VICTORY - U.S. soldiers control the center of Tikrit, symbolizing the end of the war

AFP via Babelfish translation ^ | April 14, 2003

[HAL9000]

Iraq: the US soldiers control the center of Tikrit

American armoured tanks controlled Monday morning the center of Tikrit, stronghold of Saddam Hussein in the north of Baghdad, where the situation was calm, a journalist of the AFP noted on the spot.

Five armoured tanks were stationed on one of the places of the center of the city, to 180 km in the north of Baghdad. It was not possible to know in the immediate future if they were Marines or infantrymen.

All the stores were closed in the city deserted by the Iraqi regular forces and considerable its 100.000 inhabitants. Some inhabitants of Tikrit however left their houses to note the arrival of the Americans.

In the suburbs, witnesses gave a report on shootings of inhabitants who tried to defend their goods against first plunderers, but this information could not be confirmed of other source.

Previously, of the witnesses with the AFP the arrival American tanks in the center of the city had announced.

The official advertisement of the fall of Tikrit should confirm symbolically the end of the Iraqi mode less than one month after the beginning of the war, March 20.

[goldstategop]

The war is not over yet. The mission is far from completed. The combat phase is done and now the hard work begins before victory can be declared.

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[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

It was not possible to know in the immediate future if they were Marines or infantrymen.

They were the Marines!

[goldstategop]

From the shores of Tripoli to the center of Tikrit...

[HAL9000]

The war is not over yet. The mission is far from completed. The combat phase is done and now the hard work begins before victory can be declared.

Well, I think it's safe to declare victory over Saddam's regime now. The last stronghold is being liberated at we speak.

Much to the disappointment of Tom Dachle, we are not bogged down in a quagmire. This war is rapidly coming to a conclusion, and we're already moving forward to win the peace.

[zarf]

Now it's time to destroy Iraqi children with MTV!!

[ambrose]

I wonder where all the top Saddamites went, if they're not in Tikrit?

[HAL9000]

Let me put it another way - History will remember April 14, 2003 as the day the USA established victory over Iraq and the war ended.

April 9th will be remembered as the major event in the war - the liberation of Baghdad.

[k2blader]

Bump!

[Allan]

So while all the media attention is focused on Tikrit
the real battle goes on in al-Qa'im.

[Mitchell]

So while all the media attention is focused on Tikrit the real battle goes on in al-Qa'im.

It's been reported that, in the first Gulf War, Israel suspected that mobile Scud launchers were hidden in phosphate mines near al-Qa'im, and the Israelis proposed these mines to the U.S. as a possible bombing target.

[willgetsome]

QUAGMIRE!!!!!!!!!!

[goldstategop]

Newsflash: Bill Clinton calls upon President Bush to strike another deal with defeated Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

[Allan]

Scud launchers were hidden in phosphate mines near al-Qa'im
and the Israelis proposed these mines to the U.S. as a possible bombing target.

Apparently the battle is being drawn out because they don't want to destroy al-Qa'im.

Interesting things may be stored there.

[HAL9000]

Agence France-Presse -

US takes Saddam's hometown

From correspondents in Tikrit
April 14, 2003

US armoured vehicles have taken control of the centre of Saddam Hussein's hometown, Tikrit, maintaining calm in the key northern city.

Five armoured vehicles were deployed in a main square of the town, 180km north of Baghdad, after three US marine reconaissance battalions entered before dawn, meeting no resistance.

They posted themselves at the foot of a statue portraying Saddam mounted on a horse.

At the US Central Command's forward headquarters in Qatar, officers said occasional resistance had been encountered on the outskirts of Tikrit.

They declined to declare the key city as being under full control of coalition forces.

It was deserted of Iraqi regular troops and much of its 100,000 population, although a handful of Tikritis emerged from their homes to catch a glimpse of the US troops.

Marine Sergeant Robert Chute said he felt the fall of Tikrit signalled the end of the war.

He said advance units had met no resistance as they drove into the city, although some fighting had occurred in outlying districts late yesterday.

Firefights with what Chute believed to be Iraqi soldiers had left at least one Iraqi dead, while US units reported no casualties.

An official announcement of the fall of Tikrit would signal the symbolic end of Saddam's regime. Tikrit was the last main town not under the control of coalition forces.

US forces were not met with the sort of welcome seen in Baghdad last week, the marine sergeant said.

Resistance had been reduced by air and artillery strikes before the ground troops moved in, covered by Cobra helicopter gunships which could be seen making low-level passes over the city.

[Smile-n-Win]

Newsflash: Bill Clinton calls upon President Bush to strike another deal with defeated Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Meanwhile at the Irrelevant Nations, Kofi Annan insists the inspectors must be allowed more time to do their work.

V

[Pro-Bush]

Americans control central Tikrit

Correspondents say US armoured vehicles are in control of the centre of Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's hometown north of the Iraqi capital. The Arabic TV newscaster Al Jazeera even reports Tikrit totally under US control. An AFP agency correspondent said the situation was calm. Al Jazeera and CNN television earlier reported about 250 tanks and other military vehicles driving towards the centre of the city. Marines, supported by fighter jets and attack helicopters, battled units of the Iraqi Republican Guard on the southern edge of the city of about 100,000 people. It's unclear how much resistance is left in the last presidential stronghold. Al Jazeera reports negotiations about a cease-fire between tribal leaders of the city and the US military. There's been fighting again in Baghdad, the capital, where US troops are trying to win the co-operation of Iraqis to restore power and water supplies and halt looting. US sources say snipers opened fire near the Palestine Hotel, where most foreign journalists are based.

[backhoe]

"I wonder where all the top Saddamites went, if they're not in Tikrit?"

Seen this?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/892505/posts
IRAQ: Busy Baghdad Highway to Damascus - (Saddam elite fleeing Iraq into Syria)
DEBKA ^ | April 14. 2003 | unknown

[Credo]

Apparently the battle is being drawn out because they don't want to destroy al-Qa'im.

Interesting things may be stored there.

Gee, I wonder where the 4th ID is heading?