| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq |
| US encounter with Medina Unit 'crucial,' says Blair |
| 2003-03-24 |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair warned Monday that the rapid advance by US troops to Baghdad would soon be facing a crucial phase near Karbala in the war to overthrow Saddam Hussein's regime. "They will encounter the Medina Division of the Republican Guard, who are defending the route to Baghdad. This will plainly be a crucial moment," he said. Blair was addressing MPs on the latest development in the war against Iraq amid reports that up to 40 US helicopters were involved in the first assault on the Medina Division to 'soften' up Iraq's elite troops before the eventual battle for Baghdad. The Prime Minister warned that there was "bound to be difficult days ahead" but insisted that the war so far had gone according to plan despite the series of military setbacks. He referred to what he called the "difficulties that had arisen" and the "tragedies and the accidents" but said the UK and US "must keep sight of the bigger picture." Nothing ever goes totally according to plan. The Medes and the Persians are hoping for a U.S.-British fiasco — they weren't able to beat up Sammy in ten years. If we can beat him up in a week, that implies bad things for them... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #7 As I watch Tommy Frank today (monday) show the surrender instruction cards that have been released, I wondered why is he showing those now? Could it be to prep the media for reports of carnage that may come tommorow. |
| Posted by: Canaveral Dan 2003-03-24 14:44:38 |
| #6 I'm sick of all this "setback" talk. Hold this campaign up to any other military action in history, and talk to me about "setbacks." First the media warn of (and wish for) their beloved "quagmire," but then a few remarkable days of allied open-desert blitz become their standard, against which all real fighting will be seen as near failure. News ratings are highest when disaster looms... I think it would be interesting to compare the language of the embedded journalists with that of the studio anchors. |
| Posted by: matt 2003-03-24 14:32:03 |
| #5 Send in the MOABs... |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-03-24 14:13:23 |
| #4 The Karbala Gap is the key to the entire middle portion of the country. That's why there are 2 SRG divisions sitting there. Take no chances. These boys don't get the chance to surrender first. They get hit, HARD. Any that are still alive can surrender later. |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-03-24 13:58:35 |
| #3 I know the situation is very serious. But everytime I hear the Medina Division I can't help but think of this: http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palace/2009/Funky.html |
| Posted by: penguin 2003-03-24 13:38:17 |
| #2 A week perhaps, but lets hope for no more than one month. The resistance so far has been somewhat greater than anticipated, but everything rests on taking Baghdad. We're only witnessing the prelude right now, the real show is about to happen. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2003-03-24 13:38:08 |
| #1 The Karbala Gap is the key to the entire middle portion of the country. That's why there are 2 SRG divisions sitting there. Take no chances. These boys don't get the chance to surrender first. They get hit, HARD. Any that are still alive can surrender later. |
| Posted by: mojo 3/24/2003 1:58:35 PM |