US marines south of the Tigris take big a step towards Baghdad

Agence France-Presse | March 27, 2003

[HAL9000]

CENTRAL IRAQ (AFP) Mar 27, 2003 - US marines had broken free of fierce fire fights between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and punched forward to within 250 kilometres (180 miles) of Baghdad by Thursday.

Looking tired and filthy on a freezing morning, marines were in high spirits after leaving behind the cities of Nasiriyha, Sharat and al-Rafit where they encountered heavy resistance and suffered casualties from Iraqi attacks.

"It's a good feeling to push north and closer to Saddam Hussein's backyard. I think he would prefer to hold the fight in southern Iraq but this will show him and take some of the arrogance away," Lieutenant Joshua Lyons said.

"It should make him stand up and take notice as opposed to claiming that the US does not control major parts of Iraq."

By first light Thursday at one frontline trauma centre 14 civilians were being treated for wounds after being caught in cross fire.

Another two marines were being treated for hand and foot wounds caused during a fire fight while another eight were injured after their vehicle flipped over along Route Seven south of the Tigris River.

Commander Gary Gluck, a shock trauma specialist told AFP the marines were injured as a convoy of up to 5,000 troops from the First Regimental Combat Team sped northwards.

"These were just all on the move injuries," he said between treating the men laid out on the roadside. One of the troops, who appeared to be in shock, remarked: "I don't know if we hit something or if a fire fight caused it, the truck just tipped."

Hundreds of Iraqi troops were taken prisoner along the way while the corpses of hundreds more littered the roadside. Towns were deserted and surrounded by the hulks of burnt out vehicles.

Soldiers also had to contend with swirling dust storms, hail, rain and mud which cut visibility and bogged trucks, hampering combat and the evacuation of caualties.

Pockets of displaced people baring white flags were seen walking north between towns. Some waved, others asked marines for cigarettes and water.

However, marines were maintaining their distance after allegations Iraqi troops had used white flags to get close before opening fire.

Lance Corporal Brian Jones, 21, said while clutching a cigarette that the marines were mindful of the causalties and the atrocious sight of maimed bodies would never be forgotten.

But he added that his peers had to maintain their focus on the job of ousting Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

"We don't have any time to mourn right now, we'll do that when the smoke clears," he said.

Troops here said heavy conflict was expected further ahead that would include Saddam's elite Republican Guard.

"And I'm looking forward to it," said Lance Corporal Justine Storey, 21. "I'm glad to have cleared these cities, they were nasty. The worst thing I saw was a dead baby, that was awful. Now the fastest way home is through Baghdad so I'm keen to get there just as soon as I can."

[goldstategop]

Baby, we're on the march and knockin' at hell's door!

[JZoback]

This is from a French newspaper?

Shocking.

Now the fastest way home is through Baghdad so I'm keen to get there just as soon as I can."

Great attitude.

[wretchard]

Iraq is finished. This advance by the Marines right across, that is northeast across the Land Between the Rivers is the equivalent of Sherman's March to Sea. In other developments, we now know that 3rd ID has flanked Karbalah on the eastern side. It's all up.

[tm22721]

"I don't know if we hit something or if a fire fight caused it, the truck just tipped."

I can just see the libs on ABC news tonight saying that he should have been wearing a seatbelt.

BUMP

[North Coast Conservative]

In God We Trust…..Semper Fi