***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...

[spectr17]

Score!! Thanks.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

(:^D)

I lurk on these threads most nights, and watch you and Expat drive yourself to exhaustion, informing everyone.... it's very much appreciated, but I think there comes a time when you have to gently put your head down onto a nice comfy pillow, draw the blanket up to *just* the right point on your shoulder, and.... oh blimey, I'm nodding off myself!

[An.American.Expatriate]

Hey Byron!!

Some of us are wide awake!! (It's 10:52 AM where I am!!)

[spectr17]

Who's good with animation?

Make on of Baghdad Bob jumpin up and down trying to get over mic podium like the little ciurcus midget he is

[An.American.Expatriate]

From the BBC "Iraq Latest: at a glance":
Friday, 28 March (all times GMT!!)

0945: Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf says US-led bombing killed 7 people and injured 92 in Baghdad on Thursday.

0800: UK military spokesmen say local Iraqi militia opened fire on 1,000 and 2,000 civilians trying to flee the southern city of Basra.

0650: UK Prime Minister Tony Blair tells the BBC that the war against Saddam Hussein will take time and have its "tough and difficult moments."

0617: US marines report they have captured an Iraqi general in Nasiriya on Thursday, BBC correspondent Andrew North says.

0607: Thousands more US troops are moving in to join the battle for the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriya, backed by heavy artillery.

0545: The British ship Sir Galahad, carrying 600 tons of food and water for the Iraqi people, is approaching the southern Iraqi port of Umm Qasr behind teams of minesweepers and a mine-hunting vessel.

0505: BBC correspondent Paul Adams at Coalition Central Command in Qatar reports that the southern Iraqi airbase in Tallil is now operational and the first US transport planes have now flown into it.

0500: BBC correspondent reports explosions in Baghdad, says Thursday night's bombings among the most violent of the war so far.

0400: Further explosions reported in Baghdad, along with the sound of anti-aircraft gunfire.

0059: US military spokesman at Coalition Central Command says air strikes and cruise missiles have taken out a major communication centre and command-and-control facilities in Baghdad. Large fire

0000: UK Prime Minister Tony Blair begins holding talks with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, focussing on the role of the UN in a post-war Iraq.

[Tree of Liberty]

Fox - German reporter in Baghdad reporting live. States that it's business as usual in the city. Quite a night. Many targets were re-visited. Telecom targets hit. Some phones out of order. Bombardment of forces around the city. Smoke is from oil trench fires. Some are within residential areas. Many reignited. Attempt to confuse allied pilots. More than strange knowing that Allied forces will be in the city shortly. No road blocks. Many left before the war started. Some still trying to leave. Few places to retreat to. Iraqi TV is off. One channel still functioning. Sat dishes prohibited, so hard to get news in Iraq.

[Tree of Liberty]

Da nada

[spectr17]

Iraqi TV is off. One channel still functioning. Sat dishes prohibited, so hard to get news in Iraq.

Time to go to the drums and smoke signals

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..Hey Byron!! Some of us are wide awake!!...

Hmmmm. Throwing down the challenge, eh? :)

(PS: are you in NZ?)

[Tree of Liberty]

Well, they do still have that town crier 5 times a day

[spectr17]

town crier = phallic guy?

[An.American.Expatriate]

'Proof' of biological weapons found

I'll get flamed for this, but . . .

The Iraqi Info dweeb has a point. There mere presence of Chemical Suits / Gas Masks, etc... is pretty flimsy "proof" that Iraq has / intends to use Chem weapons! I think they DO have them and DO intend to use them, but, calling protective gear "proof" of biological weapons is a BIG stretch.

[Tree of Liberty]

LOL, yeah, the guy that yells out that it's prayer time

[spectr17]

Bryan's pics got to me, time to go crash and burn.

[An.American.Expatriate]

Switzerland!!

[oceanperch]

I understand your concern. It is not worth the brain punish the next day.

Thanks for the reminder.

[An.American.Expatriate]

Militia 'opens fire on fleeing civilians'

[Tree of Liberty]

That's only part of it. They also have huge stocks of atropine, which has to be announced to UNMOVIC, which it was not. There's also the reports about Iraqis in full chem suits moving large chem barrels and "other items".

2+2=4

[spectr17]

I meant Byron_the_Aussie

nite all

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..0545: The British ship Sir Galahad, carrying 600 tons of food and water for the Iraqi people, is approaching the southern Iraqi port of Umm Qasr behind teams of minesweepers and a mine-hunting vessel....

An Australian clearance diver, Leading Seaman Jason (surname withheld) on watch patrol at Umm Qasr