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."
You said it! I wonder if our guys got that shower. As far as I know, they're still there.
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