Free Republic

<p>SOUTH CENTRAL IRAQ - A father comforted his 3-year-old daughter in the hospital bed next to his 5-year-old son. A farmer said he was shot after being forced to dress like an Iraqi soldier to set up an ambush. A college professor was fleeing the battle in his city when he was wounded.</p>

It is heartbreaking to watch soldiers burning pictures of their own children and letters from loved ones, writes pool reporter Martin Dillon. Army rules force them to destroy any personal items which may give interrogators an advantage if they are captured, says Dillon, of the Manchester Evening News, who is with the 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery in Iraq. When mail arrives there is a sense of elation among the men. But this is soon tinged with sadness as they realise the precious messages and photos from home must be incinerated. The only details carried by the troops are...

Invaders find no easy ride in southern Iraq By Rosalind Russell SOUTH OF BASRA, Iraq, March 23 (Reuters) - As the convoy of British tanks and trucks rolled by, the Iraqi boys on the side of the road were all smiles and waves. But once it had passed, leaving a trail of dust and grit in its wake, their smiles turned to scowls. "We don't want them here," tutted 17-years-old Fouad, looking angrily up at the plumes of grey smoke rising from the embattled southern city of Basra, under attack from U.S. and British forces for more than two days....