***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 9 - LIVE THREAD*** ^

Multiple | 28 March 2003 | Various

[An.American.Expatriate]

Good Morning.

This is the Daily Thread of Operation Iraqi Freedom - LIVE THREAD.

It is designed for general conversation about the events of the day. In depth discussion of events should be left to individual threads - but links to the threads or other articles is highly encouraged. This allows us to stay abreast of the situation in general, while also providing a means of obtaining specific information.

Please have mercy on us dial up limited FReepers! Limit the big graphics, post links instead. A breif description of what the graphic is would help:

Special thanks to null and void for keeping these running on the weekend, to all of you for keeping these threads alive, the AdminMods for their tolerance, mhking for the video links, and, of course, Belly Girl...

[Bahbah]

I hear Bob Edwards on NPR this morning listing places where anti-war rallies were taking place. I emailed Morning Edition that they would surely want to also list the pro-America rallies as well and directed them to FR for a list.

[An.American.Expatriate]

Text of My Letter to Univ. of Missouri Re: Their Famous Alumna, "Mrs. Anthrax" of Saddam Govt. ^

[An.American.Expatriate]

Oh, yeah, like they are really going to do that - NOT

[Carolina]

Sky reporter from Basra saying the 600 civilians have escaped from Basra and given aid. There have a been a series of uprisings. Coalition has Basra surrounded.

[Bahbah]

Yup, I know that.

[An.American.Expatriate]

The Stalled War ^

NewsMax joins the Quigmire Chorus !!

[steveegg]

Thanks for pointing us there. It truly is a good find.

[Mo1]

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/25/international/worldspecial/25SPEE.html

RALLYING CRY
'We Go to Liberate': A Colonel's Address
he eve of battle is a time for commanders to rally their troops. Some do it more memorably than others. Here is an excerpt, provided by the British Embassy in Washington, from a speech by Lt. Col. Tim Collins, commander of the First Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, delivered on Saturday at Fort Blair Mayne in northern Kuwait, before the battalion left for Iraq.

We go to liberate, not to conquer. We will not fly our flags in their country. We are entering Iraq to free a people and the only flag which will be flown in that ancient land is their own. Show respect for them.

There are some who are alive at this moment who will not be alive shortly. Those who do not wish to go on that journey, we will not send. As for the others, I expect you to rock their world. Wipe them out if that is what they choose. But if you are ferocious in battle, remember to be magnanimous in victory.

Iraq is steeped in history. It is the site of the Garden of Eden, of the Great Flood and the birthplace of Abraham. Tread lightly there. You will see things that no man could pay to see and you will have to go a long way to find a more decent, generous and upright people than the Iraqis. You will be embarrassed by their hospitality even though they have nothing. Don't treat them as refugees, for they are in their own country. Their children will be poor. In years to come they will know that the light of liberation in their lives was brought by you.

If there are casualties of war then remember that when they woke up and got dressed in the morning they did not plan to die this day. Allow them dignity in death. Bury them properly and mark their graves.

It is my foremost intention to bring every single one of you out alive, but there may be people among us who will not see the end of this campaign. We will put them in their sleeping bags and send them back. There will be no time for sorrow.

The enemy should be in no doubt that we are his nemesis and that we are bringing about his rightful destruction. There are many regional commanders who have stains on their souls and they are stoking the fires of hell for Saddam. He and his forces will be destroyed by this coalition for what they have done. As they die they will know their deeds have brought them to this place. Show them no pity.

It is a big step to take another human life. It is not to be done lightly. I know of men who have taken life needlessly in other conflicts. I can assure you they live with the mark of Cain upon them. If someone surrenders to you then remember they have that right in international law and ensure that one day they go home to their family.

The ones who wish to fight, well, we aim to please.

If you harm the regiment or its history by overenthusiasm in killing or in cowardice, know it is your family who will suffer. You will be shunned unless your conduct is of the highest for your deeds will follow you down through history. We will bring shame on neither our uniform or our nation.

[Carolina]

Geesh. Here's a new trial balloon:

Sky news asked UK Ministry of Defense briefing: your enemy is attempting to ruin your plans (hahahahahahahahahaha). What about a negotiated peace settlement (ptooey).

[An.American.Expatriate]

You know, it's funny, but before the Clinton years I could tune into AFN Radio in Germany and listen to Rush (very late!!). After a short time of Clinton, Rush was "replaced" by NPR (or maybe just moved to an even worse slot!!). That is my only contact with NPR and I hated it from day 1. I could never understand why AFN would air such anti-american drivel!

[An.American.Expatriate]

Planet Earth to Sky News, come in please! It is the job of the enemy to try to disrupt the opponents war plans!!

Sheesh, will idiocy never cease among these people??

[null and void]

nully why are ya so tired?

I've been breathing all day...

[Carolinamom]

God, Help Us! 1200 lawyers w/billable hours.

[Carolina]

Here we go, question about William Wallace's statement. Are there things that haven't been predicted?

A: the irregulars, these are supporters of the regime. Nowhere else to go...their futures are limited...if they don't fight, the outcome is clear...if they fight us, the outcome is the same...they are dying in vast numbers.

[An.American.Expatriate]

Update from NYC: The three men detained on the Williamsburg Bridge were apparently drunk and had beer in thier knapsacks. Just a prank. Move along.

[r9etb]

NewsMax joins the Quigmire Chorus !!

They're Patsies.

[Mo1]

What about a negotiated peace settlement (ptooey).

We've had one for the last 12 years .. they failed to live up to their end of the bargin .. hence the reason for this war

What's the next stupid question

[An.American.Expatriate]

God, Help Us! 1200 lawyers!

[steveegg]

Outstanding news; bet Saddam wouldn't give them aid.

Re. today's talking points ("We need more B-1s, B-2s and B-6 vitamins, all of which can be found in strawberries....We need more troops on the ground NOW!"), what we've done by "blowing through" southern Iraq is buy 200 miles that the follow-on forces won't have to fight hard through. Also, had Turkey not been, well, a turkey, there would be 2 sets of "blow-throughs".

[null and void]

Case in point...the 6 year old just wandered out of her room, said her tummy hurt, farted and went back in her room.

Living proof that most problems fix themselves with enough neglect... I asked before but didn't get an answer...Was there ever confirmation on the report that Al Quaeda was fighting with the Iraqi's in Umm Qasr?

I've heard too, but don't have a source.