Article

2004-04-08 Iraq-Jordan

First Person Account of Siege Somewhere In Iraq

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Phil Fraering 2004-04-08 2:21:29 AM|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 They said that the Ukrainians have left my city

So this would be Kut.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-04-08 9:36:37 AM|| 2004-04-08 9:36:37 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Strategic recap

1. Tigris Valley/Sunni Triangle
A. Fallujah - Coalition reports USMC controls 25% of city. But thats at least 18 hours old. Heavy fighting
B. Ramadi - fighting continues, but slackening? USMC in firm control
2.Baghdad
A. Heavy fighting continues. Coalition troops control police stations in Sadr City, and have destroyed Sadr's office. Still considerable resistance from Mehdi army. Shiite population of Sadr City is NOT rising en masse, though some Sunni elements are supporting the uprising.
3. South
A. Karbala - report on NPR this AM that Mehdi army controled, Sanchez does not admit that coalition has withdrawn. No combat reports since report of Polish killing of Sadr aid yesterday
B. Kufa - Yesterday seemed to be in Sadr control, Sanchez did not mention, situation unclear
C. Kut - Sanchez reports coalition forces still have presence in city, and will retake it "imminently" Backed up by report posted above.
D. Najaf - Sanchez reports coalition forces still present. Situation complicated by presence of "pilgrims" for Shiite festival. Sadr presumed to be here, also Sistani.
E. Asmara, Nassiriyah, Basra - quieting down??

Please post your updates as they come in.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-04-08 10:03:03 AM|| 2004-04-08 10:03:03 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Wow, good read, thanks. I'd have put a pistol to that f*cking govn'rs head and took the fallout after we got the hell outta there.

Posted by Jarhead 2004-04-08 10:03:59 AM|| 2004-04-08 10:03:59 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 LH, that's really helpful. Thanks.

Posted by Matt 2004-04-08 11:33:55 AM|| 2004-04-08 11:33:55 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 oops i got my rivers mixed up Falluja/Ramadi are in Euphrates valley, Tigris valley is Samarra/Tikrit.

Hits self on head, "my father was a wandering Aramean, who came from across the River (IE Euphrates)" etc. Thats what comes from going to Reform Passover seders, where they dont include whole text.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-04-08 11:47:45 AM|| 2004-04-08 11:47:45 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 AP confirms Mehdi army in control of Kufa
Sanchez called Operation to retake Kut "Op Resolute Sword"

Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-04-08 12:47:47 PM|| 2004-04-08 12:47:47 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 More on the Poles and Bulgarians in Karbala
from Fox
Polish and Bulgarian soldiers drove off Shiites who attacked them near the municipal hall in Karbala south of Baghdad during all-night battles, a Polish spokesman said.

Coalition forces suffered no casualties but killed nine attackers and wounded about 20 others, Lt. Col. Robert Strzelecki said in an interview from Iraq.

The attacks began about 11 p.m. Wednesday and continued until nearly sunrise, Strzelecki said. The attackers, loyal to al-Sadr, used machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms during fighting that the spokesman described as heavy.

So fighting is ongoing in Karbala - to clarify, Fox quotes Sanchez as saying Mehdi army has control of all of central Kut, but only partial control of Najaf. IIUC Spanish troops are fighting in Najaf. And Op Resolute Sword refers to the entire op against Al Sadr, not just the retaking of Kut.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-04-08 3:03:11 PM|| 2004-04-08 3:03:11 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 I'd like to actually read this story but the link is apparently going to the wrong place (a story about the Alamo). A fix of the link would be appreciated. Thanks.

Posted by Meester Feester 2004-04-08 4:39:06 PM|| 2004-04-08 4:39:06 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 Oh, never mind. I get it.

Posted by Meester Feester 2004-04-08 7:44:53 PM|| 2004-04-08 7:44:53 PM|| Front Page Top

12:13 Mr. Davis
12:05 Anonymous5060
11:57 Anonymous5059
11:45 Anonymous5056
11:38 Anonymous5055
10:41 Dar
08:45 badanov
07:41 B
07:41 B
07:33 B
07:29 B
07:27 B
07:23 B
04:54 Super Hose
04:48 Super Hose
04:41 Super Hose
02:50 Zenster
02:31 Jen
02:28 Jen
01:43 Not Mike Moore
01:27 Not Mike Moore
01:18 Not Mike Moore
01:11 CobraCommander
01:07 CobraCommander