Posted on 03/26/2003 7:47:47 AM PST by JohnHuang2
Key Developments in the War Against Iraq
.c The Associated Press
Key recent developments in the war:
A large contingent of Iraq's elite Republican Guard headed south in a 1,000-vehicle convoy Wednesday toward U.S. Marines in central Iraq - an area that already has seen the heaviest fighting of the war. In Baghdad, Iraqi officials said two cruise missiles hit a residential area, killing 14.
British forces battled more than 1,000 die-hard Iraqi loyalists for control of Basra on Wednesday, coming to the defense of inhabitants who rose up against Saddam Hussein in the streets of the country's second-largest city.
The U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division drew to within 50 miles of Baghdad, west of where the Republican Guard was advancing. Other American forces were expected to join soon in squeezing the capital from several directions.
The first sizable relief convoy rolled into Iraq in a sandstorm Wednesday. Seven large, battered tractor-trailers entered Umm Qasr carrying food and water donated by Kuwaitis.
A U.S. general said Wednesday the discovery of 3,000 chemical suits in a hospital in central Iraq that had been used as an Iraqi base raised concern that Saddam Hussein's regime was prepared to use chemical weapons.
President Bush traveled to the headquarters of Central Command on Wednesday in Tampa, Fla. The Command's top general, Tommy Franks, is running the war against Iraq from a forward headquarters in Qatar. Bush was getting a pair of briefings from Central Command brass and having lunch with troops.
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.
Turkey's military chief of staff pledged Wednesday to coordinate with the United States before sending troops into northern Iraq and said there would be no deployment unless a refugee crisis erupted or Turkey's security was threatened.
En route to Baghdad, units from the 7th Cavalry Regiment fought a fierce running battle 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.
Using missiles and warplanes, allied forces struck Iraqi state-run television early Wednesday. The station's international satellite signal was knocked off the air, but regular broadcast resumed on schedule after daybreak.
A second serviceman died from wounds suffered in a grenade attack in Kuwait blamed on an Army sergeant, the military said. Air Force Maj. Gregory Stone, 40, based in Boise, Idaho was pronounced dead at an Army field hospital.
U.S. officials reported signs of renewed control by Baghdad of military and security forces around Iraq, but said they don't know whether that leadership is provided by Saddam Hussein or by his senior chiefs.
Thousands of protesters in Sydney, Australia, pelted police with bottles and chairs grabbed from street-side cafes Wednesday in Australia's most violent demonstration yet against the Iraq war. In South Korea, demonstrators were arrested when they tried to barge into the U.S. Embassy.
I want this to be true, but I though this part was denied at the CentCom briefing this morning?
A 1000-vehicle convoy would be very very visible and would present the ultimate in target-rich environments. CENTCOM denied it, and I have no reason to disagree. Such a convoy would be certain death to everyone in it.
Michael
Although I did not know him personally, I know people who did. God rest his soul and bless his family and close friends. He leaves a family and kids behind and he died at the hands of an enemy traitor within the ranks.
God grant that we will have the will to see this through to a decisive and successful conclusion ... and the will to vigorously prosecute these enemy animlas.
Contrasting Sgt. Stone's father's comments to the family of the traitor shows the distinct difference between families who understand and value our liberty and the principles it is founded upon and those amongst us who have no clue.
The family of the traitor tells us we must understand his stress ... in effect, understand his pain that led to his turning on his own comrades, violating his oath and killing Americans. There is no understanding or allowance possible. The father of the killed tells us his son died defending the right for that traitor to hold whatever religious beliefs he would.
Well, that is true, but that traitor did not have the right to use that faith to kill ... to kill comrades defending his right to believe as he would. He is an enemy of the worst sort and for the crime of treason and murder ... he deserves to die ... and for that trial, judgement and execution to occur rapidly.
As Travis shared with me yesterday, our service people live under the threat of death constantly ... and many do die, all the time. Tragic loss is a part of their volunteer sacrifice on behalf of us all. Accidents are common place ... fighting the enemies of this nation is a sworn duty ... but having one of your own frag you in your own tent, or shoot you in the back on behalf of the enemy is beyond the pale.
May we all reverence and better appreciate the will and spirit and sacrifice of these modern American heroes who have volunteered to sacrifice and fight for all of our liberties, and may we in our turn be willing to do whatever it takes to maintain that liberty and ensure that their sacrifice is not in vain.
Best Fregards to all in these perilous hours.
Amen to that ... and then follow through with actions worthy of those prayers.
It is so great to be involved with a bunch of folks right here who, for the most part, do just that.
The man responsible for this needs to die.
"Well, that is true, but that traitor did not have the right to use that faith to kill."
The man did not use "faith" to kill, he used hatred and grenades, and while we all immediately assumed that his faith led him to committing this crime, we do not know this for a fact, and can almost assume that this is not the case. There are many Muslims in the Armed Forces who are not doing this, and who will continue to carry out their mission.
To assume that this man did what he did because of his religion, would have us look at others who have done similar things (though maybe not in this scale) in the past, and assume that they did what they did driven similarly by faith...but that does not make any sense to me.
I am truly interested in finding out if this traitor is a Muslim in the true sense of the word, and if his beliefs drove him to this act, or whether he is a member of Farrakahn's Nation of Islam, and not a Muslim at all, but rather a black supremacist.
Maybe, he's just a murderer and a traitor.
It really doesn't matter to me either way, as a traitor, he deserves nothing short of death and dishonor.
Now, that does not mean that all Muslims act this way, or see or interpret their faith this way. The Nation of Islam views its faith this way IMHO ... it is radical ... it is dangerous ... and it is supremist ... but is what they profess for faith. Just as Osama uses his faith in such a way ... and is therefore our enemy to the core ... and the enemy of any free people, regardless of persuassion or faith (including Muslims) who subscribe to allowing people to be free in their conscience, faith and actions so long as they don't infringe on others.
shy aboutafraid, or unwilling to call people's faith into question when that faith is rogue and interpreted in a way to try and conquer, compel of force others. Teh radical branches of SIlam are just this.
There are radical brands of almoist every faith that believe this way. Should they begin attacking, killing, maiming and seeking the over thrwo of our liberties ... I will say the same about them.
But, you are certainly right, either way, this man deserves to die, and should be rapidly the subject of a local, field tribunal and execution as far as I am concerned.
Best Fregards my friend.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.