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First shots fired at sea as allied battle plan unfolds
The Times ^ | March 19, 2003 | David Sharrock and Michael Evans

Posted on 03/18/2003 3:05:57 PM PST by MadIvan

THE first shots of the war have been fired, killing at least one Iraqi during a suspected operation to mine the waters off Kuwait. But that opening skirmish is about to be dwarfed by the most formidable military assault in modern warfare: 250,000 British and American troops — backed by more than 1,000 aircraft, 400 tanks and a 110-strong armada — are poised to unleash their awesome power on Saddam Hussein’s Iraq the moment the order is given.

The first clash occurred in the mouth of the Khawr al-Zubayr river, a few miles south of the port of Umm Qasr, when a Kuwaiti gunboat challenged a flotilla of about 25 Iraqi dhows. The boats failed to respond and the Kuwaitis opened fire. It was unclear whether the dhows had laid any mines.

The Royal Navy has four mine counter-measure vessels in the Gulf which were searching the waterway last night.

Tensions in the waters off Iraq are running high and coalition ships are alert to the threat of mines and terrorist strikes. A British ship escorting Royal Navy and US minesweepers was threatened yesterday while at anchor in the northern Gulf. A cargo vessel, feared to be on an al-Qaeda suicide mission, came within 800 yards of RFA Sir Bedivere during a tense hour-long stand-off. Crew members trained two machineguns on the 500-tonne ship, The stand-off ended only when it was driven away by the heavily armed USS Ardent.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: blair; bush; endgameapproaches; iraq; saddam; uk; us; war; warlist
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Final result:

AYES TO THE RIGHT: 412
NOES TO THE LEFT: 149

The ayes have it! With you at the first. With you to the last.

Regards, Ivan


1 posted on 03/18/2003 3:05:58 PM PST by MadIvan
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To: AZLadyhawke; Southflanknorthpawsis; meema; headsonpikes; TEXOKIE; Pan_Yans Wife; mumbo; Siouxz; ...
Bump!
2 posted on 03/18/2003 3:06:20 PM PST by MadIvan (Learn the power of the Dark Side, www.thedarkside.net)
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To: MadIvan
Two fifty cals are a real threat to hold of a ship....
3 posted on 03/18/2003 3:07:53 PM PST by AlextheWise1
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To: MadIvan
Thank you for joing the effort. British resolve is well documented.
4 posted on 03/18/2003 3:08:16 PM PST by Aeronaut (So you are anti-war. Isn't that precious!)
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To: AlextheWise1
Should never have gotten that close!
5 posted on 03/18/2003 3:09:57 PM PST by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote Life Support for others.)
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To: MadIvan
I saw a thread on this vote. It was pulled before it had more than a couple of replies. Not sure why it was pulled.
6 posted on 03/18/2003 3:10:20 PM PST by farmfriend ( Isaiah 55:10,11)
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To: MadIvan
Here Here Bump.

Thanks for posting the final vote.
7 posted on 03/18/2003 3:10:22 PM PST by oceanperch (Support Our Troops)
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To: MadIvan
It's good to be with those who would say NI!

Or is it Nu, bring the Shrubbery!

Victory!

8 posted on 03/18/2003 3:10:52 PM PST by sirchtruth
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To: MadIvan
It's fitting that the Kuwaitis fired the first shots.
9 posted on 03/18/2003 3:11:13 PM PST by steveegg (The French have removed 1 leg from the UN; it is now LN (League of Nations).)
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To: MadIvan
Always knew you were with us. Glad it's official.
10 posted on 03/18/2003 3:11:20 PM PST by PBRSTREETGANG
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To: MadIvan
412 Right thinkers!

The yanks say, THANK YOU!

11 posted on 03/18/2003 3:12:27 PM PST by sausageseller
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To: MadIvan
A cargo vessel, feared to be on an al-Qaeda suicide mission, came within 800 yards of RFA Sir Bedivere during a tense hour-long stand-off. Crew members trained two machineguns on the 500-tonne ship, The stand-off ended only when it was driven away by the heavily armed USS Ardent.

This was extremely suspicious behavior by the cargo ship. Why was it not sunk outright? Or boarded?? Meanwhile, I hereby do offer the proper salutation for the vote of Parliament...




12 posted on 03/18/2003 3:12:51 PM PST by Paul Ross (From the State Looking Forward to Global Warming! Let's Drown France!)
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To: MadIvan
Yup . I just heard that on the radio . Good luck to you & yours Sir !
13 posted on 03/18/2003 3:13:48 PM PST by Ben Bolt
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To: MadIvan
Here, here re our British cousins and their excellent vote!
14 posted on 03/18/2003 3:15:25 PM PST by Grampa Dave (Stamp out Freepathons! Stop being a Freep Loader! Become a monthly donor!)
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To: steveegg
It's fitting that the Kuwaitis fired the first shots.

It should have been us, in light of 911.....Hopefully, there will be more juicy, desirable targets soon.......

15 posted on 03/18/2003 3:16:23 PM PST by Joe Hadenuf
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To: farmfriend
There is another thread up about it.
16 posted on 03/18/2003 3:17:39 PM PST by Bahbah (Pray for our Troops)
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To: MadIvan
Congratulations. Looks like Tony picked up a few votes.

So, is there a betting pool on when Clair Short gets sacked? Good to see her crawl and beg for mercy after her vicious personal attack on Blair.
17 posted on 03/18/2003 3:17:52 PM PST by lavrenti
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To: Joe Hadenuf
Nah, the Kuwaitis deserve to draw first blood in this fight. We did ours in Afghanistan.
18 posted on 03/18/2003 3:18:40 PM PST by lavrenti
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To: MadIvan
Airborne HOOOO-AAAAAaaahhh, amigo!
19 posted on 03/18/2003 3:19:33 PM PST by Airborne Longhorn
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To: MadIvan
There's no reason to wait around any longer. The family rejected the ultimatium, thereby dispensing with the 48 hours.
20 posted on 03/18/2003 3:19:41 PM PST by lavrenti
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