***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 25 - LIVE THREAD***

Everywhere! | 13 APR 03 - Palm Sunday | An.American.Expatriate

[Green]

YOung's father now saying he recognized his son also. Hasn't been contaced by military yet but said he recognized his son in the video on tv.

[MEG33]

Ronald young..Apache pilot father is on CNN.

[mhking]

Thank God. What wonderful news to wake up to....

[mystery-ak]

Im so happy for them.

[MEG33]

I thought they were dead..I had so little hope..I am overjoyed.

[Catspaw]

Just listening to Young's mother and father makes me overjoyed!

[mystery-ak]

I must admit that I feared the worse also.....Im kinda partial to chopper pilots...LOL.

[mhking]

From AJC.com (Ronald Young is from metro Atlanta; actually next town over from me!):

CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar -- U.S. Marines have found seven missing U.S. troops on the road between Baghdad and Tikrit, Gen. Tommy Franks said Sunday.

The father and mother of Lithia Springs prisoner of war Ronald D. Young Sr. told CNN at 9:30 a.m. today that they recognize their son on a video of the rescued servicemen. "I'm ecstatic," Ron Young Sr. said.

An Iraqi tipped off the Marines who were near Samarra and were closing in on Tikrit, the hometown of Saddam Hussein, that they would shortly "come in contact with a number of Americans," Franks told Fox News.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press," said two of the Americans have gunshot wounds.

The families of the seven are being notified, Rumsfeld said.

The phone at the Youngs' Lithia Springs home rang many times after the news broke about 6:45 a.m. but mostly it was news media.

News reports initially said there were seven armed forces members recovered, then the number dropped to six.

"At first my husband was bouncing off the walls because [the initial report] said all seven all of them," said Kaye Young.

[Green]

Well, I just thought of Rita. Wonder if she is busy calling her sources so she can come on tv and report.

[MEG33]

These parents are so dear..I love the dad's mood..he probably will need to crash and burn by Wednesday!

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Thanks for the correction. It seems like they were abandoned by all of their captors.

The POW's still being alive may have been caused by two things. Saddam's death and the leaflet program. IMHO, the Iraqi soldiers didn't know what exactly to do with the POW's, but they did know if they harmed them and Saddam wanted them alive, then the Iraqi soldiers would meet the same fate or worse. They were probably waiting for orders directly from Saddam, and he was in no condition to give them. The leaflet program let the Iraqis know if they did harm our POW's, they would face war crimes charges.

[Catspaw]

Let me correct your post:

Well, I just thought of Rita. Wonder if she is busy calling her special sources so she can come on tv and report.

[Timeout]

Tim Russert just got a word in his earpiece:

Saddam's half brother, one of the 55, has been captured. No name given.

[Green]

LOL...so true

[Catspaw]

Young's parents are absolutely euphoric. I would be, too--but they'll crash & burn. But right now, let them celebrate!

[Jackie-O]

Rita and her special sources!! LOL
Off topic for a moment,,,Is she pregnant? Yesterday she really looked like she is..her face is really looking swollen like mine was at the end of my pregnancies.

[Timeout]

Bill Kristol: Looting is just the first stage of shopping.

LOL!

[Green]

Over on the morning talk show thread someone posted that Tony Snow's "below the fold" said that there was $85K in damages to the hotel rooms where Iraq Ambassador recently stayed. Good heavens!

[Catspaw]

Over on the morning talk show thread someone posted that Tony Snow's "below the fold" said that there was $85K in damages to the hotel rooms where Iraq Ambassador recently stayed. Good heavens!

Combover as Keith Moon?

[Timeout]

I read that article yesterday. It was $8,500, not $85k