central Command in Qatar now had evidence that the Iraqi regime had wired many of the bridges around Baghdad for destruction.
In Baghdad, there were reports of a bomb landing in a crowded market in the center of the city. The Arabic satellite television channel Al Jazeera showed scenes of people carrying away casualties.
En route to Baghdad, units from the 7th Cavalry Regiment fought a fierce running battle Tuesday and Wednesday with Iraqi forces near the central city of Najaf. According to preliminary reports from American military officials, U.S troops killed up to 500 Iraqi fighters, suffering the loss of two tanks but no casualties.
Hoping to cripple the Iraqi government's communications, the allies attacked the state-run television headquarters in Baghdad before dawn Wednesday with missiles and air strikes. The station's international satellite signal was knocked off the air for a few hours before it was restored; regular broadcasts started on schedule after daybreak.
Far to the south, British forces on the edge of Basra waged artillery battles with more than 1,000 Iraqi militiamen, who reportedly also faced an insurrection by civilians opposed to Saddam Hussein.
British officers said Wednesday that the uprising became so threatening that the militiamen fired mortars to try to suppress it. British forces then silenced the Iraqi mortar positions with an artillery barrage, said Lt. Col. Ronnie McCourt, a spokesman for British forces.
McCourt said British troops also were firing at some of the militiamen who were trying to flee Basra.
"The bunch of desperadoes who've lived above the law ... they're obviously resorting to desperate measures and trying to intimidate the population," McCourt said. "We are making certain that we neutralize them as quickly as possible."
JV's b, you're one cool dude...thanks for all yer Freepin' in the name of Freedom...I love that quote on the difference between between Uncle Sam and the Vichy, very illuminating. Congratulations to you on this special day...it's kind of a public spot for such a private fella, but the folks here are kind, and will lavish you with praise...I think you'll find the going easy.
Good morning and afternoon to all my FRiends.
Dubya was great at CENTCOM a little while ago...bless his big ol' heart.
Used to listen to it as a little girl helping an elderly neighbor lady weed her flowers, the radio in a window where we could hear it.
I still do love a mystery, and your presentation of this enigma is indeed intriguing, FTH!
You, Bro of JV, are simply outstanding as one of the Awesome D.C. Chapter Freepers, held in the highest of regard by all of FRdom.
Getting down to brass tacks here, in the relentless approach tactic of FreeTheHostages and dansangel, enquiring minds wanna know:
~~~Colleen~~~
Luv it!
