The Final Hours: Baghdad Crumbles

BBC ^ | April 3, 2003

[Scoop]

Iraq latest: At-a-glance

BBC News Online charts the latest developments in the Iraq conflict. [All times GMT and approximate]

Thursday, 3 April

1700: Electricity is down in Baghdad for the first time in the war. Artillery fire is heard on the southern outskirts of the city.

1636: The US military is investigating reports of a friendly fire incident involving US ground forces and an F-15 aircraft that left one soldier dead and others missing, US Central Command says.

1549: US President George Bush says coalition forces advancing on Baghdad will not stop until Iraq is free, as he addresses troops in North Carolina.

1445: Defence officials in Washington say an investigation is taking place into reports that a US F/A-18 Hornet fighter bomber might have been shot down by a Patriot anti-missile battery.

1340: American marines meet stiff Iraqi resistance at Aziziyah, about 60 kilometres (40 miles) south-east of Baghdad, the BBC's David Willis reports.

1210: US military shows footage of what it says was raid on Tharthar presidential palace, 90km from Baghdad. There is increasing evidence Iraq regime is losing command and control over the country, US military says.

1138: Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf dismisses as "silly" reports that US troops are near Baghdad.

1055: US military officials say American special forces entered a presidential palace near Baghdad overnight, then left again

[Scoop]

Am I the only one who has heard that dead Iraqi soldiers on the road to Baghdad are wearing gas masks and chemical gear, and has thought that possibly it is a sign that orders have been given to use WOMD, but those orders are not being followed?

[ConservativeDude]

US military officials say American special forces entered a presidential palace...


This is a lie. It's propaganda.

We're in a QUAGMIRE, I TELL YOU! IT'S A QUAGMIRE!!!


isn't it?

[RetiredArmy]

Adolph Insane in his bunker. Talking via videophone to Dan Blather, asking if maybe Danny boy's pal Castro might allow Adolph to move to Ha-vana. Danny said he'd have to call his pal Tom Dash-hole to see, but Little Tommy is saddened by developments and cannot be disturbed, he was sleeping. Adolph is said to be saddened also.

[trebb]

News to me - where did you hear it?

[Viiraxe]

I hadn't heard that.

[wimpycat]

No, this isn't a quagmire.

This is what they call an "operational pause".

[headsonpikes]

The 'quagmire' is in Washington; it's the sea of horsesh*t the factional Demonrats have excreted in the public square.

[lsee]

The disinformation minister is probably hiding behind a table right now, throwing shoes at advancing troops, meanwhile saying "I can't hear you! Lalalalalalalala!"

[ConservativeDude]

This is what they call an "operational pause".

I'd hate (er, love) to see FULL SPEED AHEAD!

[inquest]

1340: American marines meet stiff Iraqi resistance at Aziziyah

That must be BBC code for "Iraqi tanks stuck in mud"

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Quagmire

[DannyTN]

had gas masks and Iraqi's were heard discussing chem weapons on their radio.

But there are no Americans to use them on. It's "silly". The Americans are not there, they have been defeated. Fight with your hands. Sacrifice yourself for Allah against the silly nonexistant Americans.

[w_over_w]

[netmilsmom]

Can we have a link to that story....I want to pass it on to my lesbian/teacher/flaming liberal/sister who says, "So where are the WMD???" We had no reason to do this.

[Colorado Doug]

Some dead Iraqis were actually wearing gasmasks

Gas masks don't help with lead poisoning.

[Scoop]

CNN is actually reporting that ALL Iraqi dead in one area near Baghdad were wearing gas masks. Maybe the smell of all those Iraqi dead...? yech

[A. Patriot]

Am I the only one who has heard that dead Iraqi soldiers on the road to Baghdad are wearing gas masks and chemical gear

It has been widely reported. I don't think poison gas works very well in the desert with a strong wind blowing.

[tiki]

Is this the 4 to 6 day one or that 3 to 4 week one? I've been confused or has it been the media who is confused?

[sanchmo]