101st Airborne Breaks Iraqi Defense Position at Hindiyah (debka)

DEBKA file Security Newsletter ^ | March 31, 2003 | Gioria Shamis Economist Magazine Reporter

[ewing]

Major war position shift could be decisive (Screaming Eagles breaking capital defense line) , Baghdad opening up Tigris/Euphrates floodgates on coalition troops

[ewing]

Good news, we may have just been sandbagging them! (pardon the potential pun)

[boxerblues]

Screaming Eagles bump

[Ragirl]

This can't be true! I've been listening to Peter Arnette and he says we're losing! (sarcasm of course)

[goldstategop]

I'm not sure I trust the source. Great news if it turns out to be true.

[boxerblues]

I have a vested interest in the 101st, any news is good news for me....well almost

[steveegg]

You know what I say about Debka, though I'd like to believe this one.

The Marines are definitely in some fertile plain; Ollie North reported that the Marines he is with moved another 30 km, and there's some decent vegetation in both his and Rick Leventhal's latest broadcasts.

[ehoxha]

one notes they haven't captured the bridge as of yet, w/o the bridge all the fighting in this boondocks is for nought. And even after the bridge, on this route to B-dad there are dozens of canals to be crossed. According to debka, these canals are being flooded as we post.

[goldstategop]

Which means the Marines are now in the delta between the great rivers of antiquity. If the Nile delta was Egypt, the lush area between the Tigris and the Euphrates was ancient Mesopotamia.

[randita]

If true, and we'll have to wait for verification, this would be the 101st is very near closing ranks with the 3rd ID, at which point they will pin Medina against the Euphrates.

Our forces have been gobbling up the bridges north and south of Baghdad. Medina can't blow the bridges in their area now or else they won't have the means to retreat. But they can't wait too much longer or else we'll have taken the bridges they need to get across the river.

If this report is true, I expect we'll hear that Medina is retreating over the river or else they're standing firm in a suicide mission.

[randita]

FNC just confirmed this report. Debka finally got one right, it would seem.

[twigs]

I did hear on FNC this morning that one of our groups had crossed the "red line." Didn't hear who.

[steveegg]

The Pentagon (FNC's source) confirmed that some of our forces crossed into the "red zone", not necessarily the 101st.

[mikegi]

This map is too old. Our forces much farther along than shown. Some Marines had to turn around and go back to search for Chemical Ali in Ash Shatra so we're probably at least as far as the road intersection north of there. Also, Rick Leventhal reported live from a town halfway between Al Hillah/An Najaf and we've been attacking Al Hillah. Basically, they should fill in the whole area from Ash Shatra over to south of Karbala.

[bazbo]

At 0841 CNN announced that Whoraldo Rivera was sent away because he drew a map in the sand. Just want everyone to know I only happened to surf by CNN, really please dont send me away!

[Illbay]

Both Arnett and DEBKA are equally suspect as "sources."

The truth doubtless lies somewhere in between.

[Grampa Dave]

A reality check! :)

Both Arnett and DEBKA are equally suspect as "sources."

The truth doubtless lies somewhere in between.

I would add the world class liars, Reuters and the people who work for Stand Down Reuters.

[Grampa Dave]

Damn Quagmire and the 180 Day Stand Down.

This is another fine mess that the incompetent Rummy and Bushie 2 have gotten us into! (Massive Sarcasm Off!)

Steve, I wonder how many of our whiners and moaners still believe in the Reuter's Stand Down Fairies?

[bvw]

The two dikes, the riverine "FLOODPLAIN" ... interesting notice given on the map. That is one thing that has been considered, as I recollect from some reports over the past weeks ... the use of floods.

[Petronski]

Say what one will about DEBKA, they certainly make excellent maps.

[ewing]

Ollie has moved 30km North?