*** 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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Mhking's links:  Updated links 

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Live Video/Audio Feeds:
(If you can't reach a feed by clicking on it, make sure to try copying the address, and pasting it in the appropriate browser -- WMV=Windows Media Player; Real=Real Player/RealOne; MP3=WinAmp/Audion/other streaming MP3 player; QT=QuickTime)

FR: Final Update: Streaming Video/Audio Links (Includes info & HTML/Javascript code on how to create your own multi-feeds page)

Abu Dhabi TV (Real - Arabic)
BBC/Baghdad Cam(Real)
BBC News 24 (Real - 56)
BBC News 24 (Real - BB)
CablePulse 24 - Toronto (WMV)
CBS/Baghdad Cam (Real)
CBC RadioOne - Toronto (QT)
CN8 Philadelphia (Real)
CNN+ (Spain) (WMV)
CNN Baghdad Cam (WMV)
CNN Radio (WMV)
CNN via KGW/Portland (Real - down)
DW-TV Berlin (Real - In German Where Available/Some programming in English)
ITN News Channel - London (Real - Audio Only)
MSNBC/NBC (WMV/Feeds page)
MSNBC (WMV - Audio Only - Headlines & Breaking News)
N-TV Berlin (Real - In German Where Available)
NWCN, Seattle/Portland (Real - down)
Sky News (56K - WMV/Copy/Paste)
Sky News (BB - WMV/Copy-Paste)
SNN6 Sarasota, FL (Real)
WSVN-TV/DT Miami (WMV - Fox Affiliate)

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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,...

[An.American.Expatriate]

Bombs shake Baghdad from direction of airport ^

[oceanperch]

Good Read.

I could not imagine having an appitite at a time like that. Kudos to the reporter for his nuturing nature. LOL

Sounded like his reporting went from the mayhem to caring for the family in his foxhole. I would think anyone soldier or reporter needs moments of love and caring to keep their sanity at a time like this.

[An.American.Expatriate]

Hovering spy plane helps rout Iraqis ^

[An.American.Expatriate]

Forces clear path to Baghdad ^

[An.American.Expatriate]

Michael Kelly in Iraq [Front line report] ^

[Tree of Liberty]

If I remember correctly, women in the military during Reagan and Bush's respective administrations were not assigned to front line ops as a matter of policy. Clinton changed that, and that's especially where I fear the natural chivalry of an honorable man will get him, and the woman he might attempt to protect, killed. I don't have as much of a problem with women in the rear echelon, but I question the need to train them as a fighting force, instead of just for a particular job, if they would not be going to the front.

The issue of sex HAS been a pretty big issue. In the Gulf War, for instance, over 5.5% of women couldn't deploy with their units. Almost all of that due to pregnancy. Men have no such issue.

[Tree of Liberty]

I haven't seen much hint on plans for Syria, though.

I think the SecDef's press conference a few days ago started greasing the skids for that.

[An.American.Expatriate]

The Viet Cong Admiration Society retreats (ANN COULTER) ^

[Tree of Liberty]

Fox - new tape of Lynch's rescue.

[AFPhys]

I highly recommend the article "Iraqi deserters describe front-line despair"

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/883692/posts

This describes pretty well the effect of the US bombing, and would explain to the lamestream BBC reporter where the Iraqi military has gone if he would simply take a peek at it.

[oceanperch]

Beautifully put.

[An.American.Expatriate]

If I remember correctly, women in the military during Reagan and Bush's respective administrations were not assigned to front line ops as a matter of policy.

You dont recall correctly. My first duty assigment was to E Battery (Target Aquisition), 25th Field Artillery, 2nd Infantry Division (Korea) [82-83]. A Target Aquistion Battery is VERY close to the front. We had several women assigned.

The "chivalry" argument has been raised often but never proven. Indeed other armies which allow women have also not reported such problems.

Where is the "front"? PFC Lynch was assigned to a Maintenance Battalion - these normally do not see action. Thats why all soldiers need to be trained and prepared for all circumstances.

The pregnancy issue is one of the few that can be raised. My opinion has always been that if a female soldier becomes pregnant, she should be encouraged to leave the service as the soldier role and the mother role don't mix. A soldier, upon elistment, basically gives the military full rights to thier time for the duration of the elistment - marriage, children, family etc, all normally suffer greatly during this time - but the "first" commitment must always be the military. A mother can not say this and she should therefore voluntarily leave the service.

[oceanperch]

MsNBC is replaying Bob Arnet and video just coming in this hour.

The live post here was pretty intense.

[umbagi]

I was going to hit the rack, too (for the second time), but yo! NTV BagCam just cut to the Ministry of Information!

Baghdad Bob's on, live!

u

[An.American.Expatriate]

U.S.: Iraqi Troops on Verge of Collapse

[An.American.Expatriate]

OOHHHHHHH - tell us more umbagi!! This should be good.

[The Wizard]

FOX: Kelly White: Collapse of Iraqi forces near

[Tree of Liberty]

I need to get to bed. See everyone tomorrow, hopefully with our troops rolling in front of the Bag-cam.

[blondee123]

Found this on another site, worth sharing:

posted Wed, 02 April 03 17:43
Subject: Martin Savidge Interview - Phone Calls To Home
(CNN live interview with Martin Savidge on Sunday, 30 March 2003)

Martin Savidge of CNN, embedded with the 1st Marine battalion, 1st Marine Division, was talking with 4 young Marines near his foxhole this morning live on CNN. He had been telling the story of how well the Marines had been looking out for and taking care of him since the war started. He went on to tell about the many hardships the Marines had endured since the war began and how they all look after one another.

He turned to the four and said he had cleared it with their commanders and they could use his video phone to call home. None of these Marines had been able to talk with their families for many weeks. The 19 year old Marine next to him asked Martin if he would allow his platoon sergeant to use his call to call his pregnant wife back home whom he had not been able to talk to in over a month. A stunned Savidge, who was visibly moved by the request, nodded his head - yes. The young Marine ran off to get the sergeant.

Savidge recovered after a few seconds and turned back to the three young Marines still sitting with him. He asked which one of them would like to call home first?
The Marine closest to him responded with out a moments hesitation,
"Sir, if is all the same to you we would like to call the parents of a buddy of ours. Lance Cpl Brian Buesing of Cedar Key, Florida, who was killed on the 23rd of March near Nasiriya. We would like to see how his folks are doing and let them know their son died bravely."

At that Martin Savidge totally broke down and was unable to speak.
All he could get out before signing off was,
"Where do they get young men like this?!"

[umbagi]

He said a little in English, then cut to Arabic...

I'm trying to find a link with a translator, but Sky's down and I haven't had any luck elsewhere.

Arabic means he's trying to rally his dying troops, rather than further the Arnett front in France and Germany.

u