*** Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 15 - Live Thread ***

Multiple ^ | April 3rd, 2003 | Various

[An.American.Expatriate]

In honor of our Freed and the men and women who risked thier lives to rescue her!

Freed POW PFC Jessica Lynch - Army Photo	Freed POW PFC Jessica Lynch - Private Photo

Welcome to the Situation Room 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.

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Links to the older threads:
Operation Iraqi Freedom - Day 1 - LIVE THREAD ... 4557 posts
***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 2-LIVE THREAD*** ... 5704 posts
***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 3-LIVE THREAD*** ... 4751 posts
***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 4 - LIVE THREAD*** ... 6045 posts
***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 5 - LIVE THREAD*** ... 4869 posts
***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 6 - LIVE THREAD*** ... 5126 posts
***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 7 - LIVE THREAD*** ... 4110 posts
***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 8 - LIVE THREAD*** ... 3863 posts
***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 9 - LIVE THREAD*** ... 3532 posts
***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 10 - LIVE THREAD*** ... 2545 posts
***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 11 - LIVE THREAD*** ... 2774 posts
***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 12 - LIVE THREAD*** ... 2495 posts
***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 13 - LIVE THREAD*** ... 3885 posts
***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 14 - LIVE THREAD*** ... > 2869 posts

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Please have mercy on us dial up limited FReepers! Limit the big graphics, post links instead. A brief description of what the graphic is would help: To all who helped this get started, thank you! Special thanks to null and void for keeping these threads running on the weekends, Mo1 for the screamer, the AdminMods for their tolerance, mhking for the video links, and, of course,...

[Fitzcarraldo]

http://www.debka.com/

Baghdad pre-paid and chartered entire Hotel Cote d’Azur Decham at Syrian Mediterranean port of Latakiya near Assad family villa. Group may include Saddam Hussein or his sons, but this is not confirmed.

Top Iraqi officials hiding there since March 23, four days after coalition invaded Iraq, guarded by Syrian commando unit armed with anti-air missiles and Syrian naval missile boats securing port

US Special Operations Forces inside Baghdad: DEBKAfile reports 101st Airborne, Delta, Seal commandos raid presidential palaces and government offices

[blondee123]

No major checkpoints, no tanks, nothing. Scattered small units here and there. He sounded confused and maybe a little worried. "Something, to me, just doesn't add up.", he says.

Yes, where are they?

[AFPhys]

... enemy regimes will likely be even more fearful since we have shown we can and will topple their respective governments.

You have a good point there. Insofar as we are able to maintain the "heart & minds" of the civilian population in the midst of such a devastatingly effective attack, that may serve to enhance both the fear of the governments, and the respect of the civilians.

[Tree of Liberty]

Their carcasses (or what remains of them) are roasting in the sun, that's where they are.

[Fitzcarraldo]

Yes, where are they?

"Those in the know" are evacuating Baghdad?

[Tree of Liberty]

Exactly

[AFPhys]

It sounds more and more like Syria will jump to the head of the line.

[HarryCaul]

Possible they ran. And Syria would be the one place they could go easily, though probably not trust long term. Of course, a port city would facilitate further escape.

There's no chance US intelligence doesn't know if he's there, though, and I'd wonder why the administration doesn't mention it in public.

Didn't some Iraqi official show up in Syria in the early days?

[An.American.Expatriate]

Re: Women in the military - from 1981 through 1990 I served in several units with the US Army. From Basic Training though to my final assignment, women were an integral part of every unit. These fine women provide a valuable service to our country and they choose to do so!

The only thing that needs to be changed is the physical requirement - if a job description says that the soldier needs to lift and carry 100 lbs, the standard must be the same.

The Women in the Army myth died! None of the "horrors" claimed before this was instituted have come to pass.

We shudder when a fine young soldier such as PFC Lynch is captured because we know what horrors may await her - but she chose to serve her country and knew what could happen. We should not call into question the services of our brave women soldiers - they have earned our respect!

[Professional]

98 degrees!? That's too hot, let's surrender now! We have been told repeatedly, we can't fight in heat, mountains, desert, trees, on the water, in the air...

[Tree of Liberty]

Fortunately, we'll have two fronts if/when we go after Syria: Iraq and Israel. Keep in mind, though, that when we go after Syria, we'll also have to go after Lebanon at the same time.

[blondee123]

It sounds more and more like Syria will jump to the head of the line.

They are not on Bush's & Rummys "most favorite" list anyway. Well, while we're in the neighborhood.......

[An.American.Expatriate]

Anybody got a BagCam up?

If / when somebody sees US / Brit forces on a BagCam - Snap Shot it a and SHOUT!!

[HarryCaul]

I don't think invading Syria is a real option for several reasons, not the least of which is that Americans know nothing about the country.

Also, I think they'd be a tougher fight. Probably more motivated, more modern equipment, etc. We'd win, of coruse, but probably at a higher cost than Iraq has been.

Of the remaining Axis of Evil, I think we're planning to covertly encourage change in Iran and let South Korea deal with North Korea (in diplomatic terms). I haven't seen much hint on plans for Syria, though.

[Professional]

Of course, we don't want our troops so afraid of surrendering, simply because they are women, that they fight in a suicidal manner. What if others in the unit WANTED to surrender, but she didn't? Some very serious thoughts on this will be discussed by higher ups and politicians for years to come.

[Straight Vermonter]

I heard someone on the radio today, G. Liddy maybe, who said British SAS had stopped suicide bombers from Syra in western Iraq. The person said we should let them come so we can mop up as many of the Islamakazis as we can while we're there.

It made sense to me. If they want to charge our tanks with AKs then let's thin the herd.

How do you think they "stopped" them? My guess is they already have thinned out the herd.

[An.American.Expatriate]

HOW DARING 'MIDNIGHT BALLET' BROUGHT PFC. JESSICA BACK FROM THE ENEMY'S EVIL CLUTCHES ^

More info on PFC Lynch's rescue. Does the media think it is "cute" to refer to her as PFC Jessica? GRRRRRRRRR

[chigung]

6 miles to Bahgdad!

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=2500010

[An.American.Expatriate]

I refer you to:

The Articles of the Code of Conduct

ARTICLE I:

I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.

ARTICLE II:

I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.

ARTICLE III:

If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and to aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.

ARTICLE IV:

If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information nor take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them in every way.

ARTICLE V:

When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country or its allies or harmful to their cause.

ARTICLE VI:

I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free.

I will trust in my God and in the
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

[Professional]

North Korea, just a thought. We try diplomacy with them. If they are unreasonable and really do appear to be on the verge of a first strike, or plan on becoming a rogue with a large arsenal of nukes, possibly selling them to others, we act first. We'd need to quickly destroy their front line troops and bomb their nuke plants. Considering our firepower, we could possibly accomplish this without serious losses on the South side?