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| Iraq |
| U.S. troops seize Saddam Palace in Center of Baghdad |
| 2003-04-07 |
| U.S. troops seized key buildings in the center of the Iraqi capital on Monday, including a major presidential palace and the Information Ministry. Reporters saw the tanks roll into the heart of Baghdad on the western side of the Tigris River, which divides the city. Also occupied was the Al-Rashid Hotel. |
| Posted by:OldSpook |
| #23 I think it would be great if some SpecOps troops dropped in to personally say "Howdy" at his next press conference!!! |
| Posted by: Yosemite Sam 2003-04-07 15:43:20 |
| #22 Nah, I think he's angling for the Press Secretary position for John Kerry's campaign. |
| Posted by: Don 2003-04-07 14:33:18 |
| #21 I think the Information Minister is angling for post-war employment with the NKors. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-04-07 14:05:14 |
| #20 The guys showering in one of Saddams palaces has to be worth at least 250 PsyOps points. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2003-04-07 11:29:41 |
| #19 LOL - my wife and I were talking about that very thing: I'm just waiting for Baghdad Bob to start talking like "Tommy Flanagan", and mentioning "my wife, Morgan Fairchild... yeah thats the ticket" |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2003-04-07 10:38:28 |
| #18 Can't fool me - that's John Lovitz in a beret! Yeah, that's the ticket... |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-04-07 10:10:19 |
| #17 So is there any truth to the rumor that there is a bunker or some Ba'athist facilities under the Al Rasheed Hotel? Inquiring minds want to know. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-04-07 10:02:08 |
#16  U.S. Army Stf. Sgt. Chad Touchett, center, and soldiers A Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, relax following a search in one of Saddam Hussein's palaces, damaged after a bombing, in Baghdad today. (John Moore, AP Photo) Enjoy, men! You've earned it! |
| Posted by: Dar Steckelberg 2003-04-07 09:13:27 |
| #15 I saw that press conference live. I figured the expression on his face meant, "Yeah, yeah, I know it's bullshit, but I'm paid to shovel it." It was funny when the translator couldn't keep himself from laughing. I think it was the Lebanese network's translator (they were getting the feed from a Lebanese station, they said). If we couldn't have actual tanks, I'd have liked to see one of the reporters point over his shoulder and shout, "Look! The Americans!" just to see what would happen. |
| Posted by: Angie Schultz 2003-04-07 08:40:40 |
| #14 Hillary Clinton has been in contact with the Minister. "He's the man for the job", she said referring to her desire to exile him for the position of US presidential press secretary, 2008. |
| Posted by: becky 2003-04-07 07:15:32 |
| #13 Some commercial grade fireworks during his press conference would have been great. |
| Posted by: Dishman 2003-04-07 03:18:10 |
| #12 Damn. I was waiting for that one shot from long range that would make his head explode on live TV. Or, it would've been funny to see an Apache come up behind him as he was talking. Damn. When will they get this guy. I can't stand watching people spew propaganda like this, WITH A SMILE ON THEIR FACE! |
| Posted by: RW 2003-04-07 02:32:31 |
| #11 01:22 MDT Seems this is "Just a Raid" (Recon in Force). The 2nd Bde of the 3rd Inf Div apparently were surprised by the lack of *effective* resistance, so they have gone on a rampage. No more details at this time, but it appears they are still controlling the Presidential palace Fox News showed |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2003-04-07 02:28:37 |
| #10 1:55 am CDT: Fox describes how an M1 tank named "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" blew up the statue of Saddam on the Horse with its main gun. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-04-07 01:57:39 |
| #9 I think I finally discovered the "secret weapons" of the Iraqis. They want to kill the Americans while they are "rolling on the floor laughing their asses off" I really wonder what they put in these black smokes circling Baghdad? |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2003-04-07 01:55:54 |
| #8 Information minister speaking at 1:35 am CDT. I'm typing as I listen on Fox: "We've slaughtered 3/4 of them now; there are some remenants left." "The picture as they have stated since they are really sick in their minds; they said they entered with 65 tanks into the center of the city. I am telling you that this is not true. This is part of the sick head." "There is no presence of the American columns in the city of Baghdad." "They tried to come from the area of xxxx; they were surrounded by our forces and their columns were slaughtered, and this is to be meant verbatim." "We have fed them a sour taste yesterday by the brave forces of Saddam Hussein." "We will not estimate the numbers of deaths; operations are on-going." "The Americans are beginning to commit suicide at the walls of Baghdad. I encourage them to continue committing suicide." "Those mercenary, I swear by God the ones in Washington and London they have thrown their soldiers into the fire. God will burn their bellies in hell on the hands of the Iraqis." "The columns are being killed by the hundreds on the walls of Baghdad. The Iraqis came out victorious. The battle is still going on the main fronts." "They said they took the Rashid Hotel and the Information Ministry. I heard one of their reporters confirm this. But I tell you this is not true, I am standing here now." "You just verify what you are hearing, do not repeat what you are hearing (from them). I blame the Jezerra channel because it repeats the Americans without verifying the information." [The translator is laughing as he translates!] "They only deserve to be despised. They have invaded a country they are dealing with a legitimate regime." [Fox is showing pictures of the statue of Saddam on a horse being blown as he speaks] |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-04-07 01:47:15 |
| #7 Map of the combat area: sat photo, 1m resolution. Fighting is on the center and lower right area. http://www.spaceimaging.com/gallery/iraq/republican_palace_crop.jpg |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2003-04-07 01:42:58 |
| #6 FLASH: Information Minister Speaks This is on Fox at 1:31 am CDT: Iraqi Information Minister is about to speak live; Fox is covering it. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-04-07 01:36:52 |
| #5 One clear indicator that the Iraqis have jack left in terms of professional forces, is the following: "U.S. troops had to pass through a 400-yard-long minefield to approach the area. There were 200 anti-tank mines spread on the road and U.S. troops pushed them aside and proceeded down the highway." These Iraqi morons didn't even know how to set up the AT mines right - didnt dig them in, or even stake them down with movement detonators or lanyards. I guess the Feydaheen arent too good if they are going up against something other than women and children. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2003-04-07 01:18:33 |
| #4 Humorous Question of the Day: How will the information minister explain this one away if they have captured his TV set in the Information Ministry? |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2003-04-07 01:14:54 |
| #3 Tune to Fox - live news - pictures of an M1 parked onthe front door of Saddam's (former) main Palace. 3/7 led the way. 3rd ID is in downtown in Brigade strength, with at least one heavy armor battalion combat team on the Palace grounds. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2003-04-07 01:13:10 |
| #2 The guys showering in one of Saddams palaces has to be worth at least 250 PsyOps points. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 4/7/2003 11:29:41 AM |
| #1 LOL - my wife and I were talking about that very thing: I'm just waiting for Baghdad Bob to start talking like "Tommy Flanagan", and mentioning "my wife, Morgan Fairchild... yeah thats the ticket" |
| Posted by: OldSpook 4/7/2003 10:38:28 AM |