Caption These - First Photos of War in Iraq - Day 1

[Republican_Strategist]

March 19: President Bush announces the start of the war against Iraq during a televised speech to the nation.

March 20: Dawn breaks over Baghdad.

March 20: Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles are launched from the USS Donald Cook in the Red Sea.

March 20: Day breaks over downtown Baghdad after the first round of strikes meant to wipe out Iraq's leadership.

March 20: (Fake)Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein addresses his people in what is thought to be a live televised speech.

March 20: Aviation ordnance specialists aboard the USS Kitty Hawk load a JDAM bomb onto the wing of an F/A-18 Hornet in the Persian Gulf.

March 20: A blast can be seen in downtown Baghdad during coalition strikes at dawn.

[mattdono]

Hmmm. Then I stand (partially) corrected.

[Republican_Strategist]

The first of two F-117 stealth fighters lands in the early morning hours at a forward-deployed air base in the middle-east, after completing a mission March 20, 2003. The F-117s from the 8th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron out of Holloman A.F.B., New Mexico, are currently deployed in the middle-east supporting all ongoing operations. REUTERS/U.S. Air Force/Derrick C. Goode NO SALES


U.S. Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Fox Company 'Raiders', from L to R: Sargeant Hardy from Colorado Springs, Colorado, Corporal Paul Compean from Victoria, Texas and Corporal William Algarin-Mendoza, of West Palm Beach, Florida, lie in a dug-in bunker after a scud attack, March 20, 2003 in an undisclosed location in the Kuwaiti desert. Iraq (news - web sites) fired missiles across the Kuwaiti border toward U.S. troops Thursday, prompting soldiers to don gas masks and chemical protective gear. At least one of the rockets was intercepted by a Patriot missile, U.S. officials said. REUTERS/Desmond Boylan


U.S. Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Fox Company 'Raiders' listen to their commanding officer in an undisclosed location in the Kuwaiti desert. Iraq (news - web sites) fired missiles across the Kuwaiti border toward U.S. troops Thursday, prompting soldiers to don gas masks and chemical protective gear. At least one of the rockets was intercepted by a Patriot missile, U.S. officials said. Picture taken March 19, 2003. REUTERS/Desmond Boylan


Their tanks pointed towards Iraq (news - web sites), the U.S. Army soldiers from the 4th Battalion 64 Armor Regiment prepare their vehicles early Thursday, March 20, 2003. The first U.S. cruise missiles and bombs fell on Baghdad earlier Thursday, followed by several Iraqi missiles fired at Kuwait. (AP Photo/John Moore)


Soldiers of the 'Widowmakers,' 3/502nd Infantry Battalion of the 101st Airborne Division, dig in after a ground attack siren was raised at Camp New York in the Kuwait desert, March 20, 2003. Iraq (news - web sites) fired missiles at Kuwait, prompting U.S. troops to don chemical protective suits and setting emergency air raid sirens blaring in Kuwait City. REUTERS/Jason Reed


An F-14 Thomcat approches for landing on the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier after flight operations Thursday, March 20, 2003. The first Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired early Thursday against Iraqi targets, and U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) said the war against Baghdad had begun. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)


An unnamed gunner stands prepared silhouetted by the moon, at the rear of USS McCain destroyer Wednesday, March 19, 2003. The USS McCain, carrying Tomahawk land attack missiles, is due to play a part in the attack on Iraq (news - web sites). (AP Photo/Adam Butler)

[ward_of_the_state]

If Saddam and 2 of his doubles survived, it would make and interesting episode of To Tell the Truth.

[Dems_R_Losers]

Dear Saddam,

All your base are belong to us.

[jae471]

I did a search. Between about 1914 and 1946, the Presidental Seal had the eagle facing the arrows, but the Great Seal had the eagle facing the olive branch. In 1946, the Presidential Seal underwent a redesign by a Truman Exec. Order, which, among other things, made the Presidential Seal's eagle head consistent with the Great Seal, i.e. always facing the olive branch.

The timings of the changes (start of WWI and end of WWII) are merely coincidental.

[Alberta's Child]

Dear Saddam:

Notice that this eagle here over my left shoulder is still holding all 13 arrows.

That little surprise you got last night was the olive branch -- the arrows haven't even started coming yet.

[ericthecurdog]

"Paradooor... Parador I loooove you...."

[Alberta's Child]

Well, thanks for clearing that up!

I think the idea of changing the direction of the eagle's head is a good one.

Better yet -- during wartime, replace the olive branch in the right claw with a mangled dove.

[ericthecurdog]

[Freedom2specul8]

.

[azhenfud]

I think the eagle's position is the same no matter the state of war or peace. The emblem is meant to show strength preferred through peace - but gained by force when necessary.

[Portnoy]

I saw that too...! Had to explain it to my wife....

[SuzanneWeeks]

LMAO.

Perfect.

[Sid Rich]

Right. The eagle's head hasn't changed in 50+ years.

[Republican_Strategist]

Soldiers of the 'Widowmakers', 3/502nd Infantry Battalion of the 101st Airborne Division are seen through night vision goggles as they don gas masks during their first scud attack warning at night since hostilities against Iraq (news - web sites) began, at camp New York in the Kuwait desert March 20, 2003. Thousands of U.S. troops in northern Kuwait were told to don protective chemical suits and be ready for combat by 1630 GMT on Thursday, Reuters reporters with the military said. REUTERS/Jason Reed


A column of US Army Bradley armor vehicles from the 3rd Infantry Division roll at dawn in the northern Kuwait desert as the massive US military force moves to a striking distance to Iraq (news - web sites)(AFP/Romeo Gacad)


A British soldier wearing a gas mask, mans his position during a sandstorm in the Kuwaiti desert, Wednesday March 19, 2003, ahead of possible military action. The ultimatum given by President Bush (news - web sites) to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) to leave his country or face war, will expire Thursday. (AP Photo/Dan Chung, The Guardian, Pool)


A British Royal Air Force Harrier jet is filmed by a fellow Harrier pilot as it flies over the oil fields of southern Iraq (news - web sites) early in the morning of March 18, 2003. Warplanes from the USS Abraham Lincoln bombed Iraqi positions on March 19 after coalition aircraft patrolling the southern no-fly zone were fired on by Iraqi forces, a top admiral said. Photo by Reuters (Handout)


A Royal Air Force Harrier jet is filmed by a fellow RAF Harrier pilot as it flies over the oil fields of southern Iraq (news - web sites) early in the morning March 18, 2003. Warplanes from the USS Abraham Lincoln bombed Iraqi positions on Wednesday after coalition aircraft patrolling the no-fly zone were fired on by Iraqi forces a top admiral said. Photo by Reuters (Handout)


A U.S. Army vehicles from the 3rd Infantry Division convoy to a position near the Iraqi border Wednesday, March 19, 2003. The commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, Maj. Gen. Buford Blount III, ordered his troops to reposition to locations near the border as Predisent Bush's deadline for Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) to leave Iraq (news - web sites) approached.(AP Photo/John Moore)

[Sid Rich]

That's what I said. It doesn't change.

[Master of Orion]

Say the Secret WORD and the Duck will give you $100!

[Republican_Strategist]

Smoke rises from an explosion over al-Rasheed military facility on the south east of Baghdad as the US launched a war on Iraq (news - web sites) with air stikes on the capital.(AFP/Patrick Baz)

[doc30]

I was taught that the eagle holds olive branches and arrows. The eagle's head always points to the olive branches symolizing the U.S.'s first choice is for peace, and the arrows symbolize the U.S. is willing to use force when peaceful means don't work.

[Republican_Strategist]