The Command Post

* The Command Post Has Moved *

2003-03-23T21:37:00.000-08:00

Go HERE: http://www.command-post.org/

* The Command Post Has Moved *

2003-03-23T13:10:00.000-08:00

THE NEW IMPROVED COMMAND POST. The URLs are:

http://216.134.209.67/~command/ until the DNS is fully resolved ...

and http://www.command-post.org once it is.

2003-03-23T11:52:00.000-08:00

Attention Command Post members: Please email me immediately. michele@asmallvictory.net

2003-03-23T10:48:00.000-08:00

Maariv: Yemen has officialy refused to expell Iraqi diplomats per US demand, calling it "interference in Yemen's internal affairs".

Iran: Missile was Iraqi, Not U.S.

2003-03-23T10:46:00.000-08:00

Assumed it was posted by now, but couldn't find it in the Command Post yet...here is a CNN link to the story.

2003-03-23T10:43:00.000-08:00

The Geneva Convetions...

A very good HTML version of the Geneva Conventions, including keyword searches, is available on the International Committee of the Red Cross website. The treatment of POWs is covered under the 3rd Convention, dated 12 August 1949.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

2003-03-23T10:41:00.000-08:00

We are in the process of moving to a new server and new domain name (www.command-post.org).

In order for the site to be moved over to the new host, I need everyone to stop posting for ONE HOUR. It is now 1:30 EST.

To our readers, we will be back in an hour with a faster loader page. There will be a redirect here.

Thank you all for your support.

2003-03-23T10:40:00.000-08:00

British forces have found a cache of missiles and warheads, abandoned in bunkers by Iraqi forces in the Basra area, following the battles there. (IBA)

Nizar al-Khazraji

2003-03-23T10:34:00.000-08:00

Here is a fairly hinky little story asserting that the highest-ranking Iraqi army defector -- who went missing while under house arrest in Denmark last week -- was snatched by the CIA for his intelligence value to the current unpleasantness.

I've been beating around for any sort of corroboration, or even a US denial, but I don't see it.

Israeli Tech

2003-03-23T10:26:00.000-08:00

Something interesting via My Way: U.S. Military Employs Israeli Technology

The Bush administration has made clear it wants Israel to stay out of an Iraq war so as not to provoke Arab and Muslim countries assisting the United States. But that won't stop Israel's weaponry and arms technology from being used against Iraqis.
...
Iraqi forces might be on the receiving end of Israeli technology in several scenarios.

2003-03-23T10:15:00.000-08:00

Here is a good Strategy Page Article on why there is so much resistance going on in previously taken towns. Scatter a few loyalists around the towns to conduct ops, and it looks like a big guerilla movement.

Maybe this will give the 4th to do when they finally arrive in Kuwait.

Streaming Al-Jazeera

2003-03-23T10:11:00.000-08:00

Little Green Footballs has a link to continuous streaming video from al-Jazeera (Windows Media, broadband needed). Apparently, you don't have to wait long for the video of American POWs to show up, though I haven't seen it so far. Lots of video from Iraq, and interviews with Iraqi military.

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Iraq accused Israel of taking part in war

2003-03-23T10:03:00.000-08:00

vi Haaretz:

Israeli political sources said Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz told the cabinet Sunday that the missile in question bore the word Taas, an Israeli company that has made electronic components sold for use in missiles in the U.S. armoury.

First Person Account on Baghdad Bombing

2003-03-23T10:02:00.000-08:00

A Newsweek reporter gives a first person account of the start of bombing and real feelings of Iraqis.

Playing the Israel Card...

2003-03-23T10:01:00.000-08:00

The Iraq's Foreign Minister is grasping at straws trying to draw other Arab countries into the conflict with claims that the Israelis are taking part in the war:

Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri said Sunday an Israeli missile had been found in Baghdad and accused Israel of taking part in the U.S.-led attack on Iraq.

"You know that Israel is taking part in this aggression against Iraq. It's sending missiles. We found a missile, an Israeli missile, in Baghdad," he told reporters in Cairo where was to attend a meeting of Arab foreign ministers scheduled for Monday.

Sabri offered no proof to back up the allegation.

If Israel were taking part of this war, there wouldn't be an Iraq to be Foreign Minister of, Naji Sabri.

admin note

2003-03-23T09:57:00.001-08:00

News and links only.

2003-03-23T09:39:00.000-08:00

Jesus Gil has posted a full account of the al Jazeera tapes.

Enter at your own risk.

Reuters Equivalence

2003-03-23T09:34:00.000-08:00

The headline ("Invaders Find No Easy Ride in Southern Iraq") is a good sign of the tone of this story.

RUSSIA SOLD SENSITIVE EQUIPMENT TO IRAQ:

2003-03-23T09:33:00.000-08:00

This outrageous news in today's WaPo: 3 Russian Firms' Deals Anger U.S.. (Hit Tip: Tony Snow on Fox News just mentioned the story on the air.)

Al-Jazeera's tapes of captured American troops

2003-03-23T09:32:00.000-08:00

...seems to be real.

Pentagon has confrimed that al-Jazeera's tape of captured US troops seem to be real. Pentagon said if Iraqis violate Article 13 of Geneva convention the consequences will be severe.

Update: Their names:
The four were the first American prisoners known to be POWs in Iraq. The footage showed them being questioned on and divulging their names, military ID's and home towns.

They were:

* Joseph Hudson, of El Passo, Texas. When asked by his prisoners why he came to Iraq, he answered: "I am following orders." Hudson was also asked how many officers were stationed in Iraq with him, but said he did not know;

* Sergeant James Riley, 31, of New Jersey, of the 507th Maintenance Company;

* A soldier identified as Edgar, from Texas, who was wounded in the face.

Smoking gun captured?

2003-03-23T09:30:00.000-08:00

(Via Little Green Footballs)

According to the Jerusalem Post, massive chemical plant captured.

101st airborne tough night

2003-03-23T09:26:00.000-08:00

via WaPo

2003-03-23T09:25:00.000-08:00

Via IDF radio: al-Jazeera has retracted its claim that an American pilot has been captured by the Iraqis.

Admin Update

2003-03-23T09:24:00.000-08:00

Some good news: The Command Post is becoming very, very popular ... and we know Blogger has been slow at times since last night. SO, Michele and I are exploring registering a domain name and hosting the site on a non-Blogspot server as you read this. We'll keep you posted.

Thanks again for everyone's efforts.

UPDATE: Also, we've received very gracious offers for free server space, etc. It looks like we'll be all set, but thank you for this ... we're amazed at how much everyone wants to help.

Bob Woodward in WaPo

2003-03-23T09:21:00.000-08:00

Great article on the hours preceeding the the war and how the war was in actuality 48hrs "in progress" before it began.

2003-03-23T09:18:00.000-08:00

From Ha’aretz: “…Two of the prisoners, including a woman, appeared to be wounded. One was lying on the floor on a rug. …

…The prisoners were questioned on air and gave their names, military identification numbers and home towns. …

…The first prisoner shown gave his name as Miller and said he was from Kansas. …

…Asked why he had come to Iraq he replied: "Because I was told to come here. I was just under orders. I was told to shoot - only if I'm shot at. I don't want to kill anybody."

MISMATCH:

2003-03-23T09:14:00.001-08:00

How surreal is this Reuters report? Iraqi Bodies Litter Plain as U.S. Troops Advance.

On the main road running across the plain, burned-out Iraqi vehicles were still smoldering on Sunday afternoon, and charred ribs were the only recognizable part of three melted bodies in a destroyed car lying in the roadside dust.

"It wasn't even a fair fight. I don't know why they don't just surrender," said Colonel Mark Hildenbrand, commander of the 937th Engineer Group.

"When you're playing soccer at home, 3-2 is a fair score, but here it's more like 119-0," he said, adding that the Iraqi sport utility vehicles (SUVs) stood no chance against tanks.

"You can't put an SUV with a machine gun up against an M1 tank -- it's heinous for the SUV," Hildenbrand said.

Indeed.

"I feel nothing but sorrow for these people," Hildenbrand said as he toured the hideout. "This war is against one man, it's not against the Iraqi people. I just wish they would surrender so we could get it over with."

The contrast between Hildenbrand's attitude and the mindset of a regime that would put these people out as cannon fodder--not to mention murder prisoners and parade the bodies on television--is striking. It should shame anyone who claims there is a moral equivalence between the American and Iraqi regimes. It won't; but it should.

2003-03-23T09:14:00.000-08:00

Jerusalem Post is reporting that a chemical plant has been taken.

(JP sign in: user: command pw: center)

via K-Loat the Corner, via a reader

Iraqi tv job

2003-03-23T09:08:00.000-08:00

According to what shown on Israeli channel 2 the video was broadcast by Al Jazeera but the microphone in the video says Iraqi TV. So it looks like it was originally taped by the Iraqis and given to Al Jazeera to be broadcast. I think it is being broadcast all over the world by now except for the US.

Mapping the War

2003-03-23T09:03:00.000-08:00

I saw a blurb about this via Scripting News. Blogger Nick Denton is mapping the progress of the War. Also, in a later post, he lists The Command Post under "essential Web viewing" for War coverage.

Our Friends the Russians

2003-03-23T09:01:00.000-08:00

According to this WaPo story, Russian companies have been selling military items such as anti-tank missiles, night-vision goggles, and satellite jamming equipment to Iraq. Reps of at least one Russian company were seen in Iraq last week instructing Iraqis on the use and maintenance of satellite jamming equipment. The US has expressed its displeasure with this activity at increasingly higher levels since last June. Yet the Russians continue to deny and ignore even when given specific info.

The outcome is certain.

2003-03-23T08:46:00.000-08:00

I don't know homw much Secretary Rumsfeld has been breifed on regarding the alleged POW video or other events, but he'e charging ahead. Wolf Blitzer is currently asking him a series of really stupid questions (no surprise there), but Rummy has explicitly said, twice since I've been watching, that the outcome in Iraq is "certain," and that the Iraqi army should just give up now. Hs'e providing carefully worded, sometimes brusque answers. But, he's not kidding.

Wolf and paula are two reaosn why CNN has become absolutely unwatchable.

Where is Powell?

2003-03-23T08:38:00.000-08:00

Al-Jazeera is "independent" a la the BBC, but is based in and funded by ally Qatar. If they are violating the Geneva Convention and other international laws, our STATE DEPARTMENT should immediately demand Qatar to force Al-Jazeera to stop.
(sorry to rant, but...

FYI

2003-03-23T08:37:00.000-08:00

Go here to read the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

Incredible...not.

2003-03-23T08:35:00.000-08:00

Wolf Blitzer just called the dead American soldiers in Iraqi hands as " killed in action".

No comment required.

2003-03-23T08:34:00.000-08:00

Photo of the American captured soldiers (Ynet – Hebrew link)

Is Al Jazeera Now a Target?

2003-03-23T08:30:00.000-08:00

Secretary Rumsfeld has said that the Al Jazeera tape violates the Geneva convention. On Meet the Press this morning, Secretary Rumsfeld also said that General Franks would make the call as to when Iraqi television would be taken off the air. If Al Jazeera wants to be the propoganda arm of the Iraqi regime, does that make them a legitimate target? Is Al Jazeera the embedded media for Iraq?

As General Sherman said long ago, "war is all hell."

2003-03-23T08:28:00.000-08:00

This is translated from German to English by babelfish, so it may seem a bit on the fuzzy side:

Black Sunday for the allied ones

The Iraqi television showed Sunday afternoon first pictures of killed, hurt as well as five imprisoned taken US soldiers. According to data of the television they were killed with the fights for Nasirija in the south Iraq or taken imprisoned. A 30-jaehrige colored woman, fear was clearly written the five members of the US army, under it in the face with the questioning. The prisoners of war indicated that it to 507. Belonged to repair company. Their homeland are US Federal States Kansas, Texas and new jersey.

via Lilli in Germany

Heavy fighting by the Euphrates; American casualties; Iraqis using human shields

2003-03-23T08:22:00.000-08:00

CNN reports a battle between U.S. marines and the Republican Guard near Nasiriyah near the Euphrates, after the RG attempted to ambush an American convoy.

Unsurprisingly, Iraqis seem to be using Palestinian tactics:

Earlier, soldiers on reconnaissance missions reported that they had seen members of the Iraqi Republican Guard herd Iraqi women and children to military positions for use as human shields, a U.S. military source told Rodgers, who is accompanying the 7th Cavalry's 3rd Squadron.

Moral Equivalence?

2003-03-23T08:21:00.000-08:00

How the US treats Iraqi prisoners: photos from Reuters.

Defense Department spokesperson says footage "looks like Iraqi TV propaganda"

2003-03-23T08:20:00.000-08:00

Fox News is now reporting online the following statement from an unnamed Defense Department spokesperson:

"This is the first we've seen of it -- it looks like Iraqi TV propaganda," said a U.S. Defense Department spokesperson. "What they're doing is wrong -- we're trying to get to the bottom of what we're seeing. We're investigating the tape now."

It looks as if this could go either way: it could be legitimate or it could be staged.

IDIOT:

2003-03-23T08:19:00.000-08:00

Katie Couric just asked someone whether the President had been informed that the soldiers had been taken prisoner and apparently executed.

2003-03-23T08:08:00.000-08:00

Through Israeli channel 2: Al Jazeera video shows 4 soldiers, man 31 y/o from New Jersey, woman 30, from Texas and another man from Texas. 2 of them are from 507 maintenance unit.
Some of them are injured.

The captured soldiers told their names, age, state, army number and unit.

Likely is US military

2003-03-23T08:06:00.000-08:00

FoxNews is saying military initial response is that likely it is US POWs, possibly from 507th Maintenance Company out of Ft. Bliss, TX. The executed were shot in the head. The interrogations on camera were a violation of the Geneva Convention Article 13.

WAR CRIMES:

2003-03-23T08:05:00.000-08:00

Reuters Iraqi TV Shows Dead and Captured U.S. Soldiers.

PRISONERS:

2003-03-23T08:03:00.000-08:00

Reuters reports Baghdad said it had downed five planes and two helicopters and would show prisoners on television. NBC TV reports say there is evidence some of these soldiers have been executed.

Fox on American Prisoners

2003-03-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

Fox reports U.S. military has viewed the Al Jazeera video referenced by Michele below. They buy it--looks like the real thing; "not inconsistent" with U.S. military. Violation of Geneva Convention to showcase/interrogate POWs in this manner. Not to mention executing half of them after capture.

UPDATE: Major Garrett on Fox at Pentagon: Military officials viewed video in our booth...based on assessment of military officials, they believe what they saw was in fact U.S. military personnel....a couple identified with 507th Maintenance Company. Very disturbing bc it appears several [of those dead--all or parts of the video taped in morgue] if not all were executed, shot in head--that is what appears in video....that is why one of many reasons military officials had visceral reax, very very disturbing...

Rumsfeld now live...finished, didn't add much. Haven't checked the other channels; Fox choosing at the moment to not show "grotesque" video.

Interviews with US POWs?

2003-03-23T07:58:00.000-08:00

Fox News is talking about the video purportedly showing the captured US POWs, which FoxNews is thus far choosing not to show. There's speculation about whether they're really Americans, but it seems likely. Also, as reported before, some may have been killed/executed. The reporters keep noting that the mistreatment and interviewing are "against the Geneva convention", which would be true, but as another military analyst said, "It's Iraq. They don't care about the Geneva convention."

As far as being a propoganda tool, it may work in the Arab countries but it will have the opposite effect in the Western countries.

This kind of thing is a part of war. All we as civilians can do at this point is pray for the POWs and do all we can to make the military success more assured and swift.

UPDATE: At least five in custody, according to Al Jazeera, including at least one woman. Two of the "POWs" are saying they're from Kansas and Texas. The Pentagon has not confirmed the capture yet.

International Reaction: India

2003-03-23T07:53:00.000-08:00

Also from UPI, a commentary from columnist Mani Shankar Aiyar, member of the Indian Parliament representing the Congress Party. He writes weekly for UPI.

AGARTALA, India, March 23 (UPI) -- And so, at the end of the day, we of the lesser breed count for nothing. Washington decides who lives, who dies. If we shut our mouths and follow the leader, we live. If we do not, we might still live, but on sufferance. Thus is the arrogance of power consummated. How are those of us less endowed than the world's sole superpower to cope with this superpower's new world order?...

A survey undertaken in Muslim northern Nigeria showed that 80 percent of the male children born after 9/11 were named Osama. My guess is that 80 percent of Arab children born after Saddam is martyred will be called Saddam. If that does not happen, Bush and Blair would have won the peace. If it does, those who have sowed the wind will reap the whirlwind. For the will to independence and dignity is the weapons of asymmetry.

Jordan Expels Iraqi Diplomats

2003-03-23T07:46:00.001-08:00

Apologies if this is old news for Command Post, but I don't see it here. From UPI:

Jordan said it has expelled five Iraqi diplomats from the capital, Amman on Sunday, on "security grounds," insisting it had nothing to do with the U.S. request of some states to ask Iraqi diplomats to leave their countries.

Information Minister Mohammad Edwan said the five had "violated their diplomatic duties, so we asked them to leave."

2003-03-23T07:46:00.000-08:00

Al Jazeera tv is running video of the captured Americans.

POWs

2003-03-23T07:41:00.000-08:00

I just heard an update on the POWs. It sounds pretty certain that at least 6 of the American POWs were executed.

War Crime

2003-03-23T07:40:00.000-08:00

NBC re reporting that American prisoners have been executed by the Iraqis near Al Nasiriyah. The were captured and led away alive.
They then showed around eight shot dead, in a building. Some still alive, and were interviewed.

Republican Guard Speculation

2003-03-23T07:39:00.000-08:00

Thoughts from retired military Jed Babbin at National Review Online on why Republican Guard may fight tenaciously:

We have to remember that though the population of Iraq has been brutalized for three decades, Saddam's Republican Guards have been the privileged class. We shouldn't be surprised that they fight with some tenacity. The Republican Guards will be defeated, but first they will fight to hold their own nation much more than the fought to keep Kuwait. They may give up today, tomorrow, or next week. But they must have a different mindset than they did twelve years ago. The "elite" Republican Guards aren't in the same league as our guys, nor do they have the training or equipment that we have put in the field. But they are fighting for their nation, and that makes 2003 a different war than 1991.

The other reason they may fight is that some of them, and their immediate commanders, know they are guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Either we will try them as war criminals, or the post-Saddam, free Iraqi government will do the same. The result will be the same. These men may think they have nothing to lose. They may also hold out hope that we will stop short of removing Saddam's regime as we did in 1991. In that, they are sadly mistaken. And because of that, some or all of them will pay the full price. In advance. And then we have to deal with Baghdad, and whatever awaits there.

Missing crew

2003-03-23T07:32:00.000-08:00

They're apparently still trying to determine the fate of that Tornado crew.

Israelis consider lowering alert

2003-03-23T07:28:00.000-08:00

In light of the American capture of the only airfields from which Iraq could have fired SCUDs at Israel, the Israeli government is considering lowering the nationwide alert status.

POWs executed?

2003-03-23T07:27:00.000-08:00

Listening to Russert's show and I'm hearing that they've got unconfirmed reports that the American POWs mentioned here may have been summarily executed.
(Um. I see WindRider beat me to this one. Can't argue with his headline.)

Bastards

2003-03-23T07:26:00.000-08:00

NBC reporting that captured Americans outside Nasiriyia may have been executed, based on Al Jazeerah footage

Iraq latest: At-a-glance

2003-03-23T07:19:00.000-08:00

BBC News Online charts the latest developments in the Iraq conflict.

Missing Aircraft or not? Not.

2003-03-23T07:17:00.001-08:00

Fox news guy saying latest official info: No missing aircraft, other than the RAF Tornado apparently downed by Patriot due to absence of a functioning Identification Friend-or-Foe (IFF) system.

ABC: 11 Soldiers Captured

2003-03-23T07:17:00.000-08:00

A senior military official said 11 soldiers, maintenance workers, had taken a wrong turn outside Nasiriyia on a mission to carry out repair work.

Must have been after some BIG ones...

2003-03-23T07:15:00.000-08:00

Fox News TV reporting that U.S. Navy SEALs have found Iraqi fishing boats "packed with" "very powerful mines" -- about ten. A few days back, they found a couple of tugboats with a total of 87 mines on them. I wonder what the Geneva Convention says on this topic...

from the admin

2003-03-23T07:14:00.000-08:00

If I have to put this reminder up every day, I will do so: Leave the personal commentary on your own sites.

Thank you.

2003-03-23T07:12:00.000-08:00

Navy Seals have found two fishing boats loaded with mines. (Fox)

Damn, I'm Proud of Our Troops

2003-03-23T07:10:00.000-08:00

This cannot be said often enough. Every time we see them on television, I am impressed with their demeanor, sincerity, and bravery.

ABC Says Large Fire Fight in Nasiriya

2003-03-23T06:52:00.000-08:00

U.S. Marines are engaged in heavy house-to-house fighting in a southern Iraqi city and have called in at least eight medical evacuation choppers.

Correct me if I'm wrong

2003-03-23T06:47:00.000-08:00

I just heard George Stephanopoulos begin an interview by saying, "It does seem like the coalition has had a lot of bad news in the last 24 hours."

Now, while it's true that we've had some bad news, it seems to me that, considering we're in the middle of a war, that we've had amazingly little bad news.

2003-03-23T06:46:00.000-08:00

We came in contact with approximately 60 soldiers last night.

Now there are approximately 60 enemy soldiers dead. We did take some EPW's

LtCol Twitty, one of the 3d ID Task force commanders...

Phantom pilots

2003-03-23T06:44:00.000-08:00

Peter Arnette indicates that the hundreds of Iraqis by the river were more likely chasing a $50,000 reward.

'Action, if you want to call it that'

Also referred to hourly strikes and explosions...for the past 48-72 hours. Persistence.

CIVIL STRIFE:

2003-03-23T06:39:00.000-08:00

Another solid analytical piece in WaPo: Civil Strife Figures in U.S. Thinking.

From the first, the U.S. assault force was designed to be fast and lean -- which means it is too small to simultaneously carry out both an invasion and an occupation, dropping off units in each town as it proceeds. And while the outbreak of civil strife is a concern, because of its effect on Iraqi civilians and the image it projects to the rest of the world, officials said they are determined not to allow it to distract the invasion force from its mission.

Good.

"Follow-on forces will be arriving to deal with security eventually, but we're just not going to slow down our combat force," a Defense Department official said. There has been no indication of when those reinforcements might arrive to begin peacekeeping operations.

"You can't have it both ways," said another Pentagon insider. "You have to win the war quickly -- and you can't move fast enough if you are infusing authority along the way." He echoed the view that the violence might help the U.S. military if it targets the secret police and other elements of the regime that might otherwise be able to fight the invasion.

Yep.

2003-03-23T06:35:00.000-08:00

A story on ABC: "liberated" Iraqis turning doubtful and bitter the next day. Promised supplies aren't there, etc.. This is going to be the real war soon; seems we'd better start doing a better job at it before too much longer.

YOUNG TROOPS:

2003-03-23T06:34:00.000-08:00

Echoing comments I made a couple days ago, this WaPo piece by Jonathan Finer describes the feelings of young soldiers perfectly: War? Nothing to It for Young Troops, at Least on the First Few Days. This line especially evokes some memories of 1991:

Jobe said he reminded his forces that their job will get harder the longer it goes on, and that it could culminate in a difficult siege of Baghdad, the Iraqi capital. But that hasn't stopped many of his charges from referring to their procession north as the "Baghdad 500."

Gotta love youth.

Rummy

2003-03-23T06:25:00.000-08:00

Tim Russert was showing footage of Iraq's defense minister with Rumsfeld watching. In the footage, you can hear a bomb go off.

Rumsfeld: We missed.

Russert: You said, "We missed."

Rumsfeld: Well obviously we missed. He's still standing.

Russert: Why is the defense ministry still standing so he can conduct briefings like this.

Rumsfeld (looking at Russert like he just grew horns): Because we haven't hit it, what's your point?

UK Intelligence Suggests Saddam Survived 1st Raid

2003-03-23T06:23:00.000-08:00

Reuters

Arab Media "Parachutes Seen".

2003-03-23T06:22:00.000-08:00

2003-03-23T06:17:00.000-08:00

Meyers soundbite just says he doesn't think any planes missing ... but, he is 'out of place' and may not have latest minute info, and that clip may have been a few minutes old.

If they're downed aircrew...where is the frikkin parachutes? Those things are a bit hard to hide quickly.

CNN Just Reported "No Aircraft Missing"

2003-03-23T06:11:00.000-08:00

I think CNN is way behind the curve...as always...

from qhate.com

2003-03-23T06:08:00.000-08:00

Sunday, March 23, 2003
ABC News
While we have been looking on TV for what the Iraqis are looking for abc news reported the following:
"Arab television channel Al-Jazeera has reported two pilots have been captured and a Sky reporter on the spot said an Iraqi soldier told him a US pilot had been captured and a search was continuing for the other."

Fox relaying report of possible missing aircraft

2003-03-23T06:05:00.000-08:00

As they show Qatari TV footage of Iraqis swarming through the reeds on the bank of the Tigris.

2003-03-23T06:04:00.000-08:00

Rumsfeld reports there is a missing aircraft.........Still developing.

Ollie phones in

2003-03-23T06:03:00.001-08:00

Oliver North just phoned in on Fox, reported wrap up of major medevac operation, as many as 50 casualties, no words of any fatalities. Said that a lot of the injuries appeared to be burns resulting from Molotov cocktails thrown by irregular forces.

CNN: 7th Cavalry Taking Heavy Heavy Fire

2003-03-23T06:03:00.000-08:00

Live on CNN now....heavy artillery fire from Iraqis... 7th Cav. now dispersing....

2003-03-23T06:01:00.000-08:00

Rummy Speaks: On MTP Rumsfeld just stated that 1) he was aware of no mising paratroopers, 2) that there is possibly a plane missing, and 3) that there "could be" coalition troops in Iraqi hands. He also noted that some journalists are missing.

Pictorial Update

2003-03-23T05:59:00.000-08:00

Pic: Trenches in Baghdad on Fire
Pic: Heavy Smoke Over Baghdad
Pic: Cobra Open Fire on Iraqi Positions
Pic: Iraqi Soldiers Surrender
Pic: Distributing Food
Pic: One of America's Finest

STRATEGERY:

2003-03-23T05:55:00.000-08:00

Excellent piece by Bob Woodward in today's WaPo: Attack Was 48 Hours Old When It 'Began'. It paints a picture of a thoughtful, flexible, and bold war planning effort.

Update on Saddam

2003-03-23T05:54:00.000-08:00

Military analyst on FoxNews: Intel indicates that Saddam and his two sons were all in the bunker hit Wednesday night, and that Saddam was injured. They don't know for sure how badly injured, but the allied forces have seen no evidence that the top Iraqi military commanders have been in contact with the forces on the ground.

A lot of that isn't new info, but just think about the strike on Wednesday night - it was an amazing feat; it was right on the money, just (apparently) not hard enough. We almost destroyed the Iraqi military command in one blow, and we did wing it, possibly quite badly. It will be interesting to read the whole story, whenever it eventually comes out.

U.S.: No Evidence Pilots Ejected Over Baghdad

2003-03-23T05:53:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Sunday discounted claims by Iraq that Western pilots had been forced to abandon aircraft over Baghdad.
Full Story: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=2431245

Picture of the "Iraqi Search for Downed Airman"

2003-03-23T05:50:00.000-08:00

And another.

Choppers Sent to DMZ

2003-03-23T05:47:00.000-08:00

Fox news reports 4 or 5 Chinook choppers sent towards DMZ(Iraq-Kuwait border), possibly where RAF Tornado when down.

2003-03-23T05:42:00.000-08:00

The Great Iraqi Disinformation Campaign has officiallly begun. Look for more staged acts like the one at the Tigris.

Iraqi news sources are also reporting that Saddam met with his officers today.

Search Goes On:

2003-03-23T05:35:00.000-08:00

Military personels have lit bushes on fire on the river bank hoping the pilot will come out. They seem convinced there is someone there. Some of the watchers in the crowd seem to be chanting. Fox news reports that the Iraq army tried to stage a similar event yesterday for the Russian news media.

2003-03-23T05:32:00.000-08:00

A crowd of Iraqis are celebrating something by the Tigris river. Still trying to figure out what is going on, though I suspect it's a ploy by the Iraqi police to make it look as if there is a downed coalition plane there.

What happened?

2003-03-23T05:30:00.000-08:00

According to a military analyst on Fox: Apparently what happened... the Tornado either did not have or did not have working their IFF (Identification Friend or Foe). There was an unidentifiable blip on the radar, efforts to identify it came up empty, so they brought it down.

UPDATE: Link to a story on the plane.

2003-03-23T05:22:00.000-08:00

There is white smoke coming from the banks of the Tigris. There are reports that Iraqi police set the reeds on the bank on fire themselves, but no one knows why.

If they are trying to make it appear as if a U.S. coalition plane went down there, they are not doing a very good job of it, according to Gen. Meyers.

Patriot brings down allied plane

2003-03-23T05:21:00.001-08:00

FoxNews: They're confirming that a Patriot missile misfire did bring down a British plane over the Gulf.

UPDATE: I'm late again on a story!

UPDATE: Three soldiers on board that Tornado.

2003-03-23T05:21:00.000-08:00

Patriot missile accidently shot down a British Tornado jet: This has just been confirmed by the Pentagon.

Shield "Naive"

2003-03-23T05:18:00.000-08:00

UK Telegraph via Instapundit

"We on the bus felt that we were sympathetic to the views of the Iraqi civilians, even though we didn't actually know any. The group was less interested in standing up for their rights than protesting against the US and UK governments.

I was shocked when I first met a pro-war Iraqi in Baghdad - a taxi driver taking me back to my hotel late at night. I explained that I was American and said, as we shields always did, "Bush bad, war bad, Iraq good". He looked at me with an expression of incredulity.

As he realised I was serious, he slowed down and started to speak in broken English about the evils of Saddam's regime. Until then I had only heard the President spoken of with respect, but now this guy was telling me how all of Iraq's oil money went into Saddam's pocket and that if you opposed him politically he would kill your whole family."

Modern Technology

2003-03-23T05:16:00.000-08:00

MSNBC's Kerry Sanders is outside Al Nasiriya reporting on some Iraqi resistance. He's on the ground, alongside an American Marine. As he reported what's going on, he drew a map in the sand with his finger to describe the specifics of the battle scenario. Let those in-studio guys have their screen writers and fly-over graphical maps. Nothing is better than a finger drawing in the sand.

MSNBC and CNN are both reporting that civilian women and children are being moved into the streets of Al Nasiriya has shields. Once again, we see the tactical advantages used by the brave Iraqi armed forces.

Pincer Attack on Baghdad Taking Shape: MSNBC

2003-03-23T05:11:00.000-08:00

A two-pronged “pincer” assault on the Iraqi capital appeared to be taking shape following the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers toward a showdown with Saddam Hussein’s best units, the Republican Guards, now dug in around the capital.

No "Scuds" Fired or Found: Pentagon

2003-03-23T05:06:00.000-08:00

"Maj. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the vice director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a Pentagon news conference that the Iraqis have not fired any Scuds and that U.S. forces searching airfields in the far western desert of Iraq have uncovered no missiles or launchers."

The Command Post

*** The Command Post Has Moved ***

*** The Command Post Has Moved ***

Iran: Missile was Iraqi, Not U.S.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Nizar al-Khazraji

Israeli Tech

Streaming Al-Jazeera

Iraq accused Israel of taking part in war

First Person Account on Baghdad Bombing

Playing the Israel Card...

admin note

Reuters Equivalence

RUSSIA SOLD SENSITIVE EQUIPMENT TO IRAQ:

Al-Jazeera's tapes of captured American troops

Smoking gun captured?

101st airborne tough night

Admin Update

Bob Woodward in WaPo

MISMATCH:

Iraqi tv job

Mapping the War

Our Friends the Russians

The outcome is certain.

Where is Powell?

FYI

Incredible...not.

Is Al Jazeera Now a Target?

Heavy fighting by the Euphrates; American casualties; Iraqis using human shields

Moral Equivalence?

Defense Department spokesperson says footage "looks like Iraqi TV propaganda"

IDIOT:

Likely is US military

WAR CRIMES:

PRISONERS:

Fox on American Prisoners

Interviews with US POWs?

International Reaction: India

Jordan Expels Iraqi Diplomats

POWs

War Crime

Republican Guard Speculation

Missing crew

Israelis consider lowering alert

POWs executed?

Bastards

Iraq latest: At-a-glance

Missing Aircraft or not? Not.

ABC: 11 Soldiers Captured

Must have been after some BIG ones...

from the admin

Damn, I'm Proud of Our Troops

ABC Says Large Fire Fight in Nasiriya

Correct me if I'm wrong

Phantom pilots

CIVIL STRIFE:

YOUNG TROOPS:

Rummy

UK Intelligence Suggests Saddam Survived 1st Raid

Arab Media "Parachutes Seen".

CNN Just Reported "No Aircraft Missing"

from qhate.com

Fox relaying report of possible missing aircraft

Ollie phones in

CNN: 7th Cavalry Taking Heavy Heavy Fire

Pictorial Update

STRATEGERY:

Update on Saddam

U.S.: No Evidence Pilots Ejected Over Baghdad

Picture of the "Iraqi Search for Downed Airman"

Choppers Sent to DMZ

Search Goes On:

What happened?

Patriot brings down allied plane

Shield "Naive"

Modern Technology

Pincer Attack on Baghdad Taking Shape: MSNBC

No "Scuds" Fired or Found: Pentagon

* The Command Post Has Moved *

* The Command Post Has Moved *