'THIS IS THE BIG BATTLE'

New York Post ^ | 4/02/03 | NILES LATHEM

[kattracks]

April 2, 2003 -- WASHINGTON - The most important battle of the Iraq war got under way last night when U.S. Army troops launched a massive attack on Saddam Hussein's elite Republican Guard force defending approaches to Baghdad.

Pentagon officials confirmed last night that the Army's V Corps was engaging the Medina Division of the Republican Guard in a major battle near the strategic town of Karbala in what could be a turning point in the war.

[BellStar]

I am praying for our Troops all through to victory. May God richly bless and restore this country and our effort. May The Lord bless the families of our fallen and keep them; the Lord make His face shine upon them and be gracious to them; the Lord turn His face toward them
and give them peace.
AMEN

[tomkat]

It was a chumming mission ...

[arthurus]

Call it getting over the hump or something but it is hardly a "turning point". It has been going pretty smoothly in one direction sice the start. Any turning point would be when the Iraqis begin to overwhelm the Americans and that is not happening and is not likely to happen.

[chainsaw]

April 2, 2003 -- WASHINGTON - The most important battle of the Iraq war got under way last night when U.S. Army troops launched a massive attack on Saddam Hussein's elite Republican Guard force defending approaches to Baghdad.

The above should read:

April 2, 2003 -- WASHINGTON - The most important battle of the Iraq war got under way last night when U.S. Army troops launched a massive attack on Saddam Hussein's pathetic Republican Guard force defending approaches to Baghdad.

What is so elite about cowards that hide in mosques, cover their uniforms with civilian clothes and torture and murder prisoners of war.

[bucephalus]

"...engaged with some Republican Guard soldiers wearing trademark red boots in that town."

Anybody got a Picture of those Trademark Red Booties?

[GailA]

And the Commie NoNEWS Network will miss most of the War while they are off covering their AGENDA items.

[IrishBrigade]

I thought the use of the term 'turning point' was unusual as well...since it implies a war progressing in such a way as an outcome is up for grabs, where something as elusive as fate can affect a battleground and swing a conflict in one way or another; just as the Confederacy met its fate at Gettysburg 140 years ago in one of history's classic 'turning points'.

[Petronski]

I'd swear I heard General Brooks at the CENTCOM briefing say 'the Baghdad division has been destroyed.'

Can anyone confirm this?

The Baghdad Division has been destroyed!?!

[section9]

I'd swear I heard General Brooks at the CENTCOM briefing say 'the Baghdad division has been destroyed.'

Can anyone confirm this?

Well, General Brooks just did, but I heard that over the past 24 hours, the Guadalcanal Division attacked the Baghdad Division and siezed the bridge at Al Kut, in yet another Remagen Bridge moment. At last report, First MEF was already 10-20 miles past Al Kut.

In addition, Third ID has punched through the Karbala Gap and is also about 20 miles past the gap. One reporter from The Independent indicated that one of the field reporters said that forward elements were only thirty miles from Baghdad.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[BobinIL]

I hope they are getting the 173rd airborn and the Kurdish forces in position to the north to halt any fleeing Baathist rats. What beter way to contain them than to line their escape route with Kurdish fighters.

[paws_and_whiskers]

[tomkat]

sorry, wasn't ignoring you - had to leave for work ...

[arielb]

The elite Republican Guard have boots. The Special Republican Guard have boots...with laces