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April 09, 2003
US Marines Sweep Baghdad District In Night Raid
U.S. Marines swept through a northeastern district of Baghdad in the early hours of Thursday, blasting forces still loyal to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein with heavy artillery, mortars and machinegun fire. (Reuters) Looting in Baghdad Unchecked
An account of the anticlimactic fall of Baghdad by The Guardian's James Meek. Meek was with Marines guarding the oil ministry when some Iraqis were trying to loot it. My favorite quote: Heavy Work Up North
Sounds like there's fierce fighting in the north of Iraq, and as MSNBC's Lester Holt just pointed out, "we have no cameras in Tikrit" like we did in Baghdad. Line from reporter David Shuster: We had 900 planes pounding an area the size of California--now we have 900 planes pounding an area the size of Rhode Island. Unilateral Stephen Farrell checks in
Stephen Farrell Times of London on Fox: In Baghdad.. Been at Palestine and Sheraton hotels minders gone, Minister of Info gone... looting arounf city.. got sat phones and looked around... Went down elevator... looked at each other "all finished -- Chalass" and went.. Shias realized that Saddam was gone... where are Baath party.... clapped hand .. gesture for gone.. oil fires .... gone.. no relighting them.. artillary there.. soldiers gone.. no police... don't need a headline to tell you that the regime is gone Smith: Where did they go? People were takin things .. but also defacing Saddam posters .. scrawled Imam Ali.. founder of Shia.. we are here.. have been downtrodden.. people very very angry... More Berlin 1945 similarities
From The Independent Down grey, carless streets, I drove to the great bridges over the Tigris which the Americans had still not crossed from the west. And there, on the corner of Bab al-Moazzam Street, were a small group of mujahedin fighters, firing Kalashnikov rifles at the American tanks on the other side of the waterway. It was brave and utterly pathetic and painfully instructive. The reporter? One Robert Fisk There's also this : So I walked up to Corporal David Breeze of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, from Michigan. He hadn't spoken to his parents for two months so I called his mother on my satellite phone and from the other side of the world, Mrs Breeze came on the line and I handed the phone to her son. MEMRI Headlines
Sample headlines from the current news ticker at Middle East Media Research Insitute (MEMRI:) EDITOR OF THE SYRIAN RULING PARTY DAILY AL-BA'ATH MAHDI DAKHLALLAH WROTE: 'SOME OF THE BA'ATH PARTY'S IDEOLOGICAL IDEAS MUST BE RECONSIDERED – THEY ARE OUT OF DATE.' (AL-SHARQ AL-AWSAT, APRIL 9, 2003) Sorry for the all-caps. A few more below. SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ARAB LEAGUE SAYS THAT THE U.N. LOST ITS CENTRAL ROLE, AND WILL PLAY ONLY A SECONDARY ROLE IN POST-WAR IRAQ. (AL-DESTOUR, JORDAN 4/8/03) Iraqi expatriates in Iran celebrated the fall of the Iraqi regime.
Says Walla, citing Reuters. There is said to have been dancing, throwing of flowers, and candy given to passersby. Embed Greg Kelly checks in
Greg Kelly: It is as quiet as it has been since the war began...re: jubilation...small pockets of jubilation.. thumbs up... nothing like the east side... here in west side.. this is where the fighting is... can still see battle debris.. people on this side are more timid.. on the east side there hasn't been as nuch combat .. also east side is Shia, here more Sunni muslims... more gov't workers Greta: How many people near statues this morning? Greta: What are you supposed to be doung Greta: After 3 weeks how do they keep their edge... Greta: What aout palace? Greta: anyone had Saddam sightings Embed Ollie North Checks In
Fox Embed Ollie North: Why didn't we see that statue when Jim McDermot was wandering around... this place rivals the slums of Calcutta.. the eastern side of the city... Saddam did that to the Shia and no one reported on this before...gunfire around... enemy AAA... small arms fire... Iraqi people are dealing with the Baath party and foreign fighters... they are NOT Iraqis.. other countries... ammo from countries like Jordan.. the city is NOT yet secure... people are finding firearms and are dealing harshly with Baath party officials Colmes: Any command structure on the other side? Unquotable Saddam
CSM via Lexis Nexis While interviewing the governor of a northern Iraq town just freed from Baathist rule, the Monitor's Ilene Prusher asked what the quotes on the wall behind his desk meant (this page). "I noticed that at the bottom of the two elaborate quotes, the names had been chipped out, and figured these were quotes by Saddam Hussein. But the governor did not want our interpreter to translate them. "Before you translate them you must remind them that Saddam says something and does something else. He says Arabs and Kurds are as brothers living together, and on the other hand, he gasses us at Halabjah." Extensive weapons search underway
U.S. officials told Fox News that U.S. intelligence officers with the CIA are on the ground in Baghdad and throughout Iraq trying to find scientists who would be able to point out where Iraq's weapons of mass destruction are or where they were made. The intelligence operation was described to Fox News as "extensive" Wednesday night. Radical Palestinians Lament Saddam's Fall
While many in Iraq and around the world are celebrating the fall of Baghdad, there is sadness and anger among radical Palestinian groups. Syria Not to Recognise Any U.S. Military Government in Baghdad
Syria, a staunch opponent of the U.S. war on Iraq, has said it would consider any post-war administration run by the United States military in Baghdad as an ”occupation government”. Nizar Khazraji update
From the article "Exclusive: Najaf Leaders Vie for Control, Power":
According to a well-known Najaf resident, business owner and local leader, who asked that he not be further identified, there are now three different opposition movements vying for control in the city, each under a different leader. He gave an indication of what may lie ahead for Iraq’s disunited people. According to this source, Nizar Al-Khazraji, a general in Saddam’s Ministry of Defense who defected in the 1990s and has been living in Denmark, is one of them. This appears to be new info (or at least speculation). The articles "After an Iraqi General Vanishes In Denmark, Questions Linger" and "Looking for Mr. Khazraji" have background info. See also "Whatever happened to Nizar Khazraji?" and "FORMER Iraqi army chief Nizar" (Props to reason.com/hitandrun and an anon commentator) News from the front
The End of the Beginning I thought last night's sortie would last forever. Compared to what we've grown used to, the radios were quiet. We flew our orbit, maintained presence, waited for something to happen. Time dragged painfully by. Then an A-10 was hit by surface to air fire while providing close air support over Baghdad. Everyone straightened their headset and turned up their radio. We got to help with combat search and rescue. Time speeded up. Cross-posted on my blog, as usual. The wingman of the stricken jet called out their location and situation. His voice betrayed only a hint of strain as he said his wingman was going to try to keep it in the air. Those A-10's can take a beating. Multiple redundancies in systems make them hard to kill, but this didn't sound good. The wingman reported in frequently, announcing their plans to divert to a closer airfield, but acknowledging that he wasn't sure they'd make it. He was low on gas, and worried that if his buddy went down, he wouldn't be able to patrol above him to keep him safe. We concentrated on filtering out the static and the noise and catching his every word. We tried with our prayers to keep that jet aloft. The next thing we heard was that the pilot who'd been hit was having difficulty controlling his jet, and thinking seriously about ejecting. It was at this time that I realized my hands were cramped from being clenched so tightly. I tried to relax. We heard nothing else on that frequency for several minutes. In the mean time we searched every source at our disposal for a hint of what was going on. Then it was confirmed that he'd ejected. When you hear about a pilot bailing out or a jet being downed over hostile territory, part of you freezes. It's a part that wants to cling to your last memory of that pilot - the memory of him or her alive and in control of the jet. The other part of you scrambles through a series of conditioned responses as your training takes over. You run checklists. You search for information. You gather information and prepare it for those who will soon be asking for it. It's a strange kind of schizophrenia that allows you to have two such completely different reactions simultaneously. In a matter of minutes, we learned that the downed pilot had been picked up by a Bradley fighting vehicle. He must have practically landed on top of it. I'll bet that pilot was never so glad to see anyone in his life, and I'll bet the troops in the Bradley were thrilled to be able to help the warthog driver. So it ended up being a pretty good night. *** We've been in a heightened security posture since the war began. Access to certain buildings has been limited to a single point of entry/exit, we've been carrying our gas masks and wearing our Kevlar helmets, and we've been unable to call home. The food and souvenir shops on base have been closed and the TCNs (Third Country Nationals) who work in them have been kept away. Most notably, the coffee shop in our compound has been shuttered. The caffeine addicts, deprived of their espressos and cappuccinos, have had to get by with chow hall coffee. In the face of what our ground troops are doing without, this is nothing. I haven't heard anyone complain about it. You would almost think nobody noticed. But when we landed this morning we were told we no longer had to carry our chem gear or wear our helmets, and you would have thought we'd been given a cash bonus. Somehow being relieved of that minor burden made us disproportionately happy. I guess it wasn't just being freed of the inconvenience. It was the reasoning behind the change that put a spring in our step. If we don't have to wear the gear, someone in a position to know believes we don't need it. That means we're making progress. That's good news indeed. And there was more. When we woke this afternoon the shops had reopened. The grumpy tailors were back at their sewing machines taking orders, the gold merchants were behind their counters, and - I had to look twice to be sure - smoke was rising from the Burger King trailer. The center of our compound smelled like charbroiled ground beef - the smell of freedom. There was even more good news. The "information minimize" restriction that prohibited calling home has been lifted. We will hear our loved ones' voices very soon. Afternoon stretched to evening, and the little plaza at the center of our compound looked like a college town after the students return from spring break. Troops sat around tables playing cards or dominoes. One was playing a guitar. I hurried through on my way to get in line for a phone, but even in my rush I felt something in the air. A note of joy. It was nothing compared to what I saw on TV moments later. As I waited to call home I watched live coverage of Iraqis welcoming our troops in Baghdad. They thronged around tanks and armored personnel carriers, waving, jumping up and down, smiling. Those of us waiting for phones forgot about keeping our place in line. We gathered around the television. Then they pulled that statue down. As the cable tightened around the bronze Saddam's neck we leaned forward, willing it to fall. And when it hit the ground and the crowd surged forward we cheered for them as they kicked and spat at the symbol of their enslavement. We celebrated with them as they subjected it to every indignity they could invent. We laughed at the image of them towing the severed head around the square, taking turns riding on it. We were joined to the hundreds in that square, celebrating the birth of liberty. We have miles to go before we rest. We won't forget that. Tikrit must fall, and Mosul, and we must guide a nation through the pitfalls that endanger every new republic. There is plenty of work left before we can go home. But for a few moments we basked in the jubilation of a newly-freed people, and it felt like we were already there. Steven Snapshot
Latest Reuters snapshot (8:37 p.m. ET) * Saddam's rule over Iraq crumbles as U.S. forces sweep into capital to ecstatic welcome and looting; Iraqis dance on giant statue of Saddam toppled by U.S. troops * Rumsfeld says fighting in Iraq will continue for some time; says there is some intelligence Syria might be helping Saddam's supporters flee Iraq * Cheney says U.S., Iraqi officials to meet in southern Iraq to begin planning for interim government; 14 exiles and about 29 from inside country to take part, leading Iraqi politician says * U.S. warplanes bomb Iraqis around Kirkuk in north; hundreds of Kurdish fighters advance toward the major oil hub * Iraqi U.N. ambassador says "game is over," he hopes Iraqi people will be able to live in peace * An Iraqi opposition leader accuses U.S. of failing to bolster security, ease humanitarian conditions in Iraq * U.N. Security Council envoys encourage private relief groups to act as human rights watchdogs in Iraq QUOTES Rumsfeld: "There is no question but that there are difficult and very dangerous days ahead and that the fighting will continue for some period." Iraqi ambassador to the U.N.: "The game is over...The work now is peace, we hope that peace will prevail." Leader of Iraqi National Congress Ahmad Chalabi: "People are hungry, their supplies are going to run out. Why are they not here? Why are they in Kuwait?" Mexican U.N. Ambassador Adolfo Aguilar Zinser: "The coalition forces that occupy Iraq must comply with international law. Nongovernmental organizations can be the eyes and ears of the council to ensure that international humanitarian law is respected." EVENTS -- Friday/Saturday -- * Putin, Chirac, Schroeder to meet in St Petersburg * G7 ministers to meet in Washington for talks on global economic conditions and aiding Iraq's economic reconstruction Thursday, April 17 -- * Annan to attend EU leaders' meeting in Athens, to meet Blair, Chirac, Schroeder CASUALTIES * U.S. -- 96 dead, 10 missing * Britain -- 30 dead * Iraqi military -- More than 2,320, according to U.S. military. Iraq has given no figures for its military losses * Iraqi civilians (Iraqi estimates as of April 3) -- 1,252 killed, 5,103 injured MILITARY ACTION BAGHDAD: U.S. forces secure center of Baghdad as Iraqi forces offer little resistance; combat phase of the Iraqi war in capital and south will end in a few days, U.S. commander says U.S. Marines topple statue of Saddam in central square to cheers of Iraqi crowd Looters gut official buildings, Finance Ministry ablaze Gunfire and explosions intensify at dusk, especially in western Mansur district; tank and artillery fire heard coming from western bank of Tigris U.S. Marines seize a headquarters of secret police, already being looted CENTRAL IRAQ: U.S. forces move through the site of King Nebuchadnezzar's ancient Babylon U.S. soldiers search for Iraqi forces around Hilla NORTHERN IRAQ: U.S. and Kurdish forces take strategic mountain, nine miles northeast of Mosul U.S. planes bomb Iraqi positions in Kirkuk but ground forces make slow progress. SOUTHERN IRAQ: Residents of Basra complain of a power vacuum as armed men roam streets, looting, pillaging. British officials say a local sheikh will take over leadership in Basra province. W. Va. Residents Want To Honor Iraqi
First, they have to find him. But when they do, residents of this small town want to thank the Iraqi man who helped save POW Jessica Lynch by bringing him to West Virginia. (AP) Arab Nationals React With Hope, Horror To Collapse Of Baghdad
As Baghdad fell to coalition forces Wednesday, Middle Easterners from Egypt to Iran reacted with a mixture of hope and horror. There was relief that Saddam Hussein's regime was gone and that the relentless rise in civilian casualties probably would cease, but the presence of Western troops in an Arab capital evoked deep dismay. Fleeing Saddam May Be Moving From House To House
IF SADDAM Hussein is still alive, the Iraqi dictator is on the run and probably moving every few hours from house to house, in the civilian areas of Baghdad still loyal to him, an expert claimed last night. Troops Using American Ingenuity To Solve Problems In Iraq
American soldiers in Iraq have encountered problems with their equipment and weapons, but have solved many of those problems with good old-fashioned Yankee ingenuity. Iraqi Opposition Pushing For Quick Setup Of New Baghdad Administration
An Iraqi opposition leader urged the U.S.-led interim administration Wednesday to leave the Kuwait City hotel where it has been working on plans to run the country and move quickly into Iraq. (AP) "Marines hold nuclear site"
From this:
Investigators Tuesday discovered that Al-Tuwaitha hides another city. This underground nexus of labs, warehouses, and bomb-proof offices was hidden from the public and, perhaps, International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors who combed the site just two months ago, until the U.S. Marine Corps Combat Engineers discovered it three days ago. "They went through that site multiple times, but did they go underground? I never heard anything about that," said physicist David Albright, a former IAEA Action Team inspector in Iraq from 1992 to 1997. Officials at the IAEA could not be reached for comment. [water table 1.5' below ground, very expensive to build underground, no one would have expected it, etc.] WHO WON THE WAR
SCOTLAND'S Cavalry have laughed off claims by the Paras that it was they who won the Battle for Basra. (Daily Record -- Scotland) Saddam Thrives as Collectible on eBay
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Although the fate of Saddam Hussein is unknown as his rule crumbles in Baghdad, he is thriving as a collectible on eBay. During the three-week war in Iraq, collectors have swamped the Internet trading site with more than 1,000 items, including Iraqi money, T-shirts and videos that capitalize on Saddam's notoriety. One seller touting the "Saddam dinar," one of two currencies used in Iraq, was quick to advertise his item as a piece of history certain to grow in value when the war is over. "With the current world situation, chances are this will be the last currency available coming out of Iraq, at least with Saddam's picture on it," the seller wrote. U.S. forces swept into the heart of Baghdad on Wednesday, helping jubilant residents topple a huge statue of Saddam and dragging its severed head through the streets. Iraq's "Saddam dinar" was by far the most popular item, with some auctions fetching about $40 for a few bills. At the end of March, one dollar could be exchanged for about 3,000 of the Iraqi bills. A search for Saddam Hussein on the eBay Web site yielded 900 hits, involving a wide variety of items associated with him. For anyone eager to get Saddam's autograph, 15 bidders have pushed the price of an autographed photo of Saddam to $203 with nearly a week left in the auction. Another eBay seller had a baseball bat engraved with the words "Bush basher" and a picture of Saddam tied up with a piece of rope. Other items available for purchase include a "cuddly" handmade doll, a clock with Saddam's face and the words "Time's Up!" and a roll of toilet paper with his picture on each sheet. Swiss government tightens freezes on Iraqi assets
BERN, Switzerland (AP) Switzerland said Wednesday it would freeze all Iraqi government and corporate assets in Swiss banks until the U.N. Security Council determines the rightful owners. The decision was the government's ''answer'' to last month's U.S. demand that other countries confiscate frozen Iraqi assets so the money could be used by a postwar Iraqi government, a Foreign Ministry statement said. ''The measures taken by Switzerland fulfill completely the request that all assets of the Iraqi state should be preserved for the people of Iraq,'' the statement said. The move tightens restrictions in compliance with U.N. sanctions imposed after Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait and therby makes it easier to turn over Iraqi assets to their rightful owners once the war has ended, the government said. At the end of 2001, the Swiss National Bank said there were $305 million in Iraqi assets in Switzerland. Brent Scowcroft does a 180
Brent Scowcroft is on NBC Nightly News right now basically saying that he was wrong and that he didn't say we shouldn't invade Iraq, just that we needed to get our priorities straight. Says "the fields are not very fertile in Iraq" with regards to democracy. Muslim Volunteers Battle U.S. In Baghdad
Volunteer fighters from Syria and other Arab lands turned up in surprising places as U.S. troops rolled to Baghdad _ and some were still battling for Iraq's cause after Saddam Hussein's regime had all but dissolved. Spain Says US Killing of Journalists a "Very Serious Mistake"
Tehran Times: MADRID -- U.S. forces made a very grave error when they fired at the hotel housing the foreign media in Baghdad, killing two journalists, one of them Spanish, the Spanish defense minister said on Wednesday. "Obviously yesterday they made a very serious mistake," Defense Minister Federico Trillot told reporters in Madrid. On Tuesday, a U.S. tank fired a shell at the Hotel Palestine in Baghdad, killing Spanish cameraman Jose Couso and Reuters cameraman Taras Protsyuk. Iraqi ambassador seeks asylum in Yemen
CAIRO, April 9 (UPI) -- Iraq's ambassador to Egypt, Mohsen Khalil, demanded political asylum in Yemen after the apparent collapse of the Baghdad regime, diplomatic sources said Wednesday. The sources said Khalil, who is also Iraq's delegate to the Arab League, also contacted the Russian Embassy in Cairo asking for political asylum. They said the Yemeni government expressed readiness to immediately receive Khalil's family but said it will study his own asylum request. The Iraqi ambassador received no answer from the Russian Embassy. Other diplomats at the Iraqi Embassy in Cairo made similar asylum requests with some Arab countries as well as Russia and France but have received no reply. Khalil worked as a media secretary for Iraqi President Saddam Hussein before he was appointed ambassador to Yemen Overwhelming care
From the Air Force Times: Troops and service agencies are being inundated with mass donations of everything from underwear and chili to compact discs and Bibles. German MP rules out European support for US threats against Iran
Berlin, April 9, IRNA -- A leading deputy of the conservative opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Party here Wednesday ruled any likely European support for the latest American military threats against Iran. "Of all the countries in the Mideast region, Iran enjoys democracy to a large extent and could serve as an alternative to people in other Arab and Islamic countries who are living under despotic regimes," the MP added. Pflueger said he planned to visit Iran this year, in an effort "to become more familiar with the latest political developments inside Iran". Baghdad erupts as US tanks roll into town
While this report covers scenes of jubilant Iraqis, it also provides evidence that warnings that the danger has not passed President George Bush was said by an administration official to be pleased with progress in the campaign, while his vice president, Dick Cheney, warned that "hard fighting" could lie ahead.are well-founded. Dozens of Iraqi and Arab fighters in civilian clothing were still holed up behind buildings or in sandbagged positions on the western side of the Al-Jumhurya bridge spanning the river Tigris that snakes through the capital. U.S., British Air Strikes Pound Iraqi City Of Tikrit
U.S. and British air strikes pounded Iraqi forces Wednesday in the northern city of Tikrit, the next focus of the war now that U.S. troops have largely secured Baghdad. (AP) World market unaffected by Iraq
News24: London - Global markets gave a muted response on Wednesday to the collapse of the embattled Iraqi regime, with stocks steady, the dollar mixed and oil and bond prices also largely unmoved. Even the extraordinary sight of jubilant locals in Baghdad joining forces with US marines to pull down a vast statue of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein brought just a shrug from investors. Stock markets rallied earlier this week in anticipation of a imminent victory for US-led forces, and analysts warned that further progress could be difficult. The head of European equities at JP Morgan, Nigel Cobby, said that the market would likely react to clear evidence that Saddam had been captured or killed but the rally was unlikely to be "huge". "More and more people are looking at the macro-environment, the outlook for economies, the number of profit warnings we're seeing, and the more favourable impetus from good developments in the Iraqi war I think are having less impact. "We've got to start concentrating back on the fundamentals and they, certainly whilst the war has been on, have been deteriorating," he added In New York, the Dow Jones industrials average gained 0.1% to 8 306.9 points in early trades, while the Nasdaq slipped 0.2% to 1 380.4 points. In Europe, The British FTSE 100 index ended 0.2% down at 3 861.4 points, the French CAC 40 index closed 0.2% lower at 2 888.0 points and the German DAX 30 index was up 0.3% at 2776.0 points in late deals. Before the high drama began in Baghdad, leading shares also ended weaker in Asia. The Nikkei-225 average of the Tokyo Stock Exchange skidded 0.9% lower to end the day at 8 057.61. The Hang Seng index lost 1.9% to close at 8 636.85 points in Hong Kong. Oil prices were mixed as worries about possible output cuts by the Opec producer cartel, which meets on April 24, counteracted events in Iraq. "The expectation is that Opec will now meet on the 24th and either reset quotas or move back to compliance," said Commerzbank analyst David Thomas. Reference Brent North Sea crude for May delivery rose eight cents a barrel to $24.65 per barrel in late deals. New York's benchmark light sweet crude for May delivery fell 12c to $27.88 a barrel in early trading. On the foreign exchange market, the dollar wobbled as worries about the outlook for post-war Iraq and the weak global economy dampened excitement about developments in Baghdad. "The news from Iraq has really lost its attraction for the markets," said WestLB economist Michael Klawitter. "It is assumed that Saddam will be out in the very near future - but what comes after that? We also have not properly sorted out the problems about the UN and its role in Iraq. There is certainly a lot of concern," he added. The euro rose marginally to $1.0709 from 1.0705 late on Tuesday in New York. The dollar stood at ¥120.47 against 119.87 on Tuesday. Gold, seen as a safe haven in times of uncertainty, gained slightly. The spot gold price on the London Bullion Market added $1.00 from the previous closing price to $323.75 per ounce. Bonds prices rose. The yield, or interest, on the 10-year German government bond fell two basis point, or 0.02 percentage points, to 4.19%. Bond yields and prices move in opposite directions. Nineveh's Population Swells with Fleeing Homeless
BAGHDAD, Iraq, APRIL 9, 2003 (ZENIT.org-Fides).- More than 10,000 internally displaced Christians have taken shelter from the war in Iraq at Nineveh in the north, near Mosul, according to local Church sources. The city's population of 25,000 has grown with the war refugees, and the humanitarian situation is worsening, the Fides news service reported. Fides said the city authorities in Nineveh, whose population is mostly Christian, have only small stocks of food and medicine. The local people are trying to collect food and other emergency goods for the new arrivals. Church sources told Fides that the city has no military installations which could be targeted by bombing. But they fear that the Kurdish forces only 30 kilometers (18 miles) away could end up bringing the city into the war, Fides said. Fides said looting has already been reported in parts of Iraq where police protection has faded. Unexpected side of the embed program
A while back I posted a summary of one of NBC embed Chip Reid's reports. Major Kevin Nave, who died in Iraq, apparently spent some time with Chip Reid before he died. Anna Marie Muhleck, a relative of Major Nave saw the post and contacted me. It seems that the Nave family would like to get in touch with Mr. Reid to hear more about the time they spent together. They have tried some of the email addresses on NBC News' contact page but have not gotten any reply. If anyone knows how to get in touch with Mr. Reid, please email me at [deleted], and I will forward the information to Ms. Muhleck. Thank you. Update: Ms. Muhleck has emailed to let us know that the family has now been able to contact Chip Reid. Thanks to all that helped out! USS Lincoln Released From Duty in Iraq
The Register Herald: EVERETT, Wash. - The Navy confirmed Wednesday that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has been released from duty in the Iraq war and is returning to its home port here. The carrier was relieved of duty by the USS Nimitz, spokesman Rick Huling said. No arrival date had been set, but families of crew members are expecting the ship in about a month and are planning a big welcome. It would be the first homecoming for a large unit involved in the war in Iraq. The Lincoln and its seven-ship battle group have been at sea nearly nine months, longer than any U.S. carrier group now on duty. Employees At Iraqi Embassy In Brazil Allegedly Burn Documents
Iraqi Embassy employees in Brasilia started burning documents Wednesday after TV stations broadcast images of a Saddam Hussein statue being toppled in Baghdad, police said. (AP) Arab nations in UN drop meeting request
AP - Arab Nations Drop Request for U.N. Meeting on Iraq "With the rapid developments, the Arab group has decided to put it on hold, pending more clarity in the situation" said one Arab envoy, speaking on condition of anonymity. US Still Thinks Saddam May Be Dead
As posted last night, this Washington Times story for Wednesday's edition quotes (on background) some U.S. officials as believing Saddam is dead or likely to be dead, in contrast with British intelligence. This Fox story shows the debate is still continuing: One source suggested the CIA already believes Saddam was hit, and a U.S. military official speaking on condition of anonymity told the Times, "They say there is no doubt he is dead." Journalists Snub Spain's Prime Minister
MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Journalists snubbed Spain's prime minister and Britain's foreign minister Wednesday, putting cameras, microphones and notebooks on the ground to protest the death of a Spanish TV cameraman killed by a U.S. tank shell in Baghdad. Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, arriving at the Senate for a meeting with his party's lawmakers, found the floor outside the chamber covered with equipment and 30 to 40 journalists standing in stony silence. Aznar has been a strong supporter of the war in Iraq, although Spain has not sent troops to fight alongside U.S. and British forces. Most of the journalists boycotted a speech in which Aznar expressed condolences for the death of Tele 5 cameraman Jose Couso, 37, killed Tuesday at the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad, and El Mundo reporter Julio Anguita Parrado, who died Monday when an Iraqi missile hit U.S. infantry troops south of Baghdad. In a further display of anger, about 20 Spanish journalists walked out of a news conference with British Foreign Minister Jack Straw and his Spanish counterpart, Ana Palacio, after just one question. The Pentagon has said U.S. troops fired on the Palestine Hotel, where many foreign journalists were staying, on Tuesday to respond to snipers in the area. Reuters cameraman Taras Protsyuk also was killed. Palacio said Spain was determined to press the United States for a thorough investigation. "I've been told there were circumstances that were at the least surprising," she said. Aznar said he had spoken with President Bush about the journalists' deaths, saying Bush "told me of his grief and solidarity." Aznar also was snubbed when he arrived at the lower chamber of parliament for the weekly question-and-answer session. A dozen photographers who usually film him taking his seat suddenly turned their backs and held up blown-up photos of Couso. Opposition lawmakers clapped. Two A-10s Hit In Recent Action; Pilots Safe
An Air Force fighter pilot ejected safely behind friendly lines on Tuesday after his A-10 Thunderbolt was brought down by ground fire while supporting ground troops fighting in Baghdad. Pilot Survives Dramatic Landing
Large chunks of her plane shot away, the hydraulic control system dead, Air Force Capt. Kim Campbell pushed and pulled at a backup set of manual controls, struggling to keep the anti-tank aircraft from crashing as it limped away from an ambush over Baghdad. Iraqi U.N. Ambassador Says "Game Is Over"
Iraq's U.N. ambassador, Mohammed Aldouri, said Wednesday "the game is over" and he hoped the Iraqi people soon would be able to live in peace. (Reuters) Iraqi diplomats and the war
The war is also beginning to affect the Iraqi regimes diplomates - AP has two stories: report about Iraqi stroming storming an Iraqi diplomatic office in London and a report about Iraqi employees at the Iraqi embassy in Brasilia who have begun burning documents. At the United Nations Mohammed Al-Douri, Iraq's U.N. ambassador said Wednesday ``the game is over'' - and that means the war is over. (AP/Guardian). Have they seen the BBC?
FoxNews reporting that two Al Jazeera journalists have been chased out of Basra by Iraqi citizens angered by that news agency's coverage of the war, which they perceived to be slanted. Apparently, the reporters were chased back to the Kuwaiti border, where the Kuwaitis permitted them safe passage. SHAMELESSLY BIASED EDITORIAL COMMENT: I suspect the New York Times is rethinking its plan to institute home delivery to Iraqi households. Myth Of Iraqi Military Strength Exploded
Saddam Hussein, commander-in-chief of the Iraqi army, has generally demonstrated very poor military judgement, which helps to explain how he lost his grip on power so rapidly after the US-led invasion. 4th Infantry Division Getting Closer To Moving Into Iraq
Around the clock, the 4th Infantry Division's tanks, howitzers and other vehicles are being hauled into this camp near the Iraq border to make sure they are ready to roll within a week, a commander said Wednesday. (AP) Aid agencies fear disorder in Iraq
BBC - Fears mount over Iraq disorder Lawlessness in Iraq could hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid to people in need, says the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR). Kurdish-U.S. Forces Seize Key Target Near Mosul; Kurds Rejoice As Saddam Loses Grip In Baghdad
Kurdish fighters, backed by coalition warplanes and U.S. Special Forces, seized a strategic peak near the northern commercial hub of Mosul on Wednesday and also were poised at the edge of the Kirkuk oil region. (AP) Fresh Troops To Target Saddam's Home Town As Hunt Continues
Even before fighting ends in Baghdad, American forces are turning their attention to Tikrit, 110 miles to the north – Saddam Hussein's home town and the likely last bastion of resistance of his regime. Burridge Commends 'Bloody Brilliant' British Troops
Air Marshal Brian Burridge, the senior Commander of the UK invading forces ran into potential diplomatic embarrassment yesterday after congratulating British troops on their "bloody brilliant" taking of Basra earlier in the week. A day at the Northern Front
Christopher Allbritton - from Back2Iraq - has just sent in an e-mail report by satellite phone, from Arbil, in Northern Iraq: "I returned from the front today south of Taqtaq near Chamchamal to a party. Arbil was celebrating from the images from Baghdad. Crowds have taken to the streets in the capital and were helping pull down statues of Saddam Hussein. I had the feeling that I was witnessing an event that would provoke the kind of emotion in Iraqis that the fall of the Berlin Wall did to the world in 1989.
(...) As it is, I just heard a rumor that's there's a press on for Kirkuk-Chamchamal tonight. I'm heading out. The soon-to-be-ex ambassador speaks
Outside the United Nations... FOX News Reporter: (several attempts) "Are you prepared to surrender?" Reuters would call that "defiant." UPDATE: In a further statement, he states "The game is over" and hopes the Iraqi people will have a "peaceful life" but refuses to answer any questions regarding Saddam. ("I have had no communications with Saddam Hussein, I have had no communications with Iraq.") CHEMICAL "SMOKING GUNS" FLAME OUT -- WHY?
It's a scene being replayed all over Iraq. American soldiers stumble upon a mysterious liquid or powder. The material is tested - and it's shown to be a nerve agent, or mustard gas. Embedded reporters and military flacks rush to tell the world that, at last, they've found the "smoking gun" that proves Saddam had banned weapons all along. More Saddam/Russia speculation
With a big FWIW, this says:
1812 GMT - Stratfor has received an unconfirmed report, citing sources in Damascus, that Russian President Vladimir Putin has brokered a deal with U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice, whereby Saddam Hussein will surrender Baghdad without resistance... See also "Update on Saddam/Russia" and "official statement from russia" Arab Media Chastened
washingtonpost.com: Arab Media Confront the 'New Rules of the Game' As U.S. forces took control of Baghdad, the opinion makers of the Arab world, almost unanimously opposed to war, confronted their impotence with realism and rage, denial and bitterness, and occasionally chastened hope. Ad will ask for boycott to end
The news reporter on WABC 770 radio in NYC just said that a boycott of French restaurants in NYC has hurt them, and there will be a full-page ad in tomorrow's NYC newspapers asking people to end the boycott. Iraqis Fought Bravely, But Without Direction
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein had a plan to take on the might of the United States: fight dirty and fight in urban areas to grind down a casualty-averse nation still haunted by the horror of ''Black Hawk Down.'' (Reuters) U.S. Says Syria May Be Helping Move Out Iraqis
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld charged on Wednesday that Syria might be helping Saddam Hussein's supporters to flee Iraq. Chirac unrepentant
According to the DT Chirac is in no mood to admit he was wrong. Janet Daley reports that neither are the left. Iraqi Embassy Stormed In London
Several men stormed the Iraqi embassy in London on Wednesday afternoon, breaking through the front door and ripping out any vestige of Saddam Hussein. (myTELUS) Jordanians Angry And Let Down After Baghdad's Fall
Jordanians poured out bitterness and disappointment on Wednesday at the rapid fall of Baghdad and the ecstatic welcome that some of their neighbours in Iraq were giving to U.S. troops. Many saw the event as the beginning of a new occupation in what is the cradle of Arab civilisation and was, to many, the biggest symbol of Arab defiance of the West. Jordanians are strongly opposed to war on Iraq and many believe the United States has attacked to control Iraq's oil, not to disarm it or liberate its people from tyranny. Adnan Hamed, 27, a salesman at a store in Amman's rich suburb of Abdoun, flung a box at a television set showing jubilant Iraqis cheering U.S. tanks and throwing shoes at a statue of President Saddam Hussein in the heart of Baghdad. (Reuters) Opposition Leader: Saddam Is Alive
A key Iraqi opposition leader says he has information that Saddam Hussein survived an airstrike in Baghdad and escaped from the capital with at least one of his sons. However, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said he did not know whether Saddam was dead or alive. "He's either dead, or he's incapacitated, or he's healthy and cowering in some tunnel someplace trying to avoid being caught. What else can one say?" Rumsfeld said. (CNN) Marines Find Alleged Iraq 'Torture Center'
U.S. Marines said on Wednesday they had found photographs of burned bodies and a device to deliver electric shocks in what they suspect was a torture center used by Saddam Hussein's security services. As to the "alleged" purpose the building was used for, The dark room "can't have been for good things," McAleer said, adding that it was a "reasonable assumption" that the building had been used as a torture center.Much more information in the story indicating the activities occuring in this building. Arabs Greet News Of Iraqis Celebrating U.S. Soldiers In Baghdad With Mixed Emotions
Among Arabs Wednesday, there was shock and disbelief, hope that other oppressive regimes would crumble but also disappointment that Saddam Hussein did not give them the taste of victory he had promised. "Why did he fall that way? Why so fast?" said Yemeni homemaker Umm Ahmed, tears streaming down her face. "He's a coward. Now I feel sorry for his people." As soon as word about Saddam's apparent end got out, Arabs clustered at television sets in shop windows, coffee shops, kitchens and offices to watch the astounding pictures of U.S. troops for the first time ever overwhelm an Arab capital. Some turned off their sets in disgust at scenes from Baghdad of jubilant crowds celebrating the arrival of U.S. troops, feeling betrayed and misled. (AP) Pentagon briefing Blog-U-Cast
Donald Rumsfeld and Gen. Richard Myers Rumsfeld: This is a good day for the Iraqi people... difficult days ahead.. but anyone seeing faces of free Iraqis has to say that this is a good day... tomorrow will be three weeks.. spectacular progress... liberated cities and towns.. now in Iraqi capital.. Iraqis losing their fear.. mood is tipping.. at least in Baghdad.. scenes are breathtaking.. reminds you of Berlin wall... Saddam taking his rightful place...Hitler..Stalin.. in place of failed Dictators... Americans, especially those in Michigan seeing their friends and relativres liberated... word to familes wof those who have given their lives for their country... their sacrifice made this possible... to those Iraqis who are not yet free... President Bush is committed.. will not stop until Saddam Hussein's regime is removed from every corner of the country... still much work to do... Baghdad in process... Rumsfeld continues: Must still secure Northern Oil fields... secure WMD.. must find out how they got their WMD capabilities..must find Iraqi scientists... rewards available.. must capture/kill terrorists in Iraq.. must get records of secret police.. must locate wealth of regime so it can be returned to Iraqi people... work to establish Iraqi interim authority...Coalition forces will not stop unti regime is removed.... Iraqi people.. reporters should be interested and willing to listen.. tell them you stories.. so that history will record... to reporters... this is your opportunity. Myers: (Shows map that shows controled areas) More must be done in Baghdad.. substantial risk.. must not become complacent To those holding POWs : Please allow Red Cross to examine them Q: Mentioned need to set up interim authority. When wil Garner be sent? Q: Gen Dun(?) plane in Baghdad Q: When peace come to iran Q: Gen Myers .. what forces left in north ? RG? Mr. Sec. are you feeling vindicated? Q: POW's What else can the military do? Q: Tipping point... sounds like you're announcing defeat with tikrit still ahead Q: Weeks or months Q: Could give us detail of regime leaders going into Syria... More on rewards... where did the regime loyalists go? Myers: Loyalists? Many were killed, some still fighting.. some trying to blend in .. steps to deal with that.. interidct roads Q: WMD -- how important to find? Concerned that they are ourt of country? Q: Sudden collaps-- impasct on North? Q: Clarification: Worried thatWMD material out of Iraq, or Intel? Q: What about Saddam Hussein (not one word answer? Q: Did you get him? Iraq is may may even have a free press one day.. Q:Command and control? Q: Is it your sense that Arab world has become convinced cause is right, or has it created many more people that want to come after Amreicans? Pentagon Briefing
Beginning now. Carried on most US cable stations, but you can listen live at the DoD website. Italian journalists freed in Baghdad
ABCnet » "They were prisoners for 13 days, Iraqi security men were stopping them from leaving," a spokesman for the paper Corriere della Sera in Milan said. Keep it neutral
Terry Moran, just reporting on ABC News from the White House, said some in the administration are feeling "vindicated". They have taken a lot of "rhetorical fire" for months over their "policy on Iraq", Moran said. Some have pointed out that President Bush always said that America "would be greeted as liberators", Moran noted, and then said, "As, now, they are." Moran looked distinctly displeased to be saying that last, showing it through tone, facial expression and body language - shrugging, tight-lipped, and clipped speech. Brit MP: Bush "a Semi-Imbecile"
The anti-war MP who called on Arabs to resist our forces "They have been sent to the quagmire of Iraq to kill and be killed. We all know, when someone embarks on a big lie, they have to go on lying until they construct an entire edifice of lies. 82nd Airborne in Iraq - Winning Trust
Fayetteville (NC) Observer: Soldiers' help wins trust among Iraqi people RUMAYTHAH, Iraq - The battle for Baghdad has yet to be won, but for some soldiers with an 82nd Airborne Division combat team south of the capital, the rebuilding process has begun. Al Jazeera Headlines
Could Saddam Hussein Be Striking A Last-Minute Deal? (earlier noted here) Will US Fabricate WMD Evidence? Iraqi Government Collapses (this is pre-statue) From Will US Fabricate WMD Evidence? With the US-led war to change the government of Iraq all but over there is still little sign of the weapons of mass destruction for which this campaign was fought.
Arabs Watch Saddam's Demise In Disbelief
Arabs watched in disbelief on Wednesday as Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, described by one Moroccan as the Arab world's ''best dictator,'' lost Baghdad to U.S.-led forces without a fight. ''It's like a movie. I can't believe what I'm seeing,'' said Adel, a lawyer in Beirut. ''Why didn't he just give up to start with if this was all the resistance he could muster? Instead of wasting all those lives for nothing.'' In Cairo, people gathered around television sets in shops and coffee houses watching U.S. troops toppling a huge statue of Saddam in the heart of Baghdad and Iraqis dancing on it. (Reuters) Body of missing Canadian Red Cross worker found
AFP/yahoo » The Canadian staffer, Vatche Arslanian, was killed after two vehicles clearly marked with the red cross were caught in crossfire on Tuesday. Int'l Red Cross now has suspended operations ... Aussies: UN Failed Badly
THE UN had failed its mission in the lead-up to the war on Iraq, the federal Government said yesterday, and that failure would reverberate as the world tackled other despotic regimes after the fall of Saddam Hussein. Defence Minister Robert Hill said the UN Security Council had failed the world badly. "They passed 12 years of resolutions (on Iraq) but it wasn't prepared to enforce them," Senator Hill said in Brisbane U.S. On Move In N. Iraq Oil Region
U.S. forces seemed poised to move on northern Iraq's oil fields to keep them out of the hands of local Kurds, reports said Wednesday. The Philadelphia Inquirer said the strategy is aimed at calming fears Turkey has about independence-minded Kurds taking control of the valuable installations. (UPI) Detroit News: Iraqi-Americans celebrate
Here's an article in The Detroit News about the celebration mentioned in Meryl's post below. Citizens United Press Release
G. Gordon Liddy and Country Music Super-Star Aaron Tippin to Lead All-Star Cast in “Rally for the Troops, Rally for America” Washington D.C. -- David N. Bossie, President of Citizens United Foundation, a nationally known and respected grassroots organization and sponsor of pro-American ads featuring former Senator and star of “Law and Order,” Fred Thompson, today announced that he and Ron Robinson, President of Young America’s Foundation, an educational organization promoting conservative ideas on our nation’s campuses, will host a rally to let the troops, their families and President George W. Bush know we support Operation Iraqi Freedom. WHEN: Saturday, April 12th at Noon Confirmed guests include radio talk show host G. Gordon Liddy Country Music sensation, Aaron Tippin, former Secretary of State of State and Fox News Channel contributor, Lawrence Eagleburger, Chairman of the Republican Issues Campaign Political Action Committee, Linda Chavez, former U.S. Army Green Beret, Major Bob Belavacqua and Weekly Standard Editor Bill Kristol. Other invited guests include Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Woods, and numerous others who have shown support for the troops and the President. As more speakers are confirmed Citizens United will be making regular announcements. In addition, Country Super Stars, Toby Keith, Travis Tritt and Charlie Daniels along with celebrity Ben Stein, will send messages to the troops through a special video to be shown at the rally. “It’s time that all Americans unite and show their support for the men and women fighting for our freedom, says Bossie. “The anti-war, anti-American protestors have too long been drowning out the voices of patriotic citizens who support our troops. How quickly they forget that if it were not for the brave, there would be no land of the free.” The rally is a family event that will feature noted speakers, musical entertainment and a chance to bring desperately needed supplies for the troops such as letters of support, baby wipes, sunscreen, lip balm, dental floss, toothpaste, toothbrushes and pre-paid international calling cards. “Scrolls” with signatures and short messages will also be drafted and sent to troops to be displayed in the various platoon camps in Iraq. This is an opportunity for all Americans to show support in a positive manner. For more information about the rally visit www.citizenunited.org. To interview David Bossie or for media questions, please call Jennifer Ellison of Shirley & Banister Public Affairs at (703) 739-5920 or (800) 536-7900.
Iraqi Americans celebrate
On Fox right now, what looks like thousands of Iraqi-Americans in a spontaneous celebration on the defeat of Saddam and his thugs. Dearborn has a large Iraqi immigrant population. Lots of American flags, and Iraqi flags from pre-Ba'ath Party days. Journo: US Tank Crew "War Criminals"
The killer attack journalists never saw coming Sidney Herald: "I thought the Iraqis were responsible. Americans would never do that - or so I believed. The crew member who fired the shot should be court-martialled. He's a war criminal." Long Haul for Pope Air Force Base C-130s
Fayetteville (NC) Observer: Long haul for Pope air wing The airplanes include Vietnam War-era E model C-130s, some of which were built as early as the 1960s. Australians are flying H model C-130s. The wing also has EC-130s, which are used to jam enemy communications. The wing also manages some C-17 cargo jets, which fly farther and faster and have more cargo capacity and fewer crew members than C-130s. General Buford Blount, commander of the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division, speaks out
"Not every area in Baghdad is secure, but the central part of the city, the heart of the city, is secure. The end of the combat phase is days away. There may be more combat in the north but in Baghdad and the south the end of the combat phase is days away (...) We have been in all the government buildings and there is no government left to speak of." He added that he expected humanitarian flights to Baghdad to start in "a few days' time". Leaders comments
Sky News has oneliners of official comments on the fall of Saddam's regime in Baghdad. Iraqis Killed After Ambush By Grenade
At times, this war has felt like an abstraction for the American side, a near-industrial exercise involving coordinated airstrikes against a specific grid on the map, followed by artillery strikes aimed with computer guidance systems, followed by tanks and then by infantry. Tuesday, while some of the killing was done from the air and with artillery, two Iraqi soldiers on a roadside were in grenade-throwing range, hiding in the bushes as they made what would turn out to be their final strike. The Iraqi attack came as U.S. forces moved to seize the last of three cities in a religious triangle here -- including Najaf and Karbala -- where Shiite Muslims are have generally opposed the government of Saddam Hussein, a Sunni Muslim. The tanks rolled first toward Hilla, a town about 50 miles south of Baghdad where Iraqi authorities say dozens of civilians have been killed in recent days in U.S. attacks. Tank and artillery fire in Baghdad West
Reuters reports » Tank fire and artillery have been heard from the western bank of the Tigris river in Baghdad as darkness fell across the Iraqi capital. Overview of War Day 21
For an overview of today (Wednesday) see
A.N.S.W.E.R. Press Release
We urge every anti-war organizer and concerned person to bring your friends, neighbors and family members to this all-important mobilization on April 12. Looter stoned to death in Basra
An Iraqi looter has been stoned to death by locals after stealing goods from shops in Basra. The man was part of a four-man gang caught by an angry mob amid widescale thieving in the city. Details of the incident are scarce but a British Army spokesman said locals took retribution by stoning the gang and one of the men died at the scene. Captain Jodie Smith, of the Royal Logistic Corps, which is overseeing aid delivery in the city, said: "Clearly we don't condone looting and or vigilante action and this incident will be thoroughly investigated...The people here have been repressed for so long by the regime and often they are stripping official buildings and Baath Party offices. But clearly there is a line that the local population has decided shall not be crossed and it appears the men who were stoned had stepped over it." Mass anti-war rally set for Saturday
The Stop The War Coalition says hundreds of thousands of protesters are set to attend a mass rally in London on Saturday. They say the rally will be held to commemorate the people who have died during the conflict. Meanwhile, anti-war groups are organising a meeting in London on May 25 with international lawyers to consider whether members of the British government, including Tony Blair, Jack Straw and Geoff Hoon have committed war crimes. Report: Israel, Jordan to talk on Iraq pipeline
From HA'ARETZ: Israel and Jordan will hold meetings about the possibility of restarting an oil pipeline from Iraq to Israel via Jordan that was closed 55 years ago, a National Infrastructure Ministry source said on Wednesday. Thoughts: Jordan is dependent on Iraqi oil passing through... this would box out pro-Saddam Syria and obstructionist anti-Kurd Turkey, reduce dependency on Shi'ite-controlled Basra, and give contractors other than the French and Russians something to rebuild. Appeals launched to help injured Iraqi boy
Newspapers and a charity reported hundreds of emotional messages from the public after a picture of Ali Ismail Abbas was published. The 12-year-old lost both arms and was badly burned when a missile destroyed his family's shack, killing his parents and eight relatives. He is being treated in north Baghdad's al-Kindi hospital, which is under severe pressure from casualties and only has access to rudimentary medicines. The Daily Mirror said e-mails, letters and phone calls had flooded into its offices from people stunned by the sight of the distraught boy. The newspaper launched an appeal today in aid of Unicef, to fund children in Ali's hospital and other children in the war. Blair has 'no doubt' on weapons of mass destruction
Tony Blair said he has "no doubt at all" that the weapons of mass destruction exist. He told MPs that "a six month campaign of concealment" had prevented both UN inspectors and coalition forces from making any significant discoveries. "It is not surprising we have not found these. We need the evidence of the experts and scientists but we are convinced that we will get it." Iraqis Topple Large Saddam Statue in Baghdad
Reuters report of historic event covered live here: BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. troops helped Iraqis pull down a 20-foot-high statue of President Saddam Hussein in central Baghdad on Wednesday and Iraqis danced on it in contempt for the man who ruled them with an iron grip for 24 years. Arab world incredulous at Saddam's fall
Arab world incredulous at Saddam's fall The overwhelming emotion for many was one of disbelief, tinged for some with disappointment after weeks of hearing Saddam's government pledge a "great victory" or fight to the death against "infidel invaders." "We expected resistance, not what happened," said Ghadah Shebah, a business administration student at the American University in Cairo. Update on Saddam/Russia
Fox reports: Today, a Russian Military Intelligence official told Al Jazeera's reporter in Moscow, that there is or have been efforts by Russia to negotiate a deal, that would get Saddam out of the country in order to avoid bloodshed. This is perhaps what prompted Al Jazeera's on air crawl about "Saddam being holed up in the Russian embassy in Baghdad". Al Jazeera's reporter here, however, doesnt believe the information from the Russian official is terribly credible, and doesnt seem to pay much attention to it. He also said that it wasn't clear from the Russian official if negotiations were supposed to be ongoing or went on at some point in the past. Bottom line: no one here has been able to confirm that there is anything to this report. BBC Radio Interviews GIs Live
GI says: "Hey everybody, how's it going? We are just here doing our jobs and Iraq will be free soon. The statue is down and everything here is fine." Another GI gets on the mic and he is asked "Why did you take down the statue?" he replied (a classic, I think): "Because the Iraqi people wanted us to." Target : Tikrit
From the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) "Over the last 24 hours what you have are continuing airstrikes against Iraqi military targets in the area of Tikrit as well as against regime leadership targets," Navy Captain Frank Thorp said at US Central Command's forward planning base in Qatar. Plus of course, there's the 4th Infantry Division on its way. And there's the matter of our POWs to recover, the missing Kuwaitis to locate, and a country to rebuild. After that, we might find the time to see what's happened to Saddam Hussein, but he's now irrelevant, consigned to the dustbin of history. We have more important things on our minds, like winning this war. BBC World Service Gets a History Lesson
Live on BBC World Service Radio, an English-speaking Iraqi took the microphone away from the reporter and screamed into the mic: When the reporter got the mic back he said, "What you just heard, 24 hours ago, would have meant a death sentence." Blix: Iraq war planned long in advance; banned arms not the priority
MADRID (AFP) - The invasion of Iraq was planned a long time in advance, and the United States and Britain are not primarily concerned with finding any banned weapons of mass destruction, the chief UN weapons inspector, Hans Blix, said. "There is evidence that this war was planned well in advance. Sometimes this raises doubts about their attitude to the (weapons) inspections," Blix told Spanish daily El Pais. Reuters: U.S. Tells Iran, Syria, N.Korea: Learn from Iraq
ROME (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday warned countries it has accused of pursuing weapons of mass destruction, including Iran, Syria and North Korea, to "draw the appropriate lesson from Iraq." Buh-bye
The statue of Saddam in front of the Palestine Hotel has been brought down. (TV news, no link yet, but you can catch the MSNBC.com live feed.) "Today Baghdad is like Berlin in 1945"
Marine tanks rolled into the heart of the city, greeted by people cheering, waving white flags and gesturing with V-for-victory signs. "We were nearly mobbed by people trying to shake our hands," said Major Andy Milburn of the 7th Marines. Symbolically, the Americans stationed tanks and other military vehicles around the very heart of Baghdad - Tahrir Square on the east bank of the Tigris River. There were wild scenes as residents - some in tears, others singing and dancing - crowded on to city freeways, showering the Americans who rode into town atop their tanks with flowers and the classic Iraqi greeting for foreigners: "Welcome! Welcome in Baghdad." "Today Baghdad is like Berlin in 1945," an egg-seller told the Herald. Doubt on source of hotel attack
The Guardian: However, Gilligan said reports from central command in Qatar were starting to suggest US tank fire was not responsible for the deaths of Reuters cameraman Taras Protsyuk and Jose Couso, a cameraman with the Spanish TV network Telecinco. ... He added that after examining the scene he concluded it was virtually impossible for the US tank to have fired on the 15th floor room." official statement from russia
Update to this post just released... MOSCOW (AP)--Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesman denied what state-run television said were Western media reports Saddam Hussein has taken refuge at the Russian Embassy in Baghdad, saying it "absolutely does not correspond with reality."
Sky News - Rumor
Rumor: Russia Hiding Saddam As to whether Russia is "helping" Saddam, Russian sources will not "confirm or deny". Update: Iraqi expert says, "If true, the Iraqis would storm the embassy, they did such things in the 1968 uprising." Update: Sky News: Russians "trying very hard to get a cease fire". US response said to be "It is much to late for that." U.S. Marines take Iraq's 'Secret Police' HQ
Marines seized what they described as a headquarters of President Saddam Hussein's secret police in Baghdad on Wednesday, a Reuters correspondent who entered the building reported. They brought up
This Morning's SitRep From the US DOD
Situational Update The Iraqi Regime is in disarray and many parts of the country are free. News reports this morning are filled with jubilant Iraqis cheering Coalition forces. Coalition forces know that there is still much work to be done. Despite severe weather conditions, two critically wounded U.S. Army special operations soldiers' lives were saved by a Combat Search and Rescue team that evacuated them from about five miles south of Baghdad to be later transferred to a hospital in Kuwait. U.S. Central Command has received further clarification on two incidents of journalists being harmed during combat operations in Baghdad. These tragic incidents appear to be the latest example of the Iraqi regime’s continued strategy of using civilian facilities for regime military purposes. The Coalition regrets the loss of innocent life and will continue its efforts to protect the innocent from harm. Two Coalition airmen are missing after their F-15E Strike Eagle went down in Iraq approximately 7:30 p.m. EDT Sunday. The cause of the incident is unknown at this time and is being investigated Key Points Coalition forces are making good progress on their objectives of removing the Iraqi regime, liberating the Iraqi people, and beginning the process of disarming Iraq of WMD The main focus of the land component continues to be the area in and around Baghdad. Coalition warplanes covered the skies over Baghdad, targeting enemy forces and government buildings. Coalition forces also attacked enemy forces hiding in southeast Baghdad, and five weapons caches, consisting of more than 10 tons of ordnance, thousands of rocket-propelled grenades, surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and a host of mortar rounds, assault rifles, and ammunition were discovered. A B-1 bomber dropped four 2,000-pound bombs on a building where Iraqi leaders, including possibly Saddam and his sons, were believed to be meeting. In the east, US Marines attacked across the Diyalah river, destroying an Iraqi force of tanks and other armored vehicles. In Basra, Coalition forces succeeded in reducing the remaining concentrations of Ba’ath Party officials and regime forces, setting off demonstrations of jubilation in the streets by local residents. Noose Round Saddam's Neck
See earlier post about USMC taking the area round the Palestine Hotel. The BBC is now showing Iraqis fastening a large noose around the huge statue's neck in the park, and they're about to do to him what was done to Stalin's statues in Moscow. UPDATE : as this other post said, people are also really waling away at the plinth with sledgehammers. Sure, the USMC could take it down with just one shot from an Abrams, but it's important that Iraqis be given a chance to do this for themselves. One works till exhaustion, then another takes over. UPDATE : To complete the archetype, an M-88 recovery vehicle has now pulled up to give them the final help they need. CBS Webcam view. UPDATE : The rope broke, but that's not going to save him : the Iraqis are now attaching a chain from the M-88 to his neck. The M-88 recovery vehicle is used to "recover" tanks, by pulling them out of combat using those chains, so a mere statue should be no problem. Technical superiority. UPDATE : Combat is still going, a large building opposite the Palestine hotel is now burning and under fire. The crowds taking down the statue are oblivious to the fact that there's a battle going on. The M-88 has just raised its recovery boom. UPDATE : The statue now has an execution hood on it - a US Flag. Nah, they've taken it off, let the Iraqis get a good look at him as he goes down. They're now getting an Iraqi flag, and the crowd continues to grow as word gets out. UPDATE : He's down... and the crowd goes Wild! French Press Attacks US
Le Monde.fr : The Press and the War The attack against The Palestine Hotel testifies to the tactics used by the American army in Baghdad: a flood of fire against even the smallest threat or what is perceived as such: air bombing and shootings of tanks, gun and heavy machine gunning all around downtown. The civilian victims undoubtedly amount into the hundreds. It is this US military culture which is here in question: the massive force against the smallest of dangers, so much the worse for the civilians. View of The Arab Street
According to the BBC's listening post in Caversham, UK: Al Ahram (Iran) - no report, no US troops in Baghdad Expect claims of it all being a Hollywood production by Industrial Light & Magic by tomorrow, along with the Moon Landing etc. DUNNIGAN'S ROUNDUP
The headline on StrategyPage's summary says it all: Baghdad Doesn't Fall, It Crumbles. The performance of US troops continues to impress: The coalition casualty rate has stayed as low as ever (about five casualties per division per day), mainly because of the high level of training and combat leadership among coalition troops, and the equally low levels among Iraqi troops. On the Iraqi side, the men most likely to resist are paramilitary troops (security troops, foreign Islamic volunteers.) These men, who appear to be clueless about what they are getting themselves into, are slaughtered by the coalition professionals. The Iraqi fighters are making matters worse by deliberately using civilians for cover. But the coalition rules of engagement do not force troops to not fire if Iraqis are shooting from behind civilians. In southern Iraq, the local civilians eventually took sides and went over to the coalition forces. This made it impossible for the pro-Saddam fighters to carry on and they fled. While this is happening in parts of Baghdad, there is really no place to run. While there may be a last stand in Saddam's home town Tikrit (north of Baghdad), coalition forces have blocked all the main roads out of the city. For Saddam's diehard defenders, it's surrender or die, and many are choosing the latter option.And I somehow missed this one yesterday: The United States declared air superiority over Iraq, which means there is no significant threat to coalition aircraft. However, an A-10 was shot down yesterday, apparently by a French made Roland missile. Iraq had bought Roland missiles in the 1980s, but it is not known if the ones being used now are those older (and likely no longer working) missiles, or new ones smuggled in.What is it that Glenn says? They aren't against the war, they're just on the other side. BBC World Service
Reporter for BBC in Amman, Jordan: "The Americans are now alone in Iraq...the opinion here is very reserved." Live Sky News Broadcast
Reporter at the Palestine Hotel: WAR NOT YET WON?
US officials are trying to contain the optimism, according to Financial Times: "I think it's premature to talk about the end of this operation yet," Captain Frank Thorp told Reuters at Central Command forward headquarters in Qatar.All evidence seems to point in the other direction, though. US spy satellites focus on preventing Saddam's escape
rediff.com | April 09, 2003 14:37 IST As American forces consolidate their grip on Baghdad, two satellites named Micron and Trumpet circling the globe at 14,000mph are at the frontline of the effort to block Iraq President Saddam Hussein's hopes of escaping. United States special forces operating in tandem with more conventional military units hope these two advanced spy satellites will ultimately lead them to their most cherished prize REGIME CHANGED?
It looks like Friedman's piece is already OBE: The Washington Times reports a U.S. team arrived yesterday to guide the rebuilding of the government and infrastructure of secured areas--starting with Umm Qasr. Marines Enter Baghdad's Central Square U.S. tanks rumbled up to the Palestine Hotel in central Baghdad on Wednesday, observed by the international media crews who have been based there. Reuters snapshot
Latest war snapshot from Reuters (8:55 a.m. ET) Iraqis welcome advancing U.S. forces in Baghdad; rampaging looters attack symbols of Saddam's collapsing power; UK says Iraqi control of Baghdad disintegrating * U.S. tanks take up positions around a square at center of Baghdad on east bank of Tigris river; seize Baghdad secret police HQ * Bush "heartened" but cautions war not yet over; military says Iraqi population sees Saddam's era as over * U.S. says bombs Tikrit, other northern cities; U.S., Kurdish forces take key mountain from which Iraqis defended northern city of Mosul; crowds celebrate in Kurdish northern Iraq * Red Cross suspends humanitarian operations in Baghdad, says a Canadian staff member missing; U.N. Children's Fund sends medical supplies to northern Iraq QUOTES Senior U.S. official: "The president (Bush) continues to get good reports from the field from the military point of view. He is heartened by the progress we're making...This is still a military mission and therefore lives are still at stake." French Foreign Minister Villepin after meeting UK counterpart Straw: "We agree that the United Nations should be given a full role. The more united the international community is, the better the chances of the (reconstruction) process being successful." EVENTS -- Wednesday -- * British Foreign Secretary Straw to discuss post-war Iraq with Spanish counterpart Palacio in Madrid * French Foreign Minister Villepin meets counterparts from western Mediterranean, North Africa * Kuwaiti Foreign Minister al-Sabah visits Moscow -- Friday/Saturday -- * Putin, Chirac, Schroeder to meet in St Petersburg * G7 ministers to meet in Washington for talks on global economic conditions and aiding Iraq's economic reconstruction Thursday, April 17 -- * Annan to attend EU leaders' meeting in Athens, to meet Blair, Chirac, Schroeder CASUALTIES * U.S. -- 96 dead, 10 missing * Britain -- 30 dead * Iraqi military -- More than 2,320, according to U.S. military. Iraq has given no figures for its military losses * Iraqi civilians (Iraqi estimates as of April 3) -- 1,252 killed, 5,103 injured MILITARY ACTION BAGHDAD: About 20 U.S. tanks, other military vehicles take up positions near Tahrir Square on the east bank of the Tigris, considered the heart of the Iraqi capital. Thousands of U.S. troops move toward the center overnight from the west, northeast and south, meeting little resistance. Reuters journalists watch cheering crowds sack U.N. headquarters east of center. SOUTHERN IRAQ: Residents of Basra complain of a power vacuum as armed men roam streets, looting, pillaging. British officials say a local sheikh will take over leadership in Basra province. NORTHERN IRAQ: U.S., Kurdish forces take Maqloub mountain, some 15 km (nine miles) northeast of Mosul. U.S. planes bomb Iraqi positions in northern oil hub of Kirkuk but ground forces in north make slow progress. SKY News via FOX
Sky News Reporter to Iraqi on the street - "What's the arrival of the Americans mean to you?" Iraqi - "Umm, to me, it means - Safety" Comment: Indeed Red Cross halts work in Baghdad
The International Red Cross has suspended its operations in Baghdad, saying the situation is too dangerous to continue. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) took the decision after a Canadian employee went missing when the car he was travelling in was hit by gunfire. Live Web Cam
CBS CAM American soldier says "The Iraqi people have been great...I just want to go home to my wife now." Great images, live from around Baghdad. Semper Fi!
On BBC World for the last 15 minutes : the view from the Palestine Hotel. US Marine Corps M1 Abrams, LVTP-7s, and Hummers pouring onto the roundabout, reporters like flies buzzing around them. UPDATE : The large apartment blocks nearby are were used by the Secret Police, and are now being searched by dismounted Marines. No cheering crowds as yet (this is the upmarket section of town), lots of the terminally curious. Within sight is the hotel where Baghdad Bob used to give his briefings, that's being searched too in case any Security goons want to make a last stand. UPDATE : Crowd now ripping off the plaque from the statue - that's all they can reach. UPDATE : Sign just displayed by crowd appears to read "GO HOME HUMAN SHIELDS, YOU US WANKERS" Stop reading and go see the BBC webcam for yourself. Report: Russian diplomats were taking Iraqi secret files
Russia Journal Daily » A Russian diplomatic convoy that came under fire as it evacuated Baghdad might have been carrying secret Iraqi files that U.S. intelligence officers wanted to seize. Regime Collapses
From Boston Globe Special Edition
After three weeks of punishing coalition attacks on Iraqi forces throughout the country, the regime's power appeared to crumble completely in the capital, as Hussein's police and security forces largely vanished and looters plundered government buildings across the city. Minders Gone
Fox news morning show talking to reporter in Baghdad--all the minders (from Ministry of Information) are gone. Tipping Point Update
CNN reporter says U.S. officials believe they may have reached the "tipping point" at which regime dissolves. Scenes of celebrating Kurds in Erbil, in the North--possibly due to reports of Saddam's death--as well as increased looting in Baghdad, though one reporter described it as "restrained" looting. Arab fighters return home, desillusioned
Reuters » The story of Salaam, a Lebanese Shi'ite Muslim, said he was unprepared for the hostility of some Iraqis to volunteers like himself. "I went there to be a martyr, not to be murdered by a brother," he told Reuters. "We went there to help them liberate their country, and all they did was shoot us in the back." From Salon.Com:
Journalists Still Trapped
25 Journalists, including some from Al Jazeera, are still trapped in a basement in Baghdad with fighting still going on around them. Source : ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Meanwhile, Up North...
Baghdad may have fallen, requiring nothing more than a lot of messy mopping-up. But action continues in the north, where Kurds have just taken a key mountain close to Mosul. Source : ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) A.M. Roundup
From Reuters: From UPI: From IRNA: From CBS News: From CNN: From FOX News: Some Regime pockets left
U.S. commanders focused attention on...Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, still a stronghold of loyalist troops. The fate of Saddam remained unknown; his loyalists retained control of the upscale Baghdad neighborhood targeted by four 2,000-pound bombs in a U.S. strike aimed at killing the Iraqi president. The Iraqis still appear to be in control of the area where some of the journalists are, though there is no sign of Baghdad Bob or the minders. David Chater, Sky News reporter broadcasting on Sky and Fox, in full bullet-proof gear and helmet, looking very nervous, said that there are still paramilitary and regular units around him who are "still determined to fight." He said it was a "very dangerous moment." Where he is, he said, "the streets are deserted and there are no signs of civilians coming out." He just said, "The Americans, I hope, are pressing ever closer." There are jets overhead and an explosion behind him. He said that he seems to be in an "isolated island of resistance. The scenes of jubilation and liberation are very close to us but they haven't reached us yet." Iraqis Ask 'Who's in Charge?' of Baghdad
Iraqis asked on Wednesday who was running their country after U.S. forces swept almost unchallenged through northeastern Baghdad toward the heart of the capital and cheering looters sacked shops and offices. "You are a journalist. Please tell me what is going on. Where is our government? To whom do we belong now? I don't know," said Ammar Moussa, a shopkeeper visiting his wounded son at a Baghdad hospital. "I want to know when all this mess is going to finish. There is no radio, no television. Is our government still in control or not?" asked Sarmed Shakir, a cleaner at the hospital. "Iraqi Command and Control Has Disintegrated."
The British are saying that there is no sign of any Iraqi Command and Control: it seems to have disintegrated -- Fox News quoting Reuters report. They also said that British intelligence believe Saddam escaped the attack.
Plus ça change
So Jacques Chirac is going for broke. Anyone who thought that the French president would swiftly seek a rapprochement with les Anglo Saxons following the success of the allied military campaign in Iraq will have been gravely disappointed by his remarks yesterday. Just hours after George W. Bush and Tony Blair had stated at their summit in Belfast that the United Nations had a "vital role" to play in the future of Iraq - a nicely vague concept - Mr Chirac opined that it was up to the UN "alone" to conduct the political, economic and humanitarian reconstruction of that benighted land. It was, he claimed, the sole repository of legitimacy for such a venture. Continue reading 'Plus ça change' What does Mr Chirac hope to achieve by this intervention? He presumably cannot be deluded enough to think that he will much impress America, where the UN's prestige ranks only a little higher than his own after France's failed attempt to stop America and Britain from liberating Iraq. But it does other things for him. It was a wonderful "spoiler" operation on the Anglo-American summit worthy of this master of short-term tactical wheezes. It may also prove effective as a stratagem for further squeezing Mr Blair, many of whose Cabinet and party colleagues seem to share the French hostility to Mr Bush (though their love of supra-national bureaucracies is, admittedly, less opportunistic than that of the resident of the Elysée). And by adopting the pose of "my UN, right or wrong", Mr Chirac has found a suitable springboard for the emerging Franco-German-Russian triple alliance to counterbalance American hyper-power. Mr Chirac is therefore playing less for the future of Iraq than he is for the future of what Mikhail Gorbachev and other late Soviet era spokesmen used to call the "Common European Home". His observations on the matter should be treated with contempt, not least since France regularly intervenes in civil wars, such as that currently under way in the Ivory Coast, without any UN authority. But the main reason why his vision of an exclusive role for the UN should be rejected is less because of his own double standards than because the UN has played no part in the liberation of Iraq. To the victor, the spoils. In this case, that expression means the Iraqi people as much as, if not more than, the British and the Americans. Any decisions on the future role of the UN in reconstructing the country must await the convening of a representative assembly of Iraqis. What gives Mr Chirac the right to pre-empt them? We say this because there is much anecdotal evidence to suggest that following its prolonged dalliance with the nearly vanquished Baathist regime, the UN does not enjoy the same talismanic status among ordinary Iraqis as it does in the salons of Paris and London. The ludicrously high rates of pay for UN officials and workers have damaged the country by creating an internal "brain drain": why work as a doctor when you can earn four times as much as a lorry driver? Above all, if the UN is accorded pride of place in post-war reconstruction, that perforce means that the 22 Arab League states - all of which are autocracies of varying degrees of brutality - will be able endlessly to meddle in its affairs. The creation of a more pluralistic polity in Iraq is going to be very subversive of those regimes and they will seek to distort its democratic development at birth. By virtue of burning his bridges with America, Mr Chirac may not be able to spare them such challenges. By virtue of his closeness to Mr Bush, Mr Blair is probably a better bet for the teetering old order in the Middle East. Battle for Baghdad 'far from over'
Allied Central Command has sounded a strong note of caution, saying the war, and the battle for Baghdad, are "far from over." US spokesman Navy Captain Frank Thorp said it would be "extremely premature" to say it's over, and that there may be "many fierce days of fighting" ahead. He added: "We continue to have sporadic and fierce encounters, these are firefights which last minutes rather than hours." He said the small bands of Iraqi defenders were "unable to operate as an organised force" and were being wiped out. "Thank you, thank you, Mr. Bush!"
Fox News, CNN, Sky, BBC are showing the images that a lot of people have been waiting for, exuberant people cheering and celebrating on the streets, in Baghdad and in the North. One group was chanting "Thank you, thank you Mr. Bush!" Another chant on the BBC, "There is no god but Allah, Saddam is God's enemy." All of the anchors are saying that it appears we are past the famous "Tipping Point." Meanwhile, looting is ongoing -- furniture, ceiling fans, refrigerators, air conditioners are being taken from government buildings. Saddam's torture chamber in Basra jail
This chilling AP story is very descriptive -- not for those with delicate sensibilities Story on earlier BBC report posted on TCP here Relief Agencies facing trouble
AP - Relief Agencies Facing Troubles in Iraq Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) is missing two of their workers in Baghdad. They are believed to have been taken by Iraqi authorities. Because of this Doctors Without Borders is suspending operations in Iraq. "We are Americans"
Sky News just showed raw uncut footage of an older man with glasses overwhelmed with joy in front of a government building in Baghdad. He was holding a banner of Saddam's face that had been ripped down and was beating the picture of Saddam in his face with his shoe. Sky had Iraqi analyst Hamid Ali Alikfay in the studio and he did free translation of what this man was yelling. "Saddam has killed millions of us....this is the day we have been waiting for. We are Iraqis, but we are with the United States. We are Americans." Sky: Looters raid UN headquarters
Looters have taken over the United Nations HQ in central Baghdad it has been reported. CNN just interviewed an Iraqi on the streets of Basra who spoke pretty good English, and asked him what the people of the city needed most: remember, this is a city lacking food, water, and electricity. His answer, "We need law." The reporter said that that with all of the looting and lawless atmosphere, civilians were asking the British soldiers to be more of a police presence on the streets, but there just are just not enough of them. Sky is reporting that witnesses say that there are no signs of police in Baghdad, and the looting there seems to have begun in earnest, so the same problem might be developing there. Some of the looters on video have machine guns slung over their shoulders.
CNN: Looting in Baghdad Now
CNN reports (and is showing video of) looting (primarily of government offices) in Baghdad. Update: The UN compound has reportedly also been looted and the UNMOVIC vehicles taken. No Info Ministry Folks at Palestine Hotel
CNN is reporting that no Information Ministry personnel showed up this morning at the Palestine Hotel. This means not only no Baghdad Bob, but no minders. So either they are fading into the mist (most likely), or they have something really bad planned for the Palestine Hotel. Indication of the former is that the government in Baghdad appears to have vanished. People driving around town are not finding the usual checkpoints. CNN: US Troops Being Cheered in Saddam City
CNN reports that hundreds of civilians are cheering US troops and the fall of the regime in Saddam City (a Baghdad neigborhood of 2M). Saddam city is primarily Shi'ite and has a history of opposing the regime. De Villepin and Straw Press Conference
Notes from a Paris press conference by French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin and British Foreign Minister Jack Straw. [NOTE: This captures the gist of the conference but quotes are not exact and I missed one question entirely. Jack Straw's answers are closer to direct quotes because he speaks more slowly. ] [ de Villepin: we're still friends and sorry about the appalling vandalism at Etaples ] De Villepin: Straw: On the Middle East, we agreed that the source of anger in the middle east is the vicious circle of senseless injustice due to the Palestinian situation. We agreed that this is the single most important issue to solve and France will continue to play a very important role. President Bush yesterday reiterated that he would dedicate as much energy to the middle east as Blair has dedicated to Northern Ireland. If Northern Ireland can move from a peace process to a peace outcome, it will be an important symbol. We discussed India and Pakistan, worked very collaboratively and look forward to discussing it. We also talked about Africa including the Congo, and European matters. Q (French): How do you differentiate between a "central" role and a "vital" role. Q (French): Does the "vital" role imply a commitment by the Americans to withdraw from Iraq as soon as the war is finished and cede control to the UN? This is the French position as we understand it. Q (German): (inaudible) an American administrator Q (French): Why haven't we found any WMD yet? Q: Have you talked about the Iraqi debt and will it be eliminated. Q: Is this meeting a sign that all is forgiven and forgotten between England and France? Sky: "Saddam escaped attack"
Sky News » "We think he (Saddam) left the same he arrived in the area, either by a tunnel system of by car, we're not sure," one British intelligence official told The Times. A US Air Force B-1 bomber dropped the bombs on the building on Monday afternoon following a tip-off Saddam and his sons were meeting with other regime leaders. Tip-offs from three separate sources said Saddam was at the al-Mansour site. (...) Senior US officials told Fox News: "There's a strong chance we got Saddam and probably both sons." US President George Bush said Saddam's fate remained unknown. Al-Jazeera leaving Iraq
From the Guardian - Fury at US as attacks kill three journalists Al-Jazeera quits Iraq as Americans accused over deaths The Arab satellite television channel al-Jazeera is to pull its reporters out of Iraq after one of them was killed during a US air raid on Baghdad. "I cannot guarantee anyone's safety," the news editor, Ibrahim Hillal, told reporters. "We still have four reporters in Baghdad, we will pull them out. We have one embedded with US forces in Nassiriya; we want to pull him out." CNN: Armor being airlifted into Northern Iraq
CNN reports that armor units are being airlifted into Northern Iraq. No indication of the quantity of armor, but it reportedly includes both Abrams M1A1 main battle tanks and Bradley personnel carriers. CNN: Baghdad "eerily calm" this morning
According to CNN's Rym Brahimi, sources in Baghdad report that the city is "eerily calm" with no explosions or shooting, no signs of soldiers or militia in the city and no signs government officials at the Palestine hotel. Update: Even the "minders" from the information ministry failed to show up for work at the Palestine hotel this morning.
"Qathafi gets a message from Chirac"
From this:
(keywords: Qaddafi, Gadhafi, Kaddafi) "Al-Assad gets a telephone call from Blair"
From this: Blair stressed that he appreciates Syrian-British relations in spite of the differences between the two countries' stances towards the war on Iraq... Blair cleared out that he is against those who spread propaganda against Syria and that he seeks for enhancing cooperation and relation with Syria. "Show time for Iraq 'Spartacus'"
From this:
Airlifted by the U.S. military on Sunday into southern Iraq, he now has a chance to prove his claims. Pentagon allies hope Chalabi can demonstrate his popularity and emerge as a leading figure - and possibly the head - of a transitional authority replacing Saddam... Critics at the State Department and CIA predict that Chalabi and his band of hastily recruited troops will fail to attract widespread support. See also "CIA report slams Pentagon's favorite Iraqi", which links to the other Chalabi stories. And, see "Iraqi Opposition Seeks Bigger Role in Postwar Iraq" which has quotes from other contenders and a U.N. representative. NYT - Key Section of City Is Taken in a Street-by-Street Fight
John Burns reports from Baghdad: Iraqi state television fell silent and the daily statement from the Iraqi information minister describing all the advances claimed by American forces as fantasy and lies changed to a vow to "pummel the invaders." There were clear signs that Mr. Hussein's grip on power was crumbling. I wonder what the minders assigned to Burns thought about this piece? Or was this report not vetted? Burns continues:
U.S. Marines Advance Through NE Baghdad
Thousands of U.S. Marines are moving block by block through Saddam City, a huge urban sprawl in northeast Baghdad, early this morning, continuing to squeeze out Iraqi resistance in the capital. Reuters correspondent Sean Maguire, travelling with a unit of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force on Wednesday, said troops met very little resistance, getting a largely warm reception as they swept the low-income residential district. Saddam City is home to two to three million Iraqis, mainly from the Shi'ite Muslim majority, who have traditionally been marginalised by the Sunni ruling elite, most lately by President Saddam Hussein's Sunni-dominated government. (Reuters) Marines Battle Their Way Toward Central Baghdad
Marines picked their way toward central Baghdad today, rolling across a tributary of the Tigris River and taking control of an expansive industrial complex southeast of the Iraqi capital. Overnight, combat engineers erected a floating steel bridge over the waterway, the Diyala River, to replace a structure the Marines had destroyed with explosives after finding it sabotaged. At the break of dawn, a convoy of armored vehicles streamed across and secured a foothold amid the mix of slums and farmland on the other side after a brief gun battle. The convoy then moved west along a ridge road flanked by buildings ravaged by small-arms fire, artillery and aerial bombardment. "So far we have been dividing the area into zones of responsibility for each of our battalions, and then clearing them one by one," said Maj. Dan Healey, commander of Baker Company in the 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. "Today was about enabling further passage into Baghdad." Sporadic Gunfire In Baghdad
Sporadic gunfire and tank fire has resounded across central Baghdad early this morning after one of the quietest nights since the U.S.-led war to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein began on March 20. U.S. warplanes could be heard overhead shortly before 8 a.m. (5 a.m. British time) on Wednesday, Reuters witnesses said. Iraqis fired a rocket-propelled grenade across the Tigris river towards U.S. tanks on the western bank, one Reuters reporter said, adding that it seemed to come from an area near to the Palestine Hotel used by journalists covering the war. (Reuters) War even uglier when children are the enemy
KARBALA, Iraq — This isn't a story about glory or honor or heroism under fire here in Iraq.via Military.com Arab Volunteers Flock to Iraq's Aid
Several thousand guerrilla fighters from Arab countries have flocked to Iraq in the past few weeks to join the battle against U.S. and British forces, with many of them now in the capital engaging in suicidal attacks, senior U.S. officers said today. Calling themselves mujaheddin, or holy warriors, the Arab fighters have come largely over the border from Syria, sometimes by the busload, according to U.S. military intelligence. In Baghdad in the past few days, U.S. officers said, some of these fighters have stormed into private homes and used them to ambush invading U.S. Army and Marine columns, sometimes hiding behind women and children. The Arab fighters have come from Egypt, Sudan, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Algeria, Morocco, Yemen and the Palestinian territories, according to information collected by U.S. officers from prisoner interrogations and other intelligence. Saddam Seen At Site
Multiple U.S. intelligence sources saw Saddam Hussein enter a building in Baghdad on Monday and not emerge before four 1-ton Air Force bombs destroyed it, government officials said yesterday. One official said some analysts believe the multiple eyewitness accounts suggest the Iraqi dictator is dead. The penetrating bombs reduced the building near the popular al Saa restaurant to rubble. The official described the CIA yesterday as being "in a state of euphoria." "They say there is no doubt he is dead," said a U.S. military official on the condition of anonymity. Arab Nations Want A Ceasefire In Iraq
The Arab Group's chairman Ambassador Abdullah Alsaidi of Yemen, who sent in the request, said they are moving the assembly as there is no chance of such a resolution being adopted by the 15-member Security Council. Any resolution adopted by the assembly is not binding but could prove embarrassing for the United States and Britain who are seen by a majority of the members as waging a war that is not authorised by the Security Council. Iraqis Show Journalists Secret Jail
BASRA, Iraq - Iraqis showed journalists a white stone jail where they claim Saddam Hussein's secret police for decades tortured inmates with beatings, mutilations, electric shocks and chemical baths. 80% want Urgent End to the War
From the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Overnight, politicians from 120 countries voted more than 80 per cent in favour of a motion calling for an urgent end to the war. "Conspicuously Stupid" is Australian for the Diplomatese "It could well be viewed in some quarters, on the whole, taking all things into consideration, as perhaps a little hasty under the circumstances". Infantry Puts Squeeze on South's Last Contested City
HILLA, Iraq, April 8 -- The Iraqi soldiers lying in ambush three miles outside ancient Babylon this afternoon were more courageous than competent, more patient than wise. At the end of the day they were dead, and the battle for the last contested city south of Baghdad had begun. The 3rd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division today squeezed Hilla with three infantry battalions from the west and another from the south, supported by tanks, jet fighters, helicopters and nearly 50 howitzers. As in Najaf to the south and Karbala to the west last week, the U.S. attack began with a sprinkling of satellite-guided bombs on barracks, military compounds and the Baath Party headquarters downtown. More on Saddam
MSNBC's Keith Olbermann: With each passing hour, "confidence diminishes" in U.S. that Saddam is dead. Intelligence would expect a lot of chatter after news of his death, and that hasn't happened. Still unsure either way, however. Most recent post below on this is British Think Saddam Escaped at 11:41. Iraqi Government Withers; Citizens Continue Flight
Also from WaPo, Wednesday: Even if Iraq's president is still alive, government authority receded across Baghdad today. There were scattered scenes of a functioning bureaucracy, most notably red, double-decker buses that ran their routes, even during the most intense fighting this morning. But more common were signs of collapse. Trash piled up on sidewalks, and streets were deserted. A few government officials managed a brave face, but they spoke blocks away from U.S. tanks, and briefly. And according to a line in the extended excerpt ("continue reading"), Iraqi state TV has been knocked off "and stayed off." Iraqi soldiers were still evident, though in fewer numbers. With rifles and grenades, they stood in bunches, wearing green uniforms, desert camouflage, civilian clothes or a mixture of all. A handful of military vehicles moved through the streets, some with Republican Guard insignia, but the mobilization that the capital witnessed 48 hours earlier was far less pronounced. |
