*IRAQ: latest news and developments

[Poi E]

Originally posted by DJ Squelch

Why would the Iraqi's keep the bodies, if they are soldiers executed for desertion?

Perhaps rebellious Iraqis were executed there. A modern-day tower of skulls.

 

[Catpain Choas]

First Tests Show Iraq Powder Not Chemical Weapon


http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle....C2NQ5UCRBAEZSFFA?type=topNews&storyID=2512460





More and more looks as though there has to be a shipment of Chemical Weapons to Iraq, so that accidentally it can be found and stop this entire question lark!

 

[dilute micro]

That Basra morgue is the strangest thing I've heard. I also heard that one death record dates back to the 80's.

Hey, Tub, does the Iraqi Defence Minister deny the 3rd is riding into Baghdad? ..maybe it's really a Hollywood studio. Dream on.

 

[Loki]

Captain Choas, your link corrected to make it work (I hope)

 

[joe dick]

The Battle Plan for Baghdad?
A secret Pentagon report sketches seven scenarios.

http://slate.msn.com/id/2081098/

1) "Isolation Siege."
2) "Remote Strike (Rubblizing)."
3) "Ground Assault, Frontal."
4) "Nodal Isolation."
5) "Nodal Capture."
6) "Segment and Capture."
7) "Softpoint Capture and Expansion."

 

[Lock&Light]

The discovery of the human remains could be very bad news for the hundreds of Kuwaitis who might still have retained a faint hope in the safe return of their sons and husbands who were taken prisoner by the Iraqis in 1990-91. If so it is chilling to note that these people were apparently all killed by a shot into the head.

 

[Spud Murphy III]

No doubt a lot more of the Ba'athist regime's unpleasantness will be uncovered in the weeks and months to come.

 

[Lock&Light]

Judging from his latest pronouncements it would seem that the Iraqi Minister of Information has passed through the looking-glass.

 

[Hawkeye Pearce]

BBC story

Could be the remains of the soldiers who rose up against Saddam in 1991 IMO. I expect the full depravity of the Baathist regime will become clear in the next few weeks.

Hawk

 

[Loki]

Marine Colonel Relieved Of Command In Iraq

Colonel Had Commanded Camp Pendleton's 1st Marine Regiment

POSTED: 12:01 p.m. EST April 5, 2003

SAN DIEGO -- U.S. military officials have taken the unusual step of removing a commander in the midst of fighting in Iraq.

Col. Joe Dowdy was removed as commander of the 1st Marine Regiment, one of the Marine units approaching Baghdad from the southeast. The unit has about 5,000 troops.

Anyone know why?

 

[joe dick]

loki,
i've been trying to find out for hours - the closest rumor i have been able to find is that he was the commander of the marine who shot himself while sleeping with his gun. but this hardly seems reason to relieve a decorated combat officer....
a couple of posts above you will be able to find the links that i have found on this subject...

it's pretty bizarre - i'm not sure but i think the mef regiment this guy commanded is just outside baghdad. let me kow if you find anything.
maybe he had a 'heart of darkness' experience and went native, like kurtz...

 

[Lock&Light]

Originally posted by Loki
Anyone know why?

I don't know, but I suspect it might have had to do with over enthusiastic estimations of his sucesses.

Wasn't he the one who claimed to have captured a general, but turned out not to have?

Possibly someone else know more or better.

 

[joe dick]

Originally posted by Lock&Light
I don't know, but I suspect it might have had to do with over enthusiastic estimations of his sucesses.

wouldn't they have to relieve all of centcom in that case?

but yah, i think he was the one who captured the 51st division and its generals etc etc. but do you really think that this might be the reason? i'm really curious about this one.

 

[john x]

Originally posted by Lock&Light

Wasn't he the one who claimed to have captured a general, but turned out not to have?

That was the Daily Star!

john x

 

[joe dick]

Originally posted by john x
That was the Daily Star!

john x

ohmigod! are they part of the 'coalition of the willing', too?

 

[joe dick]

interesting. related?

bbc:

1945: Iraqi state TV shows pictures of Saddam Hussein with sons and top military commanders.

2000: Massive explosions heard in the centre of Baghdad.

 

[Hawkeye Pearce]

USA claims Iraqi army major formations destroyed

Though given the amount of bull shit flying around i'd be inclined to treat this with extreme scepticism!

Hawk

 

[Cautious Fred]

'White powder' found by US turns out NOT to be chemical weapon after all. BBC report.

 

[joe dick]

Numbers and Estimates From Iraq

Saturday April 5, 2003 10:40 PM

- Iraqi deaths: Neither Iraq nor the coalition has released an estimate of military casualties. Iraq says nearly 500 civilians have been killed and more than 4,000 have been wounded since the war began.
- Casualties: Among U.S. troops, 79 dead, eight missing and seven captured, according to the Pentagon. Among British troops, 27 dead.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-2536239,00.html

 

[bigfish]

The slaughter of the Iraqi military has yet to be counted. One American General has already claimed to have killed over 5000 Iraqi soldier just on one section of the western front. Reports of piles of bodies lying everywhere are coming in from the in bed with journos as the push into Baghdad. My guess is that they have slaughtered over 20,000 Iraqi soldiers so far.

Also, two 15,000lb Fuel Air Burst Bombs or daisy cutters as they are disarmingly called have been dropped on the Baghdad devision of the Republican Guard.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/apr2003/bagh-a04.shtml

 

[Gumbert]

Originally posted by bigfish
The slaughter of the Iraqi military has yet to be counted. One American General has already claimed to have killed over 5000 Iraqi soldier just on one section of the western front. Reports of piles of bodies lying everywhere are coming in from the in bed with journos as the push into Baghdad. My guess is that they have slaughtered over 20,000 Iraqi soldiers so far.

Also, two 15,000lb Fuel Air Burst Bombs or daisy cutters as they are disarmingly called have been dropped on the Baghdad devision of the Republican Guard.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/apr2003/bagh-a04.shtml

http://www.iraqbodycount.net

 

[joe dick]

BAGHDAD -- Iraqi army forces launched a counter attack on US special forces and Kurdish Peshmerga troops east of Mosul Saturday, Al Jazeera Satellite TV Channel reported.

The Iraqis used tanks and heavy artillery to block the advance of the US forces to Mosul, forcing them to abandon positions which they had occupied Friday on the road to Mosul, the report said.

CAIRO -- Iraqi forces and US-led coalition troops are engaging in a fierce fighting in Al-Yousuffia area, west of Saddam International Airport, Al-Arabia satellite channel reported late Saturday.

The coalition troops were running out of ammunition and were unable to pull out from the outskirts of Baghdad after leaving the airport, according to the Dubai-based TV channel.

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm?id=0...&objectid=47BD2119-2F0C-4BF9-A9489D5109DBE97E

 

[joe dick]

Closing In on Baghdad Will Push War Underground

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32294-2003Apr4.html

 

[Bajie]

Oregon Law Would Jail War Protesters as Terrorists

PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) - An Oregon anti-terrorism bill would jail street-blocking protesters for at least 25 years in a thinly veiled effort to discourage anti-war demonstrations, critics say.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14942-2003Apr2.html

Does not look like this bill has much chance of being passed but the fact that it is even being considered speaks volumes.

 

[Lock&Light]

Another friendly fire incident in Northern Iraq. US planes attacked US Special Forces and killed 10 to 12. John Simpson was injured in his leg by shrapnel. Very graphic report from John Simspson on BBC.

 

[Louloubelle]

BBC News

Friendly fire incident - a convoy of 8 - 10 cars carrying US special forces and a senior Kurdish figure bombed, BBC John Simpson injured by shrapnel - live report with JS reporting now on BBC "Its like a scene from hell here" JS interrupted by a medic telling him that he is bleeding from the ear "bodies are burning here - our translator is very badly injured"

 

[Lock&Light]

British troops are reported to be moving into central Basra. "Not encountering much resistance".

Meanwhile "Chemical Ali" is believed to be dead, which would explain yesterday's reports of celebration in the streets of Basra.

 

[ernestolynch]

To add (unconfirmed reports) to Lockey's commentary on BBC1. Lockey, we all have BBC1 here.

 

[Lock&Light]

Originally posted by ernestolynch
we all have BBC1 here.

You are very sure of that, I'm sure. ALL?

 

[Loki]

That John Simpson report available online here (Real Audio/Video file)

(edit - there's definitely a bug with vBulletin displaying some links - it can't seem to handle underscores. But if you click on the above link then remove the first "%20" and then the "<br%20/>" bit it'll work)