US captures 'Iraqi general'

BBC ^ | 3/28/03 | Andrew North

[LdSentinal]

US Marines say they have captured an Iraqi army general in Nasiriya, in southern Iraq.

Sporadic fighting continues in and around the town, although not as severe as in recent days.

US aircraft and artillery are continuing to attack targets in Nasiriya.

The man the US says is a general was captured on Thursday as US Marines stepped up their offensive against Iraqi units.

According to Marine officers with Task Force Tarawa, he was found at his home.

Documents and a large safe have been taken away for examination.

More than 300 Iraqis have been taken prisoner since the fighting started almost a week ago.

The level of Iraqi resistance has subsided.

Overnight, several rocket-propelled grenades were fired at US forces and helicopters have received occasional anti-aircraft fire.

But there has been nothing on the scale of previous Iraqi attacks.

And the Marines have kept up pressure, with intermittent air strikes in the early hours and bursts of artillery are still being directed at the town.

None the less, the fighting has taken its toll on the Marines.

Many admit the guerrilla-style attacks have worn them down and it looks likely they will have to maintain a heavy presence here for some time to come.

[MEG33]

God bless them. They have done a job for us.

[Credo]

Why did the BBC feel the need to put "Iraqi General" in quotes? They're almost as bad as Al-Jazeera.

[AntiGuv]

Probably because the last "general" we captured was just a junior officer pretending to be a general so he could receive 'special' treatment..

[AntiGuv]

Make that the first "general" - I think we caught at least one other, outside Najaf..

[Credo]

It probably doesn't take much to be a General in the Iraqi military except for the ability to have your lips firmly planted on Saddam's backside.

[MEG33]

True about the "general" around Basra but they are so biased one of their reporters embedded with troops protested.

[cgbg]

Many admit the guerrilla-style attacks have worn them down

This is biased reporting.

Consider:

Would they be less worn down if a division of Republican Guard tanks had attacked their position? The fact that paramilitaries are the best the enemy can field after a week of battle is a wonderful indicator of our successful operation. Being worn down is a lot better than being dead or captured or deserting your unit which is the current status of most of the Iraqis military or paramilitary in that area.

Our guys will get some good nights sleep knowing they did their duty to protect the American people from a major supporter of international terrorism.

Can the same be said of this reporter?

[GOP_Proud]

< The level of Iraqi resistance has subsided. >

Someone tell that to NPR and CNN. They think these little skirmishes are equal to "The Battle of Bulge".


Question: Anybody know of a live stream radio/tv site that is 24 hr war coverage? I've beeen trying a lot of live streams but the most I get are general updates. Thanks.

[NEJake]

I caught a report from NPR's embedded journalist yesterday, and he characterized the resistance as a nuisance, not slowing the advance of the unit he was embedded with.

What's his name from 'All Things Considered(as long as they're anti-American or at least third world)', seemed displeased that the news was not worse.

There has been such a steady diet of cynical anti-government spew since the 60's - that it has become embedded in the minds of the intellectually lazy masses. I cannot belive how grossly uninformed people are.

[arkady_renko]

More than 300 Iraqis have been taken prisoner since the fighting started almost a week ago.

The level of Iraqi resistance has subsided.

Sounds good!

A_R

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

This is GOOD news!

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[tlrugit]

Many admit the guerrilla-style attacks have worn them down

To the best of my knowledge (I was Navy, so what do I know about ground pounders?) being worn down is a side effect of prolonged combat.

Duh!