***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 14 - LIVE THREAD***

[Timeout]

The Marines attacked Nasiriyah PRIOR to the rescue operation for Jessica. From the Wash Post:

U.S. Marines sent a large force led by tanks and armored personnel carriers to hit targets in the center of the city and to seize a key bridge over the Euphrates while the hospital raid was underway," a military source told the news agency. "The operation was timed so that U.S. forces rolled over the highway . . . bridge 15 minutes before the raid."

The Marine attack drew enemy forces away from the hospital where she was held.

[The Wizard]

I see Torie is in control today

[mitchbert]

I had the identical issue for days on end and gave up on that cam. The CBS cam, right off the link on cbsnews.com has been steady, reliable, good sound and not as much if any night vision shots. At work my connection has been sometimes intermittant (clogged network) but much better than the msnbc feed.

[An.American.Expatriate]

I vote to replace Belly Girl with Jessica Lynch starting with tomorrow's thread.

My two cents: Belly Girl is our "pin-up" gal. PFC Lynch is a soldier and a hero. Of the two, PFC Lynch gets "top billing" and is treated with Honor. Belly Girl remains our Pin-up and should be posted as we have done in the past.

[US_Pride]

I wonder if we are bypassing/cutting through them to block any retreat into Baghdad?

Obviously, I have no idea what is happing, and I'm hoping the the Iraqi RGs are abandoning their weapons and running for mamma...

But I must admit to being as nervous as an expectant father in a maternity ward; it seems to be going to easy from this view, what nasty things await our forces in Baghdad?

[ken5050]

I read that a POW the team captured took them to the morgue, and the makeshift gravesite..they had no idea it was there....and the use of the word "hospital" connotes a very false image.....like calling a MOtel6 a tropical resort....it's an Iraqi combatcommand with a first aid kit..that's all

[TonyInOhio]

McChrystal: We are expecting a tough fight in Baghdad, we are not expecting a coup d'main

Paraphrasing - use of chemical weapons will not slow or halt the attack

[Anamensis]

Does anyone know who is the female reporter who looks youngish, long medium dark hair tucked behind her shoulders, black rimmed glasses, very prominent chin, very precise voice, talks with her hands.... who is she??

[Green]

correct... I forgot the part about the POW they took had told them about the morgue and grave.

[ken5050]

George Stephanopolus?

[A_Niceguy_in_CA]

Meanwhile in France:

French Anti-war protesters vandalise WWI memorial

The memorial at Etaples, near Boulogne on the Channel coast, was daubed in red paint with slogans including "Rosbeefs [British] go home", "Saddam will win and he will make you bleed" and "Dig up your rubbish, it is contaminating our soil".

Some 11,000 British servicemen and women are buried at the cemetery, most of whom died defending France in the first world war.

[Lauratealeaf]

I always remember a picture of Gen. MacArthur I saw at the American Legion post down in Milwaukee, when I was a boy.

It had him in full uniform, saluting, with a quote underneath that said, "We shall fight, or we shall die."

It has always stuck with me.

God Bless.

Wow! Thanks for your post! When my son was in the seventh grade he met Jeane MacArthur, the widow of General MacArthur on a school field trip to the MacArthur Memorial.

He was very impressed with her and she was very gracious to him. Asked him where he was born and when he said Arkansas she mentioned that General MacArthur was also born in Arkansas. She asked my son what he wanted to do with himself when he grew up and encouraged him to go to West Point.

Drew was so impressed with her that he asked for her autograph but only had a dollar bill for her to sign. He kept that autograph and in his yearling year at West Point he hung it on the wall. Cadets would go in and touch it before big exams for luck.

[Anamensis]

That's the one, the "can you explain that in English" girl. Who is she?

[retrokitten]

Isn't there cam in real player? I'm listening to something else in real player, so I might just go Bag Cam-less today.

All: Chicken Feast Wins Some Iraqi Hearts and Minds

[cyncooper]

Reporter asks if there is uprising yet. Torie points out bad guys still out there, but YES we are starting to see it.

(As we have read in numerous accounts here on FR, I might add)

[nicmarlo]

That's absolutely sickening and sacraligeous

[prairiebreeze]

NO EVIDENCE of Saddam Hussein!! per Torie and the General

Prairie

[babaloo]

LOL! I think her name is Pam and I remember Rummy giving her the business last year when she was complaining about how hot it would be for the detainees in Cuba without air conditioning. She grew up in Fla. and seemed very concerned because she knew how hot it can get. He rolled his eyes and leveled her.

[Lauratealeaf]

That's the one, the "can you explain that in English" girl. Who is she?

She is a snot! That is one thing she is!

[Consort]

The battle must be waged on many fronts:

PFC Lynch — fighting on the battlefield against foreign enemies.
Belly Girl — fighting on the homefront against domestic enemies.