Free Republic

<p>BAGHDAD, Iraq -Iraqi military commanders, certain they could never counter overwhelming American air power, thought they could defeat the United States by making a bloody stand for Baghdad that would so sicken the American public that the United States would withdraw its troops and go home.</p>

United States Army and Marine divisions reached the outskirts of Baghdad today after surging past the remnants of Republican Guard units in a two-pronged attack that met only "sporadic" resistance. "I would say that the Medina and Baghdad Divisions are no longer credible forces," Maj. Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal of the Army, vice director for operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the Pentagon. American officials said artillery fire and the daily, relentless waves of airstrikes had destroyed the two divisions, which were to protect the southern approaches to the capital. The Republican Guard is regarded as the...

U.S. Warplanes Raid Targets Near Karbala 54 minutes ago By HAMZA HENDAWI, Associated Press WriterBAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. warplanes raided targets early Sunday near Karbala where there are believed to be concentrations of Republican Guard forces, forty-five miles south of Baghdad. AP Photo (AP Video) Latest news: · U.S. Warplanes Pound Republican Guard AP - 9 minutes ago · U.S. Warplanes Raid Targets Near Karbala AP - 54 minutes ago · Bush: U.S. Fights 'Desperate' Iraq Troops AP - Sat Mar 29,11:26 PM ET Special Coverage   Several loud explosions rocked Baghdad again late Saturday and early Sunday, many around...

U.S. Warplanes Raid Targets Near Karbala By HAMZA HENDAWI, Associated Press Writer BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. warplanes raided targets early Sunday near Karbala where there are believed to be concentrations of Republican Guard forces, forty-five miles south of Baghdad Several loud explosions rocked Baghdad again late Saturday and early Sunday, many around the southern fringes of the city where Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s best trained fighters are thought to be dug in. As a heavy string of blasts lighted up the horizon, buildings downtown shook over and over. At one point, an orange fireball illuminated the sky, followed...