***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 19

Entering 2nd palace now!

681 posted on 04/06/2003 10:32:17 PM PDT by Citizen of the Savage Nation (Quagmire!)

To: KansasCanadian

Wow, it would have taken at least 4 ball game beers to have the courage to do that!

My brother had his fourth beer in the second inning. This was after the game was over. 8-)

I don't think he even thought about it before saying it. It was just his loud natural reaction.

682 posted on 04/06/2003 10:32:27 PM PDT by dead

22:30 PST BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- U.S. troops seized key buildings in the heart of the Iraqi capital Monday, including a major presidential palace on the Tigris River, the Information Ministry and the Al-Rashid Hotel.

Under cover of tank-killing A10 Warthog planes and pilot-less drones, the 2nd Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division rolled into central Baghdad at 6 a.m.

Entering on the western side of the Tigris, which divides the city, they came up Highway 8 meeting only moderate resistance -- mostly assault fire and rocket-propelled grenades from infantry.

"I do believe this city is freakin' ours," said Capt. Chris Carter of Watkinsville Ga.

The U.S. Army columns moved northeast to the newest and main presidential palace on the river. Iraqis fled along its banks and some jumped in the water. An ammunition depot across the river was on fire.

Attack Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry entered the palace compound, searching the ground and beginning to secure the building. Iraqis shot small arms fire at them from a clock tower overlooking the compound. Tanks quickly destroyed it.

Most of the compound was severely damaged from prior U.S. raids.

Col. David Perkins told his troops before the operation that the mission was intended to be "a dramatic show of force" to demonstrate that U.S. forces can enter Baghdad at any time, anywhere.

He said another palace on the eastern side of the Tigris was being attacked. "I hope this makes it clear to the Iraqi people that this (the regime) is over and that they can now enjoy their new freedom," Perkins said.

Perkins said the resistance coming into the city was heavier than expected: He had thought most Iraqi defenses were wiped out Saturday, but Iraqi troops laid new minefields and set up many new firing positions.

Two American soldiers were injured in the assault and one U.S. tank immobilized.

On entering the city, Bradley fighting vehicles and tanks took up fighting positions around the presidential palace on the way in, up Highway 8.

U.S. troops had to pass through a 400-yard-long minefield to approach the area. There were 200 anti-tank mines spread on the road and U.S. troops pushed them aside and continued down the highway.

"I think it's a good testament to the American soldier," Perkins said. "In the last 17 days -- over 500 miles and heavy, heavy fighting on many days -- to finally be here is a great accomplishment."

As U.S. troops penetrated the city, members of Saddam's Fedayeen paramilitary fighters prevented journalists from leaving their hotel.

Iraqi troops did not use any mortars or artillery against the American forces.

F-16 fighter jets flew ahead of the U.S. armored column, bombing any tanks or armored personnel carriers along the way. U.S. troops also fired mortars on key intersections before passing through. Tanks took up positions around key intersections.

Black smoke clogged the air and covered the city.

The stepped-up assault on Baghdad followed a weekend of incursions by U.S. forces in tanks and armored personnel carriers. Troops rolled through streets of the capital "destroying all of the enemy vehicles and personnel with whom they've come in contact," Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told CNN on Sunday.

"One of the points is to destroy the enemy that we found, and the last two raids have been very, very successful at doing that," he said.

Intermittent explosions were heard in the city Sunday night into Monday, along with periodic anti-aircraft fire. Shortly before dawn, aircraft could be heard over the capital and heavier explosions shook downtown buildings, echoing from the southern outskirts.

After sunrise, a long series of blasts rocked Baghdad and dark gray smoke rose on the horizon to the south and southwest. Residents could hear what seemed to be the sound of surface-to-surface rockets, artillery and aircraft.

Prayers broadcast from Baghdad's mosques filtered through the din of battle. "God is great and to him we owe thanks," clerics intoned every time the city came under attack.

South of the capital, U.S. forces took control of the center of the holy city of Karbala on Sunday after block-by-block fighting, the Army Times newspaper reported from the scene.

Suggesting disarray among Iraq's elite fighters, Saddam Hussein urged Iraqi troops separated from their combat units to join other squads to fend off the Americans, in a statement read Sunday on Iraqi television and radio.

The statement also said anyone who destroys an allied tank, armored personnel carrier or artillery would be awarded 15 million dinars, or about $8,000 by the unofficial exchange rate.

Iraqi satellite television showed brief footage of a smiling Saddam in military uniform chairing a meeting it said was held Sunday with his top aides.

In a separate announcement, a broadcaster for Iraqi state radio read a decree by Saddam that two female suicide bombers be awarded posthumously the medal of the Al-Rafdin -- or "The Two Rivers" -- the nation's highest decoration, and that their families be given 50 million dinars or about $28,000 each.

The attack last week in western Iraq killed three U.S. soldiers at a checkpoint 80 miles from the Syrian border.

683 posted on 04/06/2003 10:32:34 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (Let's Roll)

We should destroy that building on the NTV cam...only because it's ugly

684 posted on 04/06/2003 10:33:07 PM PDT by Fledermaus ("We aren't softening them up, we are killing them!")

I sure hope so, my cable was taken out by an ice storm. No television.

Are you in Michigan?

685 posted on 04/06/2003 10:33:18 PM PDT by fellowpatriot

To: Citizen of the Savage Nation

CNN: Information Ministry occupied.

686 posted on 04/06/2003 10:33:20 PM PDT by GOPyouth (Heather Nauert and Belly Girl are all that are women!)

that is a seriously funky ugly looking building.

687 posted on 04/06/2003 10:33:39 PM PDT by dogbyte12

"They were all ENTERING from the right and EXITING to the left. "

Understand.

688 posted on 04/06/2003 10:33:48 PM PDT by Cap Huff

it's our civic duty as Americans to make sure all ugly buildings are destroyed.

689 posted on 04/06/2003 10:33:50 PM PDT by SoldiersGirl (Land of the Free..because of the Brave)

To: SoldiersGirl

690 posted on 04/06/2003 10:33:50 PM PDT by Tree of Liberty (my cat's breath smells of Cheeto's and marshmallows)

To: sheikdetailfeather

rofl tanks sitting and RG on the run. Man I wish I had satellite

691 posted on 04/06/2003 10:34:14 PM PDT by knak (kelly in alaska)

To: Centurion2000

This plan is so brilliant. Raise the flag at key points in Baghdad and make them bring the fight to us. If they don't, we win the PR war and the Iraqis start taking out the republican guard. If they do, we get them and didn't have to go house to house.

THIS IS BRILLIANT!!!!

692 posted on 04/06/2003 10:34:15 PM PDT by phalynx

Iraqi flag still flying on MSNBC.

693 posted on 04/06/2003 10:34:20 PM PDT by Consort

CNN: Information Ministry occupied

Baghdad Bob denies from undisclosed location.

694 posted on 04/06/2003 10:34:23 PM PDT by commish (Freedom Tastes Sweetest to Those Who Have Fought to Preserve It)

To: SoldiersGirl

us military says no reports of casualty so far in battle of baghdad

Praise the Lord! Thank you Lord!!

695 posted on 04/06/2003 10:34:26 PM PDT by 2Jedismom ('The commitment of our fathers is now the calling of our time')

Saw one white sedan come out of the traffic circle from the left (as usual), turn right down the street (as usual), then BACK UP quickly back to the traffic circle. Finally turned around, but then he turned left into the wrong way on the traffic circle. camera wasn't rerunning or playing backwards - other cars were zipping by in the correct order the whole time.

I think he was more than slightly confused, or suddenly saw something down that street to the right(off camera) that he didn't like...... US Tanks maybe?

696 posted on 04/06/2003 10:34:28 PM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (ABBCNNBCBS (continue to) Lie!)

Obviously another 10-minute quagmire.

697 posted on 04/06/2003 10:34:29 PM PDT by dead

To: Tree of Liberty

SKY News guy can see the American Flag.

698 posted on 04/06/2003 10:34:32 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (Let's Roll)

World's worst Sam Waterston impersonator on Sky/Fox News right now.

699 posted on 04/06/2003 10:34:49 PM PDT by Timesink (When was the last time YOU remembered we're on Code Orange?)

CNN: Information Ministry occupied

YEEHAWWW...how will baret boy spin that? maybe, "we moved to confuse the enemy...hahha, they are being squahed."

700 posted on 04/06/2003 10:34:55 PM PDT by Grenada

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