LIVE THREAD: Coalition Forces Move into Kuwait/Iraq DMZ

Fox and Friends Chyron

[Petronski]

Nothing further.

[GOPyouth]

We are now a live thread. Right on.

[mhking]

T-minus 12 hours, 20 minutes and counting

[GOPyouth]

We are now a live thread. Right on.

[oceanperch]

I cooked braised Corn Beef and Cabbage with red potatoes during the night and just enjoyed dinner...well as best as I could under the circumstances.

[steveegg]

How does Reuters grab you as a second source (finally published at 7:14 EST)?

[kcvl]

U.S.-Led Force Ready, Iraq Defiant on Brink of War

Wed March 19, 2003 05:45 AM ET


By Dominic Evans
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - With Iraq defiant, a U.S.-led invasion force made final preparations on Wednesday to launch a war to oust President Saddam Hussein that could be less than a day away.

President Bush, accusing Saddam of hiding chemical and biological weapons, has given him until 4:15 a.m. Iraqi time (8:15 p.m. EST Wednesday) on Thursday to go into exile with his sons to spare his country from a U.S.-led invasion.

In the Kuwaiti desert, U.S. forces donned the chemical weapons protection suits they would wear as they cross into southern Iraq. On the ground, a brief sandstorm cut visibility to just a few meters (yards) in places.

The top U.S. naval commander in the Gulf, Vice Admiral Timothy Keating, told sailors war was "very likely...within a couple of days" as Washington urged Iraq's army to lay down its arms rather than die for what it calls a lost cause.

"If we go, the plans that we have are unlike anything anyone has ever seen before," Keating, commander of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, told reporters on the USS Abraham Lincoln.

"We can achieve surprise by going about this particular conflict, if we do it, in a way that is very unpredictable and unprecedented in history -- remarkable speed, breathtaking speed, agility, precision and persistence," he said.

Bush and his main ally, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, have amassed 280,000 troops in the region to kill or capture Saddam and overthrow his government in an enterprise that has created deep diplomatic schisms across the world.

Iraq's information minister, Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, told reporters in Baghdad that an invasion of Iraq would fail. "What they are facing is definite death," he said in a message to U.S. and British soldiers.

INVESTORS JITTERY

Iraqi legislators vowed to die for Saddam. "We pledge to you that we will follow the path of heroism and martyrdom and we will all be martyrs defending Iraq," parliament said in a letter to Saddam after an emergency session.

SNIP

U.S. officials promise an aerial bombardment of such precision and intensity that it would isolate Saddam and his leadership and stun the Iraqi army into submission.

They say upward of 3,000 satellite-guided bombs and cruise missiles will be unleashed from sea and air on targets vital to Saddam's government in a "shock and awe" start to the war.

Ground forces are expected to move in during or after a short, intense aerial bombardment to secure Iraq's oil fields and prevent Saddam loyalists torching wells as they did in Kuwait in the 1991 Gulf War.

Vowing regime change, Bush says Iraq could provide groups like al Qaeda with weapons that would exceed the bloodshed caused by the September 11, 2001 attacks on U.S. cities.

Turkey will put a motion to parliament on Wednesday allowing for the overflight of U.S. aircraft to Iraq. If approved, this could help U.S. forces open a northern front.

France and Germany have led opposition to war and question U.S. assertions about Iraq's weapons arsenal. China and Russia made last minute appeals for peace on Tuesday.

SNIP

The U.N. aid official in charge of Iraq, Ramiro Lopez da Silva, said war would trigger a major humanitarian disaster in a country already crippled by more than a decade of sanctions.

In the short term, food would be urgently needed to feed some 10 million people, while Iraq could face, in the worst case scenario, widespread starvation and epidemics, he said.

[small voice in the wilderness]

Let's not forget that this is a great Day of Reckoning for another megolomaniac with visions of ruling the entire world: bill clinton. Today mr. clinton is forced to face the realities of his failed presidency. AND the awe and respect showered on one who is truly deserving, President Bush. Let the bitterness eat at you, Arkanfuhrer. You cannot undo it. And THAT is our justice.

[Peach]

I think the book The Threatening Storm mentions this, will check the index for his name and get back to you.

[Straight Vermonter]

Wrong guy.

[GOPyouth]

Dekba update:

A second column of US 3rd Infantry Division troops crossed into the demilitarized zone on Iraqi border with Kuwait, with thousands of tanks, combat vehicles and fuel trucks.

Again, we have to take it for what it's worth. BUt I will continue to post what they update.

[steveegg]

Closer to "Pace car's headed into turn 3. Tighen up those seat belts one more time."

[Miss Marple]

Until I was personally attacked about my position a couple of weeks ago, I would have been gracious.

Now, I think the least he will get from me is French-like condescension.

[JustPiper]

SSsshhhh! You'll wake him up!

God I love your sense of humour, especially now...I fell asleep for about 10 minutes LOL!

[Petronski]

Another DEBKA tidbit (standard disclaimers):

DEBKAfile exclusive: Kurdish sources confirm that Iraqi deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz is in their hands and is being questioned by US intelligence officials.

[steveegg]

As long as you remember to mention the source of your updates, update away.

[carton253]

It depends on where they move them. If in the southern no-fly zone, suicide... If in the western scud box, American, British, and Israeli (yes, Israeli) special troops are on the ground there...

Those sams will be gone before our planes leave the deck.

[Green]

French-like condescension.

Too funny!!!

[BullDog108]

Let us see if he is man enough to apologise to all he has offended. I ain't holding my breath.

[Beck_isright]

"Btw does this fall under the shhh no info on military manuevers?"

Believe me, the Iraqis will not have the capacity to check the Internet much longer. Besides, if I were an Iraqi general I would be reviewing my will and my options:
Option 1 - Run like hell.
Option 2 - Be brave and end up getting fragged by one of my lower officers.
Option 3 - Looking for white linens and learning to say "me love Dixie Chicks" in English.

[kcvl]

British troops gear up for war


Equipment is being made ready for action

British troops in the Kuwaiti desert are making their final preparations for war against Iraq.

A British forces spokesman said troops and military hardware had been moved into forward positions along the southern border with Iraq and soldiers were ready for the order to move.

Fierce sand storms have been hampering final preparations but US and British troops say they are ready to invade.

The 48-hour deadline set by President George W Bush for Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq is ticking away and the go ahead for the first strikes is expected in a matter of hours.

In preparation for the start of war, live ammunition has been handed out and troops have been told to take pills every eight hours to combat ill-effects in the event of a nerve agent attack.