PERIODIC WAR UPDATES
March 23, 2004
12:05pm The Red Cross is amazed at how few civilian casualties there have been in Iraq and how few are fleeing Iraq. The U.S. is taking most of it’s casualties from ambushes, military in civilian clothes, and fake surrenders. The military is re-evaluating how it handles all such future encounters. One missile that hit Iran was Iraqi not U.S. Back home the Dow is down 290 points at noon.
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1:00pm Leave the lights on! Why are we allowing Baghdad TV to pass on all the disinformation, the pictures of our POW’s being mistreated? We are trying to not destroy the infrastructure. If we bomb it today, we’ll have to rebuild it tomorrow. So, for the time being, the lights stay on in Baghdad, but everything is subject to change. Deputy PM Tariq Aziz just appeared on TV, affirming to me that Saddam is greatly injured if not dead, otherwise why didn’t Saddam show? Bombs are once again falling in Baghdad as it’s now 10pm there.
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1:45pm Iraq says that the Shock & Awe turned out to be more like “Ahh, Shucks”. Time will tell. Poland has just entered it’s elite GROM commandos into the Iraq war along side U.S. troops. The coalition is now approaching 50 nations. Several of the 101st Airborne officers who were “fragged” in Camp Penn. want to get well and go back to the battle front! Meanwhile Kofi Anan says that the weapons inspectors still have a job to do in Iraq. Say what?
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2:45pm Pentagon reports total coalition death toll now at 39 as our forces begin to organize around Baghdad for “B-Day”. Iraq death toll in thousands and not published. It’s sad that tens of thousands of people may die in the next few days for a tyrant that would as soon kill those who fight for him as not. Where has mankind gone so far awry to come to this point? Maybe there will be some miraculous intervention- probably not!
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3:15pm I will once more archive this section shortly and start over. Abu Dhabi is showing footage of the two crew members of the downed Apache.
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PERIODIC WAR UPDATES
March 22, 2004
6:20am Now that it’s obvious that the Hollywood version of a war won’t happen (3 days), Wall Street is beginning to get the message as well. Expect a reality check steep fall on Wall Street.
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6:45am The latest speech by Saddam Hussein is most probably pre-dated and not a current message. An Apache helicopter has been downed in Karbala. Casualties mount.
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8:00am As our forward troops come within 50 miles of Baghdad and a face to face with the Republican Guard, a major sand strom is brewing which will greatly limit our planes in their ability to assist our ground troops. Meanwhie missile attacks on Kuwait increase while Patriot batteries have taken them all down so far.
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8:25:am British intel reports intercepting communications from Baghdad to Moscow asking for a special surgeon needed to save Saddam’s life.
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9:00am Three Marines were injured as Iraqi troops open fire from hospital windows near An Nasiriyah. Where’s the newspaper? Saddam’s TV appearances give no proof of a date- or that he’s alive.
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9:20am I was just one of the millions of people who boycotted the Oscars. The audience was OFF 23%, the lowest rated in history! At least the majority of the crwod booed Michael Moore. Even an episode of “Joe Millionaire” last month received a higher rating.
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9:45am Recent Intel says that Saddam has ordered the destruction of the Darbandikhan dam once U.S. troops move near-by.
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11:00am Morning wrap before archiving this section. It’s very strange that a city of 5 million people are seemingly going about their daily routines as coalition forces are within 24 hours of the city. Tomorrow is really B-Day! How and where the war goes from Tuesday the 25th will largely determine how the rest of the war goes. The Republican Guard awaits our forces.
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PERIODIC WAR UPDATES
March 21, 2004
An earlier post this morning at 6:30 am about the realities of war got accidently put into archives. You can click above for that comment.
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8:30am Rumors are flying. A plane was shot down over Baghdad and Al-Jazeera is showing pictures of a search in the Tigris River. U.S. command denies that any plane has been shot down. Centcom is saying that we have 8-10 soldiers that are “unaccounted for” but they are not pilots. Hey, how can anyone keep track of 200,000 sldiers?
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9:45am Al-Jazeera has just broadcast a tape of five U.S. soldiers, including a woman from Texas, who were captured by Iraqi. Such TV brodcasts and interviews are against the Geneva, Convention. All five were from the 507th Maintenance Unit which operates out of Ft. Bliss, Texas.
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12:10pm Eight Marines were killed in an ambush and 50 injured in An Nasiriyah. Troops had pretended to surrender, then opened fire. ITN reporter, Terry Llody has been killed as well. And, a “brigade-sized element” of Iraqi soldiers were wiped out by the 3rd light Marine armed unit.
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3:00pm The first chemical weapons have been reported found at al Kut.
A small group of U.S. forces are now coming in from Turkey and boming is picking up in the North. Four plane loads of U.S. Special Forces have just landed in Kurd conrolled areas as well.
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7:45pm Now more than 7,000 sorties have been flown. The chemical plant has been secured by the Pentagon. Two Iraqi generals that have been captured are talking about WMD’s that of course France refused to believe Saddam had.
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8:00pm The Northern front is getting more attention as mentioned above at 3pm, plus the deployment of the 173rd Airborne out of Italy.
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9:50pm Last Sunday report. Our smart baombs are dumb and dumber. They have gone astray hitting both Iran and Turkey: sure glad I live in America.
THE REALITIES OF WAR
March 21, 2004
After the initial flurry of all positive news, the realities of war have begun to set in.
We have lost nearly two dozen fine young men which does not include the UK. We have had our first account of friendly fire and the recent news that a Patriot shot down a British plane. And worst of all, we have our first account of “fragging”. A soldier assigned to the 101st Airborne threw a hand grenade into an officers command center. The man, a Muslim American, killed one and twelve are seriously injured.
We have also had our normal share of non-military accidents. You cannot put 200,000 soldiers in any one place and not have accidents, some that lead to death.
So, as we enter day FOUR of the war, as Americans demonstrate in the streets, as Hollywood parties all day and night, and as life goes on as normal here in America, may we take some time to pray for and remember those that are giving their lives for freedom’s principles.
May we also ask for mercy for all the innocent civilians in Iraq and those soldiers who do not support the oppressive regime of Saddam Hussein but who cannot run for fear of being killed by their own men. The reality of war is something that humanity seems to have to be reminded of every so often; too often. May God have mercy on all who suffer and will suffer the realities of war.
PS. More periodic updates this afternoon.
PERIODIC WAR UPDATES-
March 21, 2004
8:45pm Unfortunately it now appears that the attack at camp Penn. on the leadership of the 101st Airborne was done by one of our own- a Muslim American service man. If true, the ramnifications and implications go far beyond just attempted murder: and hopefully it will be just that and not murder. Thirteen very fine American officers are have been taken out of action- 6 seriously.
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PERIODIC WAR UPDATES-
March 20, 2004
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8:15am Basra has now fallen. Three cruise missiles accidentily go astray and hit Iran. Coalition forces now total 52 nations.
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10:00am The U.S. lost four soldiers in Iraq today. Tommy Frank
PERIODIC WAR UPDATES-
March 20, 2004
1:45pm A second round of missiles are now slamming in to Baghdad. U.S. Marines have now arrived at the first bridge over the Euphrates, which is intact. At this rate, Baghdad could be reached by Sunday.
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2:10pm Tikrit is added to the major cities that are being bombed along with Mosul and Lirkuk. More evidence says that Saddam must have been injured in the first strike. Several Iraqi leaders are now talking of surrender reports the usually reliable Stratfor Intl. Some 600 Iraqi’s have been taken prisoner by U.S. Marines in the last 48 hours.
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2:45pm The Rumaila oil field has now been secured by U.S. forces. It cranks out more than 50% of all daily oil that Iraq produces. The oil terminal had been set to blow up but our forces defused it in time. We got there before they could detonate it.
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3:00pm Wall Street is confident! Up eight days in a row, more than 1,000 points, 12%+ for the Dow in 8 days, and the Dow has the best week in 21 years. All three major indexes are now in the BLACK for the year. And, as icing on the cake, oil which was nearing $40 last week, fell to $26 today. Amazing!
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3:40pm Some 1,500 missiles have been launched today in an awesome display of power. Before the night is over more hits scheduled for Baghdad. As each hour goes by without a word from Saddam, Iraq surrender becomes more and more real.
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4:30pm In what could be a problem, Turkey has moved troops into N. Iraq, much to the Kurds and Bush’s dislike.
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6:20pm Voila! For the first time that anyone can remember (if ever) search engines show that the word SEX has been replaced by the word WAR! Iraq’s entire 51st Infantry Division surrendered their 8,000 force to U.S. Marines.
PERIODIC WAR UPDATES-
March 19, 2004
6:20am America has taken it’s first combat fatality: a US Marine. Thursday, four servicemen were killed in an accidental helicopter crash.
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7:00am With the war just 24 hours old, it appears that leaders of the Republican Guard are having discussions with the Pentagon on some sort of mass surrender.
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8:00am Eight B-52 bombers took off from Fairford airbase in the UK. If their destination is Iraq, they’ll arrive around midnight (3CST).
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9:00am The first POW camp has been set up just inside Iraq as the administration of war logistics grows.
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10:00pm 500 Australian Special Forces troops are currently deep in the heart of Iraq. Some Allied troops reach the Euphrates River. So far about a dozen Scuds have been fired: weapons Sadddam said he didn’t have.
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10:30am The US 3rd Infantry Division has now encountered Iraq’s 11th Infantry Division who had earlier been reported as willing to surrender en masse.
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11:10am Just heard from my son who has had his assigment changed. He’s now building a POW camp somewhere 60 miles inside Iraq- in the desert. As reports come in that planes are taking off carriers left and right, tonight just might be a major problem for Baghdad and the Republican Guard. Many are reporting that this will be the long-awaited “Shock & Awe” campaign- tonight.
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12:00 High noon and Baghdad is being hit with about everything possible. More than 300 cruise missles have been launched!
PERIODIC WAR UPDATES-
March 19, 2004
Check archives above for previous hourly updates.
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2:30pm The war is now only 18 hours old. In the South, the 101st Airborne is now on the move. Approx. 72 cruise missiles hit Baghdad today. Bush freezes Saddam’s assets. More than 40 nations are now among the Coalition of the Willing
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3:00pm British commando brigades attack Faw peninsula from which some Scuds were fired: one completely over-shooting Kuwait and landing in teh Gulf. In Baghdad, one of Saddam’s family homes is levelled.
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3:30pm Northern Iraq appears to be quiet. Neither Turkey of the US are on teh move. Sirens have gone off in Mosul for the third time, but no action. Back in the South, the 7th Calvary of the 3rd Infantry Division in NW Kuwait has been ordered to hold-up after being told to move out 30 minutes before.
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4:20pm The well-traveled and talked about “shock & awe” assault is yet to visit the Iraqi world. The now famous phrase is, “If you have to ask if that was it, it’s not.” Several Republican Guard leaders are defecting and my prayer is that many more will and we’ll not have to experience S&A at all. Once again, the first city to fall and be under US Marines is Umm Asar.
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5:20pm Turkish troops are preparing to move into N. Iraq, while A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack planes fly out of Kuwait to support the Marines in S. Iraq.
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10pm The first sixteen casualties of the war come from a mechanical failue of a helicopter. Twelve British and four Americans killed. Meanwhile in the North, Mosul is now under air attack. More than 2,000 US soldiers are headed South from Turkey.
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10:30pm H3 air base in the “Scud Box” of Western Iraq surrenders to Coalitions Forces. Allied forces are on a roll!
OCCASIONAL WAR UPDATES-
March 18, 2004
You can look back at yesterday’s commentaries by hitting the top right hand button. These are “intel” bytes from non-public sources.
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6:55am Four missiles were fired at our troops with Patriots taking out three of them. One a scud which of course Iraq said it did not have.
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9:05am Our soldiers are now encountering Iraqi troops in combat. Iraq is setting their oil fields on fire in the South. All of our troops along Kuwait border have been given a “MOP1″ status, meaning don chemical suits and head into battle.
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10:30am US Marines start offensive to occupy first city- Umm Qasr near Basra. This would be a landing site for amphibious craft during invasion. Nine missiles fired into DMZ by Iaq. US Troops on the outskirts of Basra are preparing a ground assault to occupy this major city in the South. Intense firefights are on-going along the border. Waves of AH-64 Apache helicopters headed north!
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11:45am Uday Hussein has supposedly suffered a brain hemorrage. Air raid sirens going off in Baghdad now.
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12:15pm Baghdad is taking heavy hits from Tomahawk and cruise missiles. The 1st Marine Expeditionary Force has entered Iraq. One presidential palace building on fire in Baghdad. Umm Qsar has fallen to Marines. Bush to hold press conference at 1:45pm.
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1:45pm The 11:45 post said that Uday had a brain hemmorage. Now, it’s being reported that Qusai may have been killed last night.
THE WAR IS ON………………………
March 18, 2004
Stratford Intelligence had said that Bush would speak to the nation at 8CST but it’s now at 9:15. Sirens are going off in Baghdad. It is now 5:45 am in Baghdad so the surprise is the attack is in the MORNING and not at NIGHT…..More to come in minutes! (You can go back to previous comments for updates as I am doing a “rolling” reporting as news comes in).
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8:50pm NBC is reporting that there will be two boming runs will be made tonight by F-117 nighthawk stealth fighters to soften things up before the B-52s come in.
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9:00pm Initial attacks are aimed at Iraqi leadership only currently. Just a couple of cruise missiles went after a few key leaders. It was a surgical strike as an opportunity existed on one or more of five key leaders including Saddam’s sons.
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9:15pm Bush announces that 35 nations are jointly working together to end the Saddam terrorism and that we will settle for no half-measures but total victoryand that the “US will apply decisive force.”
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9:45pm US warplanes hit Republican Guard units defending areas south of Baghdad but Kuwait ground troops are still on hold.
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10:15pm 40 Cruise missiles from the USS Donald Cook and others were launched in the initial attack as an opportunity to hit key leaders availed itself. Uday Hussein promised aggressive retaliation.
THE NEW CHURCHILL & TRUMAN?
March 18, 2004
As we’re on the brink of war, I may make more than just one commentary in a day- as “thoughts” flow from one ear to the other. So, if you worry about missing anything just hit the “commentary” button at the top right hand corner. I subscribe to several “intelligance” sources and I often get news 1-4 hours ahead of the normal press.
On Tuesday, British newspapers were depicting the demise of Tony Blair. There were pictures on the front page of one newspaper with Blair’s head on the chopping block. Some said 75% of the population was against him and his own party was being shredded. In fact, several members of his cabinet resigned in full public view.
So, what’s Tony to do? In grand Churchill passion, he goes before the House of Commons and states his case forcefully. And then he tells them that if they turn him down, and his soldiers as they sit on the Iraq border- HE QUITS! So what’s happens? He gets an overwhelming vote of confidence one day after he was supposed to get a defeat.
Here in America, in spite of what Opra, Clinton, Carter, Cronkite, Daschle, and most of Hollywood thinks, Bush steps up to the plate and gives Saddam a 48 hour notice. Why? He simply says it is because he took the oath of office to defend this nation and the constitution. And, like it or not (in Harry style), he says “the BUCK stops here.”
Whatever you might think about these men, it’s refreshing for me to see two men who seek TRUTH, and who in the face of great adversity, do not shrink back or follow “opinion polls”. I love men with courage and guts like Churchill and Truman of the last century: and men like Blair and Bush of this new century.
PS. Debka reports fighter-bombers took off from the USS Kitty Hawk at 4pm CST and that allied forces were on target to reach Umm Qasr by midnight.
DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS, CHIRAC!
March 17, 2004
Europe is having a hard time adjusting to the man who occupies the White House. He is very much unlike the previous occupant who went to Oxford and told people whatever they wanted to hear. He was much like most Europeans.
But who is this COWBOY that has such un-cultured slangs like, “Show us your cards” and “You are either with us or you are against us”. There is no wiggle room in such blatant shoot from the hip approach. Can’t we just talk nicely and somehow get along in the world community?
How can this man who wears cowboy boots and hats tell the cultured of France what he’s going to do without their PREMISSION? Le seigneur defend!
Not to be prejudiced, this cowboy from Texas offends all and those whom attack him learn a hard lesson. Just ask the Dixie Chicks! Poussins? Yep! They have found that it’s one thing to respectfully oppose Bush and it’s quite another to attack his neighborhood and residence. Hey monsieur (dude)- Don’t Mess With Texas!
IT’S NOT THE PG-13 MOVIE!
March 16, 2004
Well, here I am writing one hour after George Bush addressed the nation and gave Saddam & Sons 48 HOURS to take a hike. So, there are now 47 HOURS left. I don’t know how many HOURS there will be when you actually log on and read this
What I do know is that the world is in a countdown mode as we reel off the HOURS: and I am not talking Kidman, Streep, and Moore. I didn’t see the movie feeling it had nothing of value for me, though it may for others.
I do feel though that much of the world will have a value-added benefit should Saddam leave. I pray that the many zealots and soldiers will not, as Bush put it, “Die for a dead regime”. Saddam is history as dictator of Iraq in a few more HOURS.
The Coalition of the Willing will rebuild the nation. True peace can come to the people. Murder, rape, and intimidation can be put in the past. With such oil reserves, Iraq and it’s people can become very well to do. Iraq can model the future for many Muslim nations.
So, as we count down the HOURS, I can only pray that the people will do all they can to minimize the damage to the country, that the military will preserve the oil wells, and the oppressive leaders will have a change of heart. Once the people lose their fear of Saddam, they will quickly find how life is to really be lived.
The proverbial HOUR glass does not have much sand left in it. May history and destiny smile on the Iraqi people and our men and women in uniform.
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