Latest Items About the War

[V-G]

Annan Worried About 'Humanitarian Casualties'
Wednesday, Mar 26, 2003; 9:36 PM

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed increasing concern Wednesday about the civilian casualty toll in the war against Iraq, citing an attack in a residential area of Baghdad.

Annan reminded the United States that it is responsible for providing humanitarian aid to civilians in areas controlled by the coalition.

- Associated Press



New Explosions in Baghdad Outskirts
Wednesday, Mar 26, 2003; 8:23 PM

BAGHDAD, Iraq (Reuters) - Another 10 blasts hit Baghdad early on Thursday and anti-aircraft fire could be heard over the Iraqi capital which has been battered by waves of strikes since a U.S.-led war started a week ago, a Reuters witness said.

"There were 10 explosions, some of them apparently near the city center, and others outside," correspondent Khaled Oweis said. "There was also anti-aircraft fire but I could not hear any planes."

- Reuters



Powell: U.S. Should Not Yield to U.N.
Wednesday, Mar 26, 2003; 5:23 PM


The United States will not cede control of Iraq to the United Nations if and when it overthrows President Saddam Hussein, Secretary of State Colin Powell said Wednesday.

"We didn▓t take on this huge burden with our coalition partners not to be able to have a significant dominating control over how it unfolds in the future," Powell told a House subcommittee.

"We would not support ... essentially handing everything over to the U.N. for someone designated by the U.N. to suddenly become in charge of this whole operation," he added.

"We have picked on a greater obligation -- to make sure there is a functioning Iraqi government that is supported by the coalition, the center of gravity remaining with the coalition, military and civilian," he said.

Powell said the United Nations should, however, have a role in a post-Saddam Iraq, if only because it makes it easier for other countries to contribute to reconstruction costs.

- Reuters



British Forces Backed by Airstrikes in Basra
Wednesday, Mar 26, 2003; 5:02 PM

CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar - Coalition aircraft pounded a convoy of Iraqi tanks and armored vehicles streaming out of the besieged southern city of Basra late Wednesday, British military sources said.

The sources estimated the column at about 120 vehicles, heading southeast along the main road toward Abadan. They said it appeared the Iraqis were using the sandstorm that had blanketed the region to try to sneak out.

British forces have ringed Basra for several days, exchanging artillery fire with forces loyal to Saddam Hussein's regime. The British say they are coming to the defense of inhabitants who rose up in the streets against Saddam Hussein's regime on Tuesday.

Basra had been largely quiet Wednesday, after British forces "neutralized" militia fighters who had lobbed mortars at Basra's residents on Tuesday, said Lt. Col. Ronnie McCourt, a spokesman for British forces in the Gulf.



Iraqi Republican Guard on the Move
Wednesday, Mar 26, 2003; 3:08 PM

A large contingent of Iraq's Republican Guard headed south under cover of blinding sandstorms in a convoy of vehicles Wednesday toward central Iraq -- site of the heaviest fighting of the war.

Cobra pilots resupplying Marines in central Iraq cited military intelligence reports that columns of 3,000 Republican Guard troops were moving from Baghdad to the city of Kut along Highway 7, and 2,000 more were seen south of Kut.

"I don't have a number, but we have seen reports of Republican Guards coming south in significant numbers, in strong and significant numbers," said Navy Capt. Frank Thorp, a spokesman at U.S. Central Command in Qatar.

Thorp later said he was not referring to Republican Guards but Iraqi forces.

Coalition forces may find it difficult to attack the columns because sandstorms sweeping across Iraq for a second day have grounded helicopter flights throughout the area and significantly reduced the number of flights off carriers in the Persian Gulf and eastern Mediterranean.

The blinding storms also hampered resupply efforts. Most aircraft have been grounded since Tuesday morning, including helicopters bearing food, water and ammunition. Some that were able to fly Wednesday picked up casualties.

The Iraqis, meanwhile, issued their first report of battlefield action by the Republican Guards. A military spokesman said a Guard special forces unit attacked coalition troops in south-central Iraq, destroying six armored vehicles and inflicting unspecified casualties. There was no allied confirmation of such an attack.

[happy_gunner]

Colin Powell is getting a bit mouthy in this bit:
""We have picked on a greater obligation -- to make sure there is a functioning Iraqi government that is supported by the coalition, the center of gravity remaining with the coalition, military and civilian," he said."
- Big words from the coward of 1991, someone should point out to him how the puppets in Kabul & Belgrade are doing.
Wonder if he'll volunteer to be the main bodyguard for the "functioning Iraqi government"?

[Dalamar]

oh. its quite simple. as they said, they want to establish a government of their own. Iraq i about to become the first official US-American Colony.

[V-G]

Originally posted by Dalamar
oh. its quite simple. as they said, they want to establish a government of their own. Iraq i about to become the first official US-American Colony.

You couldn't be more right Dalamar, Free Iraq??? Soon you will see that Iraq will be ruled by a MONKEY. Oil reserves will be depleted in the shortest time possible and US will never leave Iraqi people in Peace... too gready. Kill Bush Kill Saddam and no problem, the world will be in its best shape!!!

[Euke]

V-G I agree with you we should kill saddam and bush. there a huge threat to the world anyway.

[millgirl]

Now you are taking this a bit too far! Please don't alienate your US friends here.

[red_fenix]

Euke, I have a serious question from you; HOW OLD ARE YOU ??