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US: 'We own Baghdad'
The Evening Standard ^ | April 7, 2003

Posted on 04/07/2003 4:29:13 AM PDT by MadIvan

"Saddam Hussein says he owns Baghdad? Wrong. We own Baghdad. We own his palace. We own his downtown hotels. This is history," US tank commander Colonel David Perkins said. The euphoric message was broadcast to the world from the doorstep of one of Saddam's presidential palaces by American reporter Greg Kelly of Fox TV.

Reporting from the Al Sijood palace on the banks of the Tigris today, Kelly told how the US 3rd Infantry moved into Baghdad in less than an hour this morning. Live footage showed American soldiers entering what the correspondent called "the main presidential palace", a large structure with high, arched windows which was being searched "room by room".

Soldiers could be seen on top of several Bradley fighting vehicles in the grounds of the palace, taking off their helmets and waving their arms at television cameras.

Describing the scene, Kelly said: "It is amazing to be talking to you here from what is literally Saddam's front yard. We actually were in the palace about 20 minutes ago - we went up to the second floor, scouted around a bit ... there was a lot of debris in there. Generally the building was intact, it was quite an ornate scene. There were marble floors, tiles and up top there were gold chandeliers."

When asked about his journey into the city, Kelly said: "We met some resistance during the trip in, but it was fairly moderate compared with what we saw two days ago and what we've seen in the past."

Colonel Perkins, 44, head of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, had predicted in January that his troops would be "the tip of the spearhead" in any attack on Baghdad.

Speaking from the palace lawn, he said: "We have secured the 14th July Monument, we are securing the bridge that goes over the peninsula where a lot of the high officials reside. I have another battalion securing the rest of the city. We have secured the centre of the city, the al-Rashid hotel, the tomb of the unknown soldier, the [National] parade ground, the VIP seating area, all the major government buildings.

"Right now we really have control of the centre of Baghdad and what is the heart of his [Saddam's] government."-Asked how it felt to be the first US commander inside Saddam's palace, he said: "I will tell you it is a testament to the US soldier. What they have done to get here.

"We have been fighting non-stop contact for about the last 17 days. We have moved 500 to 600 miles in all these vehicles over intractable terrain-crossing the Euphrates multiple-times, sustained numerous casualties and overcome insurmountable odds.

"Now we can see a bunch of US soldiers standing at the entrance to the palace. I think it is a testament to the capability of the US army. Tactically, we have obviously crushed his armed resistance. The US soldier has been victorious from that point of view."

Although American flags were flying from tanks, Colonel Perkins said: "We are not here to raise American flags, we are here to free the Iraqi people. The sooner they take control of their own country and get things back up and running - that will define total victory"

He added that he planned to take a shower in Saddam Hussein's " personal bathroom - there is running water, there are gold taps. That will be my first shower in 20 days."

At the National Parade Ground, Kelly spoke to US Marines, telling them: "The Iraqi information Minister does not believe you are winning and that you guys are really here. What do you have to say about that?"

An officer replied: "Well, he's just across the street from us, we'll go over and talk to him ... we're parked right outside the ministry building and we got the hotel surrounded. They can look out the window and see us. We're sitting right outside the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I think you can tell we're in downtown Baghdad."


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: baghdad; blair; bush; embeddedreport; flagraising; foxnews; gregkelly; iraq; palace; saddam; uk; us; viceisclosing; war
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To: MadIvan; dighton; Hillary's Lovely Legs; general_re
a large structure with high, arched windows which was being searched "room by room".

Want to really humiliate Saddam? Let Matt and Shari do the makeover.


21 posted on 04/07/2003 12:52:54 PM PDT by Thinkin' Gal
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To: nutmeg
Don't you just love it?

Look at post #11. It's great!
22 posted on 04/07/2003 12:54:15 PM PDT by Bigg Red (Defend America against her most powerful enemy -- the Democrats.)
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To: MadIvan
Anglo-American Alliance Bump!
23 posted on 04/07/2003 12:54:54 PM PDT by Bigg Red (Defend America against her most powerful enemy -- the Democrats.)
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To: Thinkin' Gal
How about a segment of this for Saddam instead?


24 posted on 04/07/2003 12:57:48 PM PDT by TADSLOS (Sua Sponte)
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To: Thinkin' Gal
No! This is a job for....

Trading Spaces!
25 posted on 04/07/2003 12:58:20 PM PDT by arielb
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To: Thinkin' Gal
Y'all are too funny! I fell out of my chair after this post!!! Work...work...gotta get back to work..... :)

26 posted on 04/07/2003 12:58:49 PM PDT by A Mississippian
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To: MadIvan

27 posted on 04/07/2003 12:59:07 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (If you like a Strong Free Republic, become monthly donor!)
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To: Thinkin' Gal
Want to really humiliate Saddam? Let Matt and Shari do the makeover.

What would Sherri the dyke use for her inspiration piece??

28 posted on 04/07/2003 1:00:32 PM PDT by TC Rider (The United States Constitution © 1791. All Rights Reserved.)
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To: MadIvan
The Congressional leaders of the AXIS OF INTERNAL EVIL, are deeply sadden by this latest reality of the Iraqi War where US Forces own Baghdad. That means "No more Iraqi Oil money for the DNC!"


29 posted on 04/07/2003 1:01:42 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (If you like a Strong Free Republic, become monthly donor!)
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To: TADSLOS
LOL

Is that the one where a weird decorating team takes over, and no matter what, the walls turn a pukey green color? I saw one episode, where they had a real challenge... it was an apartment where they couldn't paint the walls. I thought, "Now what are they gonna do if they can't paint puke green on the walls?" Alas, they lined the wall with puke green fabric!
30 posted on 04/07/2003 1:02:43 PM PDT by Thinkin' Gal
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To: Diogenesis; FreeTheHostages; doug from upland; Little Bill
ping!
31 posted on 04/07/2003 1:05:36 PM PDT by nutmeg (Liberate Iraq - Support Our Troops!)
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To: MadIvan
I'm sure now that our troops are entering Baghdad and Basra, they'll all want to take Baath(ist)s.
32 posted on 04/07/2003 1:06:27 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: MadIvan
These guys sure look like they own the place.

U.S. Army Stf. Sgt. Chad Touchett, center, relaxes with comrades from A Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, following a search in one of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s palaces damaged after a bombing, in Baghdad Monday, April 7, 2003.(AP Photo/John Moore)

33 posted on 04/07/2003 1:07:15 PM PDT by wimpycat ('Nemo me impune lacessit')
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To: Spruce
Spruce:

Sir..permission to bookmark Sir!

http://home.mn.rr.com/helm3/images/

Great collection of images

34 posted on 04/07/2003 1:07:58 PM PDT by antaresequity
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To: Thinkin' Gal
Is that the one where a weird decorating team takes over, and no matter what, the walls turn a pukey green color?

All I know is that between this show and Trading Spaces, I don't stand a chance at watching FoxNews on Saturday afternoon. My wife prys the remote from my hand and I head for FR until the gayness subsides.

35 posted on 04/07/2003 1:08:20 PM PDT by TADSLOS (Sua Sponte)
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To: Bigg Red
ROTFL! Rummy: "Who's your daddy?"
36 posted on 04/07/2003 1:19:14 PM PDT by nutmeg (Liberate Iraq - Support Our Troops!)
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To: TC Rider
What would Sherri the dyke use for her inspiration piece??

Flag Headboard

37 posted on 04/07/2003 1:24:36 PM PDT by Thinkin' Gal
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To: Thinkin' Gal
Matt and Shari decorate on the cheap.

Saddam had the bucks, but when it comes to creative use of color, he is pure vanilla.
38 posted on 04/07/2003 1:37:28 PM PDT by Hillary's Lovely Legs (May all of Saddam's virgins look like Helen Thomas)
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To: Thinkin' Gal
Matt would crank that thing out in 10 minutes, but he's no Norm.

(Mrs TC makes me watch)

39 posted on 04/07/2003 1:58:35 PM PDT by TC Rider (The United States Constitution © 1791. All Rights Reserved.)
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To: nutmeg; Diogenesis
As usual, these pix are fantastic. I especially love the shot of our guys having some R & R at Saddam's pad. Whaty...no ashtrays?
40 posted on 04/07/2003 2:57:07 PM PDT by stanz
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