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

Syria was never out of the "top five" terrorist sponsor nations ... they simply didn't quite make it into the "top three", though I probably would have put them ahead of Iran ... they do make it to "top three" now!

1,401 posted on 04/13/2003 11:00:13 AM PDT by AFPhys (((PRAYING for: President Bush & advisors, troops & families, Americans)))

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

Security guard with Sadler did return fire....and Sadler was very glad he did.

_____________

Anyone hearing these "embed" reports on CNN? Commanders actually shared "all communiques, position maps and battle plans" with them IN REAL TIME!

They loved it!

1,402 posted on 04/13/2003 11:01:26 AM PDT by Timeout (I see happy!)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

... the UN Charter is not the US Constitution ... Sing it loud and sing it strong, sister!

1,403 posted on 04/13/2003 11:05:09 AM PDT by AFPhys (((PRAYING for: President Bush & advisors, troops & families, Americans)))

I lowered a 3-star General to "Lt. Col.", raised a Brig. Gen. to a Maj. Gen., and called Jessica, Jessica. We are an informal country. PVC Lynch does deserve our respect.

What an educational month this has been. Who knew there were so many "Als" in Iraq? (^;

Al Samoud
Al Qaim
Al Jazeera....

(^;

1,404 posted on 04/13/2003 11:05:43 AM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl ("You're free and freedom is beautiful." - President George W. Bush)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

I read the posts about that early CNN foray into Tikrit. One Freeper said, "CNN RETURNED FIRE!" LoL!

CNN "shooting back" sets a dangerous precedent <-- Link

1,405 posted on 04/13/2003 11:07:17 AM PDT by Cboldt

To: Lauratealeaf

... some looters came across another stack of munitions and instead of looting them, reported the find to an Iraqi policeman ...

This is the type of cooperation I am excited to see! With this going on, it isn't going to be long before all the Chem/Bio/Nuke junk is unearthed by the diligent Iraqis!

IgnoranceIsBlix must be spinning at the swift success at our US military "arms inspection team".

1,406 posted on 04/13/2003 11:08:16 AM PDT by AFPhys (((PRAYING for: President Bush & advisors, troops & families, Americans)))

Our Commanders are super-humanly compassionate re. CNN, imho.

1,407 posted on 04/13/2003 11:08:36 AM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl ("You're free and freedom is beautiful." - President George W. Bush)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

LOl
and now you made Jessica Lynch into a piece of tubing
it's PFC, not PVC

I screw all of the up too
to stay safe I usually say the high ranking military dude on the news

lol, cover my butt that way

1,408 posted on 04/13/2003 11:12:04 AM PDT by SoldiersGirl (Land of the Free..because of the Brave)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl; AFPhys

...Private Jessica Lynch Welcome home American soldier!

1,409 posted on 04/13/2003 11:12:19 AM PDT by MEG33

Reuters - it figures, lol!

Gun control 'advocates' are already disarming the newly freed Iraqis in Basrah...implying that they shouldn't be able to defend themselves - from someone like Saddam! Armies of unbelievably blind and historically ignorant socialists are armed with mighty dangerous pens.

1,410 posted on 04/13/2003 11:15:46 AM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl ("You're free and freedom is beautiful." - President George W. Bush)

I apologize... I'm just so burned at the disrespect the lamestream press pays our fighting forces that I'm short tempered about it. Thanks for understanding that.

1,411 posted on 04/13/2003 11:16:15 AM PDT by AFPhys (((PRAYING for: President Bush & advisors, troops & families, Americans)))

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT UPON ARRIVAL FROM CAMP DAVID
The South Lawn, 12:53 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Today is a great day for the families, comrades, loved ones of the seven missing in action who are free. I'm really pleased, for all those who have been praying for their safety, that they are safe.

We still have missing in action in Iraq; we will continue to look for them. We pray that they, too, will be safe and free one of these days. But it's just a good way to start off the morning, to have been notified that seven of our fellow Americans are going to be home here pretty soon, in the arms of their loved ones.

I'll answer a few questions. Scott.

Q Mr. President, Secretary Rumsfeld said today he thinks Syria is harboring some Iraqi leadership. Could Syria face military action if they harbor these people?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, Syria just needs to cooperate with us. We've made -- I made that clear on Friday. I will, if need be, reiterate it today. The Syrian government needs to cooperate with the United States and our coalition partners and not harbor any Baathists, any military officials, any people who need to be held to account for their tenure during what we are learning more and more about. It was one of the most horrendous governments ever.

Q Could they face military action if they don't cooperate? THE PRESIDENT: They just need to cooperate.

Q You have been talking a lot about prayer and today is Palm Sunday. What role do you think faith and prayer had in this rescue --

THE PRESIDENT: I think it played -- first of all, I know it helps sustain and comfort those who mourn, those who are worried, those who are concerned about their loved ones. You know, I went to the hospital on Friday and met some of our brave troops and their families. And a lot of them told me that they had been sustained by prayer, been comforted by the Almighty during what had to have been incredibly difficult times for them -- to get the phone call that a loved one had been wounded or hurt, and then not knowing whether the person would live -- and then being able to be reunited with them here in Washington.

They told me that they felt like prayers had been answered. Prayer is powerful. One of the great things about this country is a lot of people pray, and I know a lot of people are praying for the families of those who grieve and the families of those who wonder whether or not their loved ones will ever return.

Q Mr. President, some of our colleagues in Iraq are saying while the Iraqis are grateful that the coalition forces freed them from Saddam Hussein, they're frustrated and even scared about the chaos, the looting going on.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. You know, it's amazing, the statue comes down on Wednesday and the headlines start to read: oh, there's disorder. Well, no kidding. It is a situation that is chaotic because Saddam Hussein created the conditions for chaos. He created conditions of fear and hatred. And it's going to take a while to stabilize the country.

But just like the military campaign was second-guessed, I'm sure the plan is being second -- but we will be successful. And there will be -- let me finish, please -- there will be more stability. There will be more medicine; there will be more food delivered over time. And it's happening as I speak.

Have you got a follow-up question?

Q I just want to ask what your message is to the Iraqi people who are wondering about --

THE PRESIDENT: You're free. And freedom is beautiful. And, you know, it'll take time to restore chaos and order -- order out of chaos. But we will.

Yes, John.

Q Sir, given the success of American military forces, is this a message that people like Syrians and the North Koreans should take to heart? Do you think the North Koreans are taking it to heart?

THE PRESIDENT: I think that people have got to know that we are serious about stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction and that each situation requires a different response. But we are making good progress in North Korea. We have made it clear that we think that the best way to deal with their proliferation is through a multi-national forum. It looks like that might be coming to fruition. That's very good news for the people in the Far East who are concerned about North Korea and their willingness to develop nuclear weapons. We're making progress on all fronts.

Q Do you think there are weapons of mass destruction in Syria?

THE PRESIDENT: I think that we believe there are chemical weapons in Syria, for example. And we will -- each situation will require a different response and, of course, we're -- first things first. We're here in Iraq now; and the second thing about Syria is that we expect cooperation. And I'm hopeful we'll receive cooperation.

All right. Have a beautiful day.

Q When do you think you'll declare a victory? And will you be the one to declare victory if it comes?

THE PRESIDENT: Did you watch my press conference on Friday?

Q I did.

THE PRESIDENT: Do I need to say it again, then? Surely, you watched -- (laughter.)

Q Tommy Franks is going to call the shots? (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: Listen, we set clear objectives here in Washington. We gave our military what they needed to achieve the objectives. And when those objectives are met, we will hear from our commanders on the ground that they have been met. And that's when the so-called "victory declaration" will come forth.

Q Mr. President, will you go on national television when the time is right?

THE PRESIDENT: I'm on national television right this second. And it's an honor to be here on national television. And it's a great day to be on national television -- seven Americans are alive. Seven people who were missing are now alive. And I am so pleased for their families and loved ones. It is -- Patsy, have you got anything?

Q Yes, sir. Now that there's a vacancy on the axis of evil, is Syria a good candidate?

THE PRESIDENT: We will deal with each situation as it arises. We're making progress on the Korean Peninsula. Everybody knows our position, which is that we expect there to be a nuclear weapons-free Peninsula. The good news is it's a position shared by the Chinese; it's a position shared by the South Koreans; and it's a position shared by the Japanese. So we've got common interests, and working together, I am very hopeful we'll be able to achieve those interests, diplomatically.

Have a great day. Thank you.

1,412 posted on 04/13/2003 11:18:49 AM PDT by The Wizard (Saddamocrats are enemies of America)

To: SoldiersGirl

PVC....ROTFL!!!

PFC Lynch.

To quote SoldierGirl, "i suck." {^:

1,413 posted on 04/13/2003 11:20:15 AM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl ("You're free and freedom is beautiful." - President George W. Bush)

MSNBC Breaking News Alert... Iraq's nuke cheif in custody, more leaders captured.

1,414 posted on 04/13/2003 11:20:53 AM PDT by kcvl

You're welcome..I understood.

1,415 posted on 04/13/2003 11:20:54 AM PDT by MEG33

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

I agree that Reuters is a liberally-biased reporting service, but the gist of the article is interesting. Journalists, like the REd Cross, traditionally ejoy some measure of protection on a battlefield. That measure of protection is due in part to their (traditionally) going unarmed. CNN using armed journalists is like the Red Cresent using ambulances as attack vehicles, in that soldiers can no longer assume a journalist is NOT an enemy combatant.

1,416 posted on 04/13/2003 11:25:51 AM PDT by Cboldt

Thank you for posting the President's comments, Wizard. He looked so tired at Walter Reed Hospital the other day. He looks years younger today. The prison doors were opened and our POWs were freed. What a day!

1,417 posted on 04/13/2003 11:26:25 AM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl ("You're free and freedom is beautiful." - President George W. Bush)

I feel good just reading this.Did you see the Syrian Ambassador this morning..He has taken lessons from Baghdad Bob!

1,418 posted on 04/13/2003 11:27:48 AM PDT by MEG33

I like to think that today those people are left wondering what world they were living in....Rummy would call it the "Old World". I just hope they're saying: "Je pense que je suis abusif".

I hope the French are finally realizing : "Je suis stupide"...but probably not...

1,419 posted on 04/13/2003 11:28:08 AM PDT by texasbluebell

Thank you for posting Gw's statements!
I'm just sitting here in tears(joyfull) watching the reaction of SPC Johnson's family! Incredible!

1,420 posted on 04/13/2003 11:28:23 AM PDT by Jackie-O ("WANKER" is my new term of endearment for the Antis!!)

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Operation Iraqi Freedom

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