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:
Special thanks to null and void for keeping these running over the weekend and Monday, to all of you for keeping these threads alive, the AdminMods for their tolerance, mhking for the video links, and, of course, Belly Girl...
Is there any way we can let the folks at CentCom know how much we appreciate the "war zone" THEY are in in these briefings..
Back stabbing, idiocy
As I said a few days ago, I am sure in their "back rooms' they laugh & shake their heads.
Yes, I think it would be great for a few of the FReepers to do this.
There is surely one or more journalist in this group..& One or more with some military connections to implement & I would bet one or more that have some $$$ to support their trip. (I am unpaid caregiver to mom & a few other relatives now.. so I am NOT in a position to do the $$$ part)
Again thanks for putting in news :& don't worry about repeating it..
Not much actually, (except for the banter wars).
CENTCOM - Thurs. Mar. 27:
Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks:
"We witness the regime's forces becoming more and more epsarate in their actions...disregard for Geneva Convention...seizing children from their homes telling men they must fight..or risk execution.
"The coalition is unified and strong and grows so more everyday - w/ 49 countries now involved.
"We're seeing degraded control....uncontrollled firing of air def. missiles, etc.
Strike pics:
Iraqi missile support facility...ball. miss "factory" in Bghdad -
Iraqi communications facility - Iraqi TV - hit the 2 large satellite dishes -
Direct action occurs in times and places of our choosing.
Action occured - E. of Najaf - vehicles approaching 5th corp destroyed most of
UK forces continued aggressive patrols in Rl Fal and Basrah...hit paramilitaries S. of Basrah -
Port - Channel open already to Umm Qasr - found subserface mines, programmable, clearing operations continue before humanitarian assistance can procede.
Leaflets for Iraqi people - protecting landmarks...inform Iraqi people we will not destroy those...Iraqi regime is placing military there.
Over 600 oil wells now safe, in coalition control - 6 fires still being fought.
2 humanitarian convoys made it to Safwan and Umm Qatr - delivered water and supplies -
Video of supplies into Safwan - civil affairs soldiers, w/in our units children shake the hands of our soldirs, wave, smile, one smiles and gives a thumbs up. "There is no coercion in any of this. This is all truth. ..people seeing the first time..freedom."
Free Iraqi forces having an effect - how the coalition is being received - translating, interacting, no hostility..inviting us in...this scene is being repeated all over Iraq...wherever we are operating. It is the truth."
Questions:
Re. the chem. suits in Ramallah (sp): "We don't have chemical weapons to use...there's obviously distribution to outlying area (by Iraqi regime of suits)...the regime has always had the ability...to use those weapons. ...we'll operate...the time and place of our own choosing."
Re. timeline: "We're on our plan. We have had a plan for certain actions to occur.."
Re. Baghdad market hit: "This report like any other report we get that has any potential at all that (we may have caused) we examine in detail...flight paths, angle of attack....first, "we have no intention of hurting civilians intentionally.....we did have an air mission ...not in that area...and did encounter...surface to air missiles....fired ballistically instead of by turning on radar..." we think it's entirely possible that this may have been an Iraqi missile.."
"We have adequate forces to do what we need to do."
"We are building additional forces...the Airborne brigade..etc...we have great commanders that are (organizing that) and are doing so daily."
Re. Iraqi lies about our intentionally hitting civilians: "I can tell you who's telling the truth in this room tight now. I am."
"We take our work very seriously."
Re. supply lines: "As we gain space, we move forward..logistics...combat units carry ..this forward..that may indeed stretch out lines"...(but there are layers - they secure themselves)..
"There are forces that may have been pressed back into activity by the irregulars and then turned their guns back on the (irregulars).." (Basrah) Iraqi good guys are showing signs of rising up.
"Anyone that we encounter ...we'll do our (best) to protect...(as we get near Baghdad)."..
Re. Basrah: "We don't know everything (that's ) happening w/in Bashrah...have a variety of sources withing..but we're not in there...we believe the regime did that (turned off water)...(about 50% water back on)...we know that Basrah has a lot of needs (we'll provide as sson as we can).
"We take into account the impact of weather. It's done every day."
Re. the Free Iraqi forces, how many? Local reaction? "We have roughly 43 Iraqi forces divided into small froups 5-6 in squad, joined w/ civil defense units...all indications taht they are being received rather well...designed to (put them near their hometowns)..." "We have a number of sources that go in and out of Basrah."
Re. Iraqi TV. Amnesty Int'l says it's against Geneva Convention: "We believe and remain convinced that it is a legitimate target...we ONLY attack legitimate targets." "Number of (targets) throughout Iraq....(military)..it's the command and control aspects that cause us to (attack),...not the propaganda..
ABC has sent it's senior correspondent home. Arrogant reporter asking the value of the CENTCOM briefings...claiming he isn't getting enough...a few others clap. Clymers.
"We should never forget...the more we tell you...you are not the only ones being informed."
"Gen. Franks has already shown that he is more than willing to talk to you at the right time but he is fighting a war and he's asked me to do this."
"There are forces that remain in N. Iraq that are a threat."
"The capabilities of that force (N. Iraq) may be more than meets the eye...( we can use them defensively).."
"The casualty figures....we notify families first...we don't want to get into the numbers here...figures (generally) released by the Pentagon...we're fighting a war here."
Iraqi regime...treating our POWs badly..I don't know whether the Red Cross has had contact w/our prisoners...we haven't gotten a report on that."
Re. increasing anti-war protests: "I would leave any comments about what Italy might play to Italy...the forces (paratroopers) are based there."
"The anti-war protests around the world we view as people (having the right) to express (what they want to express)..it won't happen here (until regime's gone)..
Re. the surrender of the 51st..they followed the rules...by choice..and were pressed back into service by the paramilitary forces..that was not by choice...we think some (have turned on their regime..) that was by choice.."
"Forces in this country should not shed their blood for a regime's whose days are numbered."
Re. forces heading so. out of Basrah: "A classic example of 'the fog of war'...we had 'moving target indicators'...unit sensing movement electronically...message passed up the line..to embedded reporters...was an eronious signal.."
"..the 'fog of war' - something we in the service are very accustomed to.."
"Forces did come out of Basrah...the UK forces (destroyed ) the forces that came out.."
"I'm not aware of any shortfalls (of supplies to the troops).. (status) reported on a continuous basis...we haven't had any problems that would hinder operations."
'There's a human behind every one of those.." "You've seen soldiers and Marines that put their life at risk for some other country than their own...all we ask is that you respect (their wishes).."
Not aware of 200 civilians injured in Baghdad last night. "The regime has not been as careful." "Many reports that we're seeing where civilians (are killed) happened to be in Shiite populations. I'll let you draw your own conclusions."
About the SCUDS, and historic sights, regime practices in the past: we're doing what we can to protect them. ...atropine injectors puchased w/Oil for Food money...range much futher east (to be able to hit coutnries)..bad Iraqi regime behavior of the past noted...
"We knew that there were systems inside of there (missile 'factory' hit last night?)..some of them have not been accounted for..rather than see them used, we destroyed the places (where they're made."
That can't be true. Amnesty International 1. can't think & 2. would find it impossible Iraq committed war crimes.
That reporter and those who clapped made their views known. I am all for taking away their press credentials. Let em go to Baghdad and get their news. They will not believe the US and UK anyway.
Saw the crawl on FOX. AI thinks Iraq may have committed war crimes. Thinks, mind you...
"Sadaam is winning the PR war. Yes we have Republican Unity, but it will crack.We should give up because we are getting bogged down. Cracks will come from RINOs in New England. If we were so concerned about Fedayeen before the war, how come we are only hearing about it now. The fiscal conservatives won't want to pay for rebuilding Baghdad. Peter Jennings has been a rock - knowledge and experience" WTNT radio.
Note: One of them has what appears to be a press ID hanging around his neck