***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 11 - LIVE THREAD***

Everywhere! | 30 Mar 2003 | An.American.Expatriate

[null and void]

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:

To all who helped this get started, thank you!

Special thanks to An.American.Expatriate for staring the daily threads, Mo1 for the screamer, the AdminMods for their tolerance, mhking for the video links, and, of course, Belly Girl...

[Right_in_Virginia]

I'll be there!

[Miss Marple]

Good morning! General Franks is doing quite well. I will bet they don't whine about him doing the briefings any more!

[McGruff]

Gen. Franks also said we see no indication that the Iraqi military is being controlled from the highest levels.

[mystery-ak]

I don't know how Gen Franks remains so composed with these a$$'s..

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

What color of fur do you have.

(vapatriot 98)signed up Mar. 11, 2003.

S.F.wears their uniforms in all duties. I can say that because I happen to be one.

[AFPhys]

secured oil fields in south ---
have air & ground freedom of action W & S ---
air forces working 24hrs/day every sq foot ---
staging air operations from a number of Iraqi airfields ---
have destroyed massive terrorist facitllity in N iraq ---
S gateway opened for humanitarian aid

Iraqi's surrenduring for future of Iraq

Kurds helping seriously in N

ground force attacking 60 mi from baghdad

nasariah death squads coming under fire. Iraqis now helping by providing records of Baath party officials

these gains are not without cost. we honor those who have fallen, mourn with their families. we will attack the enemy at times and place coalition chooses.

---- loss of audio ---

will continue to open gateways in n, s, west

humanitarian assistance has begun

remarkable progress already.. lots remains to be done -- ups & downs of war will occur in the days ahead -- outcome will not be in question

end of remarks, start of answering questions...
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Sorry --- posted to wrong thread originally..

[Green]

Well one thing seems to be missing so far....no petulant questions. LOL

[Miss Marple]

I don't know how he keeps his cool, either.

I would be down in the crowd whomping people left and right, breaking cameras, tearing up note pads, and cussing up a blue strak!

[AFPhys]

Questions:

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Re:suicide bombings: Suicide bombings will be handled as they arise - modus operandi of these two different - not surprising that this will be used, but it is surprising that it has been endorsed at the top levels of the regime - recall the debate at the UN regarding whether terrorism is being endorsed by this regime - this answers the question for sure.
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Attacked massive terrorist camp - exploiting this camp now... lots of speculation ... will see how things go... have forces there now... will see later on what we find.
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How will tactics on ground change due to suicide bombings - won't comment - will pay more attention to "stand-off" of those vehicles at greater distance -
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NO ONE knows the timing of this plan except for a few folks, and they haven't been talking. Comments that there is not enough sepc ops, ground force, etc, etc, is not accurate, and no one who is talking about it knows. This plan provided chance for early extreme success, but took advantage of enemy early vulnerability, but determined that no matter what, we would gain victory. Those who would seek to find a wedge among those who planned this will fail. Chief characteristic is adaptablility and flexibility.
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Don't know whether Saadumb is dead or alive - have not seen credible evidence this regime is being controllef from the top, as we understand the top.
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Will fight when we want, using method we want - sometimes air, sometimes ground, sometimes spec forces, etc..-
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[Right_in_Virginia]

I will bet they don't whine about him doing the briefings any more!

Oh, PAALESE tell me they didn't whine about this! What children these "journalists" are.

(And, good Sunday morning to you.)

[vapatriot98]

Me too! Then I guess you have been to the center at Ft Bragg and then you know what I am talking about.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Howdy Missy!

DOUBLE HA!

[Socratic]

Nice catch!

[Quilla]

I saw a thread quite early this morning where a news service is now 'reporting' a 2-3 month pause. Oh please!

[mystery-ak]

Maybe if he wore his sidearm to these briefings......wishful thinking.

[OXENinFLA]

I think he's just pissed off.

We with the question the other day on why the press only gets a 1 star General some days, That's a given.

[Cboldt]

Franks responds, yet again, to the "changed plan -- you have decided to ask for more force because you found out the resistance is stiffer than expected" story.

Franks notes that the plan, when started, had a flow of troops envisioned. The flow of troops stops (or slows) when the regime is gone. The deployment of 4 ID is not a "change in plan," it has been part of the plan since the plan was implemented.

[Green]

that would be Reuters at it again...saying 30 to 45 day pause. And Reuters was the first one called with a question at this briefing. The question was did you request more ground troops before the start of the war and didn't get them (or something like that). The answer was a resounding NO.

[Miss Marple]

You must have missed the briefing earlier this week where the jerk from New York magazine demanded that someone higher up than a brigadier general (Vince..who usually does the briefings) appear and answer questions. The clear implication was that Vince was a flunky and they needed Tommy to attack. It was all the talk on Rush and it was despicable.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Maybe if he wore his sidearm to these briefings

What a great idea! Maybe he could also place it on the podium with the safety off?