***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 20 - LIVE THREAD***

Multiple ^ | April 8, 2003 | Various

[retrokitten]

What the hell is this guy doing? Lights are off, people are leaving! LOL!

[Nam Vet]

Not exclusive anymore. Another 'FReeperism' going nationwide/worldwide.

Nam Vet

[AFPhys]

I hope the success of Chiraq's meeting with Schroeder and Putin equals the success of his stunning diplomatic efforts during the past several months.

[Timeout]

First, let me say to you vets on this thread that the Army and Marines and Navy carriers have gotten terrific press. We haven't seen much coverage of the Air Force at all.

So, I think it's cool that the Air Force got the shot at Sadam. Way to go, fly boys!
__________

Also heard a report on CNN that pre-trained free Iraqis have now put on new uniforms of the NEW IRAQI ARMY and will be joining the fight very soon, possibly today. Wow! We're gonna get to see one Iraqi army destroy another Iraqi army.

Gotta go to work. See you guys later.

[thedugal]

well, if it did start on FR then word must travel fast. the nickname has crossed the Atlantic and is being used on the ground with our troops in Iraq. That's pretty impressive

[babaloo]

Arnot reporting that they are finding bags full of wigs and disguises in East Baghdad that have been dropped by the Feyadeen. Also mentioned outfits to make them look like pregnant women. He says the people are cheering the marines and that the feyadeen are shooting Iraqis on the way north to Saddam City. He says the slums are worse than you would find in Haiti or Africa.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Not in vain:

Link

Khuder Al-Emeri, 43, (left) working for the U.S. Marines 24th Expeditionary Unit as an interpreter, is reunited with local villagers after 12 years, Monday, April 7, 2003, in Qal'at Sukkar village, some 62 miles north of Nasariyah, Iraq. Khuder led an uprising in his village during the last Gulf War and fled to the United States in fear of reprisal from Saddam Hussein's regime. He now returns in hopes of rebuilding his village. WALLY SANTANA/AP

[null and void]

I just did a frame by frame, it's the cockpit that shows.

"The Day the Frame Stood Still"?

[BagCamAddict]

Hidden amoung the bias, some facts on the Palestine Hotel Incident Hotel hit 'deliberate': French TV ^

Snippets:

"The tank's turret is seen moving toward the Palestine Hotel, where foreign reporters have set up shop, and the gun carriage lifting and waiting at least two minutes before opening up.

"The French TV channel had positioned two cameras in two rooms facing the bridge as of 6.30am (11.30pm AEST).

"It had been very quiet for a moment. There was no shooting at all. Then I saw the turret turning in our direction and the carriage lifting. It faced the target," said De Ploeg.

"It was not a case of instinctive firing," he said. "

RANT TIME:

I am not now, nor have I ever been in the military. But even I know that in a case like this, the guys inside that tank were radioing back to command and explaining the situation and asking permission to take the shot. I have no doubt that the conversation went something like this:

"Tank 1 to Command: We're receiving small arms fire and RPG's from snipers on the balcony at the Journalist's hotel. Request permission to engage."
"Tank 1, this is Command. You are receiving fire from Journalists hotel? Confirm Tank 1. Over."
"Affirmative. Sniper on the balcony. Request permission to engage."
"Tank 1, RE-confirm that you are receiving incoming fire from the JOURNALIST's HOTEL -- THE PALESTINE HOTEL, with CIVILIANS PRESENT ??."
"Affirmative. THE PALESTINE HOTEL. Small arms and RPG's from the balcony near the roof. Request permission to engage."
"Tank 1, stand by for JAG consult."
"Tank 1 standing by."
"Tank 1, this is Command. Permission to engage only if you are fired upon again from that location. I repeat, permission to engage only if fired upon again from that location. Minimize collateral damage Tank 1, repeat, minimize collateral damage. Confirm you copy, Tank 1."

etc.

In other words, IT TAKES (COSTS) TIME TO AVOID CIVILIAN CASUALTIES, and that is how reporters can sometimes put OUR GUYS in harm's way. So shut up you ignorant journalists!!

[retrokitten]

I found some threads about Al-Jazeera...

Al Jazeera banned from boadcasting in Iraq
Al-Jazeera halts Iraq broadcasts
Jazeera to cover Iraq war despite ban on reporters

[The Hon. Galahad Threepwood]

John Derbyshire says:

"Last Friday night on Fox News there was an interview with an Arab reporter from a TV station in Abu Dhabi. What did this well-educated, well-dressed, well-spoken (in upper-class British English) Arab professional want us to hear? 'Yes, we know it's over. You will win. But we want to see you bloodied. We want to see the body bags. We hope the Iraqis will make a brave last stand. This is what all Arabs want to see. Our rulers, too — all the Arab rulers. If the American casualties taking Baghdad are high, then America will think twice before doing this again. That's what we want at this point.'"

Why do I suddenly not give a damn whether out guys shoot at Abu Dhabi cameramen?

[thedugal]

I heard a report on abc news that the people in Basra want us to leave. They interviewed a guy who said, Saddam was criminal, but at least he was Iraqi. ABC should have its fcc license pulled. Perhaps Qatar will give them an office next door to al-Jazeera

[Carolina]

I hope the success of Chiraq's meeting with Schroeder and Putin equals the success of his stunning diplomatic efforts during the past several months.

The Trifling Triumvirate

[johniegrad]

Anybody have any idea what all that gesticulating was about on the Bagcam earlier?

[melodie]

anyone have a pic on cbs bagcam? mine is all black

[Abigail Adams]

I saw that report too. Probably the locals are mistaken in thinking we're taking over their country. They don't want to be ruled by a US government. So in that context, his comments make sense. Of course the report didn't give the context, so it appears to be negative reaction to the coalition efforts in general. Sheesh!

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I like when Arnot talked about foreign fighters showing their passports at the checkpoint and declaring that they wanted to join the fight. They didn't know they were telling this to US Marines.

[epluribus_2]

probably mad that we bombed his favorite falafel joint when we splashed Saddam.

[retrokitten]

That is a great picture. *sniff*sniff*

[proust]

"Saddam is probably kissing Shub-Niggurath on the lips about now in the endless void... "

Awesome, obscure, Lovecraftian bump!