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Embedded CNN Reporter Recounts Battle Of Baghdad University
Dow Jones News Wire | 4/9/03 | Rod Alvarez

Posted on 04/09/2003 1:47:53 PM PDT by BunnySlippers

Embedded CNN Reporter Recounts Battle Of Baghdad University

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--A 45-minute pitched battle Wednesday between U.S. Marines and Iraqi fighters entrenched in Baghdad University ended without casualties on the U.S. side, Martin Savidge, a Cable News Network embedded with the First Marines, 7th Battalion, reported.

Savidge said in a CNN interview that the Marines encountered heavy Iraqi sniper fire as they approached the university.

He said that when his Marine convoy entered the southeast of the city, it was met by a large number of Iraqi civilians cheering them and flashing victory signs. The U.S. forces' initial reaction was clearly one of relief at the warm welcome shown by the local populace, he said.

However, Savidge recounted that, when the convoy turned on to another street near the university area, the nature of the welcome changed dramatically.

The convoy was fired on by an Iraqi gunboat from a tributary of the Tigris river; this was followed by an attack from snipers' positions in the university.

A Marine team fired back at the Iraqi gun boat, suppressing that attack, Savidge said.

Meanwhile, the other Marines reinforced positions surrounding the university, where they were met with a hail of rocket-propelled grenades and machine-gun fire from campus buildings.

The Marines used armored personnel carriers to barge into the premises, and engaged the Iraqis for at least a half-hour of heavy-fire action, he said.

Savidge said the Marines methodically took out Iraqi positions one after the other, knocking out machine guns positioned on pickup trucks, and eventually wiping out Iraqi defenders.

"It was a very, very heavy fight, ending with a huge arms cache stored on the university grounds that went up like the 4th of July and continued to explode for a good 45 minutes," Savidge recounted.

Savidge said the Marines are still trying to assess the casualties on the Iraqi side.

Savidge said there was an eerie silence at the university area throughout the night, with the sounds of gunfire gone and streets deserted. Marines will be patrolling the streets in the vicinity through the night, he reported.

-By Rod Alvarez; Dow Jones Newswires

(END) Dow Jones Newswires
04-09-03 1619ET- - 04 19 PM EDT 04-09-03


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: arms; baghdaduniversity; cache; embeddedreport; fallofbaghdad; gutsandglory; iraqifreedom; martinsavidge; munitions; semperfi; university; welcome

1 posted on 04/09/2003 1:47:53 PM PDT by BunnySlippers
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To: BunnySlippers
We ought to try that on a few of our own university campuses.
2 posted on 04/09/2003 1:51:04 PM PDT by pfflier
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3 posted on 04/09/2003 1:51:55 PM PDT by Support Free Republic (Your support keeps Free Republic going strong!)
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To: BunnySlippers
Wonder if they could take on Berkeley next!
4 posted on 04/09/2003 1:53:21 PM PDT by PartyofOne
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To: BunnySlippers
A Marine team fired back at the Iraqi gun boat, suppressing that attack, Savidge said.

IOW, they shot it to tiny, sinking bits.

5 posted on 04/09/2003 1:53:29 PM PDT by r9etb
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To: BunnySlippers
Sounds as if they encountered a bunch of Rachel Corrie wannabes.

U.S. Marines arranged the meeting.

6 posted on 04/09/2003 1:53:46 PM PDT by N. Theknow
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To: *SemperFi
Marine ping
7 posted on 04/09/2003 1:55:51 PM PDT by anymouse
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To: pfflier
"We ought to try that on a few of our own university campuses."

Berkley come to mind?

8 posted on 04/09/2003 1:56:04 PM PDT by KriegerGeist ("The weapons of our warefare are not carnal, but mighty though God for pulling down of strongholds")
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To: pfflier
Here's more:

U.S. Marines Fight Iraqis at Baghdad University, CNN Reports

Baghdad, April 9 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Marines fought for about 30 minutes with unidentified Iraqi forces earlier today on the grounds of Baghdad University, just after being greeted by a jubilant crowd of city residents a couple of blocks away, CNN reported. No Marine casualties were reported.

The Marines were attempting to cross a bridge and link up with U.S. Army units in the city's center when an Iraqi gunboat opened fire on American armored vehicles. That assault was accompanied by gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades coming from buildings at the university and people in pickup trucks mounted with machine guns, CNN pictures showed.

CNN showed the Marines firing from tall grass at targets a few hundred meters away and destroying one of the trucks, known as ``technicals.''

The Marines also went to the home of Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, CNN reported. Although Aziz wasn't there, the furniture in the residence was covered with blankets, as if the occupants were expecting to return, the news channel said.

2003-04-09 15:15 (New York)
(CNN 4-9)
--Edward DeMarco in Washington

9 posted on 04/09/2003 1:58:23 PM PDT by BunnySlippers
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To: BunnySlippers
A Marine team fired back at the Iraqi gun boat, suppressing that attack,...

You sunk my battleship!

10 posted on 04/09/2003 1:59:54 PM PDT by Fifth Business
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To: BunnySlippers
In a few years American students seeking to gain education in Arabic language and culture will go to Baghdad University for a year. It will be no different than schools in South East Asia or South America.
11 posted on 04/09/2003 2:00:07 PM PDT by ChicagoRepublican
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To: BunnySlippers
si this embedded reporter is at Columbia?
12 posted on 04/09/2003 2:06:34 PM PDT by ctlpdad
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To: BunnySlippers
Let me guess ... Only those swearing allegiance to Saddam were allowed higher education.
13 posted on 04/09/2003 2:06:42 PM PDT by thinktwice
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To: BunnySlippers
Wouldn't you know that The Last Stand comes at tThe University?
14 posted on 04/09/2003 2:07:37 PM PDT by arthurus
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To: BunnySlippers
Pure speculation here, but....

Does it not make one wonder why the University would be so heavily defended? What were they trying to protect?
15 posted on 04/09/2003 2:08:51 PM PDT by TheBattman
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To: BunnySlippers
Next battle --- Columbia University.
16 posted on 04/09/2003 2:09:32 PM PDT by doug from upland (Send Al Sharpton 5 bucks so he can wreak havoc in his party)
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To: Geist Krieger
Berkley come to mind?

A good start. Then Lansing Mi and Austin Tx.

17 posted on 04/09/2003 2:19:32 PM PDT by pfflier
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To: TheBattman
I believe it was the huge arms cache that the story alluded to. In Saddam's Iraq, a hospital is not just a hospital, a school is not just a school.
18 posted on 04/09/2003 2:57:17 PM PDT by BunnySlippers
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To: BunnySlippers
1/7 is commanded by a buddy of mine with whom I shared a house while we were instructors in Quantico. He was a great officer then, and it sounds like things haven't changed a bit.
19 posted on 04/09/2003 2:59:58 PM PDT by XJarhead
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