U.S. Forces in "Extremely Heavy Contact" East of the Euphrates

The Agonist (blog) ^ | 03/31/2003 | Unattributed

[TonyInOhio]

7:58 EST US military officials reported "extremely heavy contact" on March 31 with Iraqi forces at Imam Aiyub, south of Hilla on the eastern or Baghdad side of the Euphrates River. However, most of the U.S. forces in the area between An Najaf and Kerbala appear to be still on the far western bank, including those fighting at Hindiya. U.S. units engaging Iraqi forces near Imam Aiyub include the 2nd Battalion 70th Armored Regiment and elements of the 101st Airborne Division.

[TonyInOhio]

This action is east of the Euphrates and ESE of the earlier reported combat at Kerbala. I believe this is the first significant engagement on the east side of the Euphrates.

It seems we are moving forward aggressively.

[AAABEST]

Time to throw down. Say a prayer for these guys.

[Mamzelle]

Love these eupemisms. Aggressive negotiations...

[Paraclete]

Don't forget, our forces on a 10 day stand down according to most major media. This story can't be true.

[ClearCase_guy]

How can our troops fight? They have no food or water! (/sarcasm)

[Grampa Dave]

Damn Quagmire plus the 365 day stand down that Rummy and Bushie 2 have gotten us in is just too much. (Massive Sarcasm off)

Anyone who posts a Reuters Article without the BS meter from now on should be take in the same light as most of us take Peter Arnett!

[MamaLucci]

Say a prayer for these guys.

Have been, and will continue to. God Bless our troops.

[ewing]

Why are we fighting, CNN said we were on 30 day standdown!! (sarcasm on)

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Is Peter Arnett standing with them ?

[Semper Paratus]

The next 48 hours are key, if we can punch through there, we can cut off the RG divisions and keep a path open to Bdad.

[AAABEST]

Is Peter Arnett standing with them ?

Yes. Peter is standing with the Iraqi soldiers. Unless he's moved up to psyops already.

[MamaLucci]

Only figuratively speaking, unfortunatly.

[Diogenesis]

[PianoMan]

Why are we fighting, CNN said we were on 30 day standdown!!

Their loyal volunteer army must be taking it to us as we sit huddled, waiting for food and water while civilians pelt us with rocks. /sarcasm

[Centurion2000]

"extremely heavy contact" .....

And how long until a pitched battle is called ... superduper-ultra-heavy contact ...

The journalists are going to need a thesaurus in order to compete with each other for spin.

[tbpiper]

Does anyone know anything about the 2nd Battalion of the 502?

[InShanghai]

Aren't we supposed to be worrying about our supply lines & the guerilla attacks? (/sarcasm)

[BobP]

Happy Hunting!

[finnman69]

I just heard on WABC there are so many targets our troops and planes are unloading and running out of ammo. Things are not going well for the Iraqis.

[VOA]

Time to get down on the knees and pray for all our Coalition guys and gals.

And for the "scales to fall" from the eyes of the Iraqis who've been brainwashed
by Saddam's gospel of rape, pillage, torture, and murder.

This is all too incredible. I grew up listening to older relatives calmly (and humbly)
relating how they made it past Pearl Harbor, D-Day and on to VE and VJ Days.

If someone had told me I might live in similar times on September 10, 2001, I would
have been worried for their mental health...