The first frontal engagements between united States troops marching on Baghdad and Saddam Husseins Elite Special Republican Guards began near Al Amarah, a small town on the Tigris River, and at al Kut, some 100 miles upriver to the Northwest.Al Amarah is geographically the southern gateway to Baghdad.The United States led column driving towards Baghdad along the easternmost route up the Tigris River led by 1st and 2nd Marine Divisons.Sunday, they bypassed Basra, leaving behind the 7th British Division to assert control over Iraq's second largest city and dashed north towards Al Amarah. Waiting for them were three Iraq divisions,...
