***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 8 - LIVE THREAD***

Various | 3/27/2003 | Me

[Centurion2000]

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...

[Tree of Liberty]

Fox - reporter now says there were two loud, unexplained explosions in Kuwait City during the air raid siren

[texxie]

they need to be put on the embed detail:)

[Mo1]

Sky News is reporting there were several explosion sounds in KC also

They don't know what it was though

[texxie]

I heard something but with the sirens going off too it was hard to hear:(

[Grenada]

He is tall(which for some reason surprised me) and as intelligent as one would imagine. My husband and I saw him on FNC and we figured out where he was and went to try and find him. I acknowleged at that moment, that I officailly entered dorkdom, which was difficult for me. I approached him with my hand out and introduced myself. He shook my hand and we began to discuss the election(landieux/terrell.) We discussed the current politcal climate in DC. It was a great, intelluctually stimulating conversation

[this_ol_patriot]

Yes, I was saying they seemed to have turned into a Reuters since I last saw them afew days ago. I thought these guys were like Fox but lately they have been worse than MNBC.

They're dissing us again saying we had poor strategy.

[texxie]

for what Apes? sky news is in windows media player not real

[An.American.Expatriate]

Iraq’s Umm Qasr Port Opens for Aid Shipments

By Gunnery Sgt. Charles Portman, U.S. Central Command

CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, QATAR, March 26, 2003 -- An influx of humanitarian aid is en route to the Iraqi port town of Umm Qasr, a military official said today. “The port is being prepared for reopening and port workers have been invited to come back and begin work,” said Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks, deputy director of operations for U.S. Central Command.

An Australian-led maritime coalition force has thwarted attempts by the Iraqi regime to lay mines in the Khor Abdullah waterway that leads in to the port. 

The maritime force has intercepted several “civilian vessels” carrying explosive mines. Monday, a small Iraqi boat with mines was stopped and “subsequently destroyed,” Brooks said.

Australian Defense Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Mark Elliott told CNN International that the command ship HMAS Kanimbla is leading the coalition effort to keep the Khor Abdullah mine-free. 

He said mine clearing work is hazardous, but the divers are focused on their mission. The environment -- in addition to dealing with potential explosive devices in the water -- is challenging, he said. “It’s a very demanding process; very, very tense on the mind,” Elliott said. 

On Tuesday, forces from the United Kingdom secured Umm Qasr, paving the way for humanitarian deliveries.

“The last few days have raised real concern for the welfare of civilians caught in the conflict, especially children,” said Carol Bellamy, executive director of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

UNICEF has expressed “a renewed concern” for children caught up in the Iraqi war, particularly in the southern city of Basra.

Brooks said military activity in Basra last night was confusing.

Fighting was reported in the city between uniformed and non-uniformed Iraqis. He said Iraqi mortar fire targeting the town had to be repressed by counter fire from U.K. forces. “Again, a disregard for the people living there,” Brooks said. 

Brooks said it’s clear that the people of Basra are fed up with the way they’ve been treated. Basra’s water supply was turned off by the regime and only recently turned back on, he said.

“Our efforts are in fact to liberate the Iraqi people and free them from the types of brutality that we’ve seen exhibited over the last several days,” Brooks said.

[Keith in Iowa]

Body of Missing Iowa Marine Recovered

[ApesForEvolution]

Terrorists? There has to be some ugliness that we haven't seen yet, and that would make sense.

[TexKat]

A Harrowing Homecoming in a Sandy Fog on the Sea

[texxie]

glad he was nice to both of you

he is tall but he was so rude when he was in metro LA with Bush I've never liked him since he is a good reporter but that day he just turned me off

[ApesForEvolution]

Yeah, I'm having troubles figuring out how to re-assign Windows as my main media player. I was looking for Sky in a Real Player stream. Thanks for responding. Good day.

[texxie]

they've gotten more and more negative but it's the only video I can get other than CNN and it was down earlier

[texxie]

thx there's more on boats at sea waiting on the mines to be cleared

[this_ol_patriot]

Yeah me too, I can't seem to get that FNC feed out of Miami anymore, that was the best till 5:00AM Eastern in the morning.

[ApesForEvolution]

"We are here to rid you of the Butcher of Baghdad that has lorded over you, murdered your family and friends and put your country in a war. However, the food, the water, the protection we will provide with our own blood must have your assistance. If you worship Sodom and wish to die for him, we will arrange that. If you want to be free, help us help you arrange that."