War Updates

[Liberal]

I thought I would open this thread for the benefit of people who might not have access to news outlets for prolonged periods of time, like while at work for example, in order to help keep everyone abreast of developments in Iraq as the final hours of the ultimatum approach. All I ask is that only information from news sources be posted and no editorializing or arguing about the war. This is just for bringing news to people.

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Presently, coalition troops are beginning to move toward the Kuwait-Iraq border into TAAs (Tactical Assembly Areas). The Speaker of the House has just informed Congress that he has received notification from President Bush, in accordance with requirements of the resolution passed last year, that in the president's opinion, diplomacy has failed and Iraq has showed no signs of complying. It is a three-paragraph document that is required for the president to have congressional authorization to use force.

There are rumors, reported by the BBC and others, that Tariq Aziz, Saddam's Deputy Prime Minister, has been shot trying to leave Iraq. No one has yet confirmed the rumor, and some people suggest that it is disinformation intended to disrupt Iraqi morale.

Turkey has just given the coalition permission to fly over its air-space, but has denied the usage of US air bases in Turkey.

More as I hear it throughout the day...

[Liberal]

CNN reports that refugees have begun to "stream across" the Iraqi-Jordanian border. It also reports that Saddam has posted hundreds of armed loyalists in groups of three and four throughout Baghdad for the purpose of "maintaining law and order" as the invasion progresses.

[Liberal]

Anthony Shadid of the Washington Post reports in an MSNBC interview that Baghdad is beginning to look like a ghost-town. He says that whole neighborhoods have been abandoned, leaving boarded up homes and store-fronts. He also confirms reports of Bath Party loyalists establishing positions throughout the city, armed with rifles, grenades, and small rockets. He says that no gas masks or other protective equipment has been issued to people who remain in the city.

[Liberal]

MSNBC reports that General Tommy Franks, leader of the coalition, has returned to his post in Doha, Qatar. This is considered by some to be a sign that operations are imminent. Fewer than 9 hours remain for Saddam to leave. Personnel on aircraft carriers in the Gulf and in the Mediterranean have been ordered to sleep through the day and be prepared to be awake all night. 20,000 soldiers in the army's 3rd infantry division have now taken up positions somewhere in the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait.

[Crusoe]

Sky News is reporting that Bahrain has offered Saddam Hussein sanctuary. The offer was refused.

[Liberal]

Fox News reports that President Bush, Vice-President Dick Chaney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, General Richard B. Myers (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), and other top military brass are huddling in the "War Room" at the White House. Kurdish refugees are beginning to arrive at the border with Syria, and Turkish troops and equipment have taken positions near the northern border between Turkey and Iraq. On the southern border, in the DMZ, mobile chemical and biological warfare labs have been positioned at the forefront of coalition troops. Rumors are that Saddam intends to poison bridges and roads with VX and anthrax agents.

[bernse]

OK, dumb question.

If a person has enough internet access to read this thread (nice summation, Lib) wouldn't they have access to the news?

[Liberal]

Thanks, Bernse. And that's not a dumb question at all.

Sometimes, the traffic at news sites is so bad that people can't get in. That's how it was during 9-11, for example, and a lot of people stayed updated here. I'm lucky enough that I have a TV going and can keep up with things pretty well. I'll keep tab on the thread views, and if it turns out that I'm the only one going in and out of here, I'll let it drop off into the back pages.

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Right now, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer is holding a press conference. If anything new comes out of it, I'll report.

[Homebrew]

Not necessarily. Some places have firewalls that block known time-sinks like CNN or other major news outlets. However, fewer Sys Admins seem to know about the SDMB, otherwise known as the biggest time vampire on the interent.

[bernse]

Makes sense. I do remember 9.11 and not being able to see many updates. I didn't even know the towers fell until I saw a post on a message board until well after the fact.

Thanks!

[JoeBlank]

Lib, I am having a busy day at work but would like to stay informed. Rather than surf endlessly for the most recent update, I am simple refreshing this thread every hour or so.

Thanks for keeping us informed. Like a mini-Drudge (no offense intended). Keep up the good work.

[Liberal]

Fox News reports that Iraq has denied rumors of the attempted defection of Tariq Aziz. Iran has abandoned its embassy in Baghdad. And...

Newsflash: Aziz is presently appearing on alleged live TV, apparently countering rumors about his defection.

[Liberal]

MSNBC reports that German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has said that, despite his own opposition, the US may use German air-space as well as US bases in Germany as facilities for the war. The Pentago has announced that all ground troops at the front are wearing bio-chemical protection suits, and that all carrier vehicles and tanks are equipped with air filtration systems. A powerful sandstorm is presently sweeping through the DMX. Fighters on recognizance missions from the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt have just returned fire against Iraqi anti-aircraft positions.

[lieu]

"Recognizance missions"? Those must be interesting. Thanks for the updates Lib, I'm catching up here as well.

[Liberal]

(Sorry for the misspellings... I'm sort of typing as I look back over my shoulder...)

Fox News reports that 15 Iraqi soldiers have attempted to surrender near the border with Kuwait. When told that they could not yet surrender since no war had begun, they reportedly replied, "Well then, we quit." Airborne forces are being mobilized in three unknown theaters.

[Meatros]

Originally posted by JoeBlank
Lib, I am having a busy day at work but would like to stay informed. Rather than surf endlessly for the most recent update, I am simple refreshing this thread every hour or so.

Thanks for keeping us informed. Like a mini-Drudge (no offense intended). Keep up the good work.

I agree, it's much more convenient for me to view the updates on the dope at work.


BTW-Good to have you back Lib

[Gorgon Heap]

I too thank you for your keeping up with the news here, Lib.


As an aside, here is an Air Force site that has plenty of AF info and a list of links to other Defense Department sites on the lower right. I was going to just post the Army sit, but it sucks.

Use these to check out policies, news, and equipment.


http://www.af.mil/sites/

[Liberal]

Thanks, Meatros and Gorgon! Might be short-lived, but I'm glad you and others are finding the thread useful.

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MSNBC reports that Red Crescent personnel are working furiously to prepare for refugees in Jordan. Between 50,000 and 100,000 are expected. Coalition forces have not yet sent the surrendering Iraqi soldiers (now said to number 17) back to Iraq. It is not yet known why.

[BMalion]

Keep up the good work Libertarian. Thanks!

[Liberal]

You're welcome!

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CNN reports that the 17 surrendering Iraqi soldiers have been turned over to Kuwaiti Border Police since they cannot be held as prisoners of war. The reports have been confirmed now by the U.S. military. The military is braced for hundreds of thousands of prisoners of war in the first several hours of the invasion.

[Morgainelf]

Thanks, Lib.

[Max Carnage]

Funny how Saddam said they'd fight with sticks and knives if necessary. I was wondering if they'd got a new army since the first Gulf War. Apparently not, since these guys seem to be surrendering even quicker.

[DaToad]

Thanks for the updates, Lib.

[Liberal]

You're welcome, Morgainelf and DaToad!

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Fox News reports that Saddam has received a unanimous vote of support from his parliament. Saddam has ordered the citizens who remain in Baghdad to set ablaze barrels of oil and stacks of wood. Officials suspect that Saddam believes this might hinder coalition bombings and drive them off-target. Officials noted that most bombs now are equipped with GPS devices and will be unaffected by the smokescreen. Targets are chosen by computer before planes or missiles are even launched. 7,000 targets have already been selected for the first wave of strikes. 2,000,000 leaflets were dropped in Iraq today explaining to Iraqi soldiers how to surrender. Thousands of reinforcements are on the way from Georgia, Texas, and other locations to help in everything from bridge and oil-well repair to policing.

[Gazelle]

Oh man. One of the worst parts of the first Gulf War were those burning oil wells. Whaddaya wanna bet he's going to do that again?

[Liberal]

According to sources at MSNBC (I think, maybe Fox), US special forces (Navy SEALS and that sort of thing) are already positioned near key strategic oil fields, and airborne support is prepared at a moment's notice to thwart any such activity. These fields will be among the first occupation objectives.

[UnwrittenNocturne]

Thanks Libertarian. Like so many others I am at work and having difficulty keeping up with the news. Your thread is a wonderful idea (and I am also able to keep my colleagues updated from it).

Thanks again

[Liberal]

You're welcome, UnwrittenNocturne!

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MSNBC reports that US warplanes have already taken out artillery positions and missile launching sites near Basra in southern Iraq. These were not necessarily connected to the impending invasion, but rather were responses to Iraqi violations of the southern No-Fly Zone yesterday. The city of Basra is another early acquisition target. Skeptics suspect that there were concerns about artillery being so close to coalition troops in the DMZ. Iraqi artillery is "world class" and their soldiers are well-trained and practiced in using it. Artillery accounts for the highest number of infantry casualties.

[Gazelle]

Good to know on the oil field front, Lib. Thanks for that tidbit and for this thread. You're a sweetie-weetie.

[Liberal]

Thanks, Gazelle!

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CNN reports that it has Pentagon confirmation that the artillery pieces were indeed taken out as a preparatory move and not a responsive move. Events are beginning to move very quickly. When the attack begins in earnest, it is expected to resemble nothing seen in the history of warfare. Simultaneous air, naval, and land strikes are designed to overwhelm nearly the entire nation in a few hours time. Experts say that there is no such thing as a "front" anymore. There will be thousands of fronts opened at once. The entire set of sweeps are being controlled by computer from command headquarters. The new tactics, somewhat similar to German blitzkrieg tactics, are called "Shock and Awe".

[beagledave]

The war has begun.

[UnwrittenNocturne]

Let us then, both for or against, hope for a swift resolution. My thoughts lie with all involved, the families of the American, British, Australian and Iraqi forces and of course the combatants themselves. Let us hope for a minimum of civilian casualties and a speedy end to the dictator.

*bows head*

[Crusoe]

The Evening Standard has now withdrawn the report beagledave linked to (at least, it's not on any of their news pages now). I'd seen the same thing and couldn't access the boards to post it, but it now appears a little premature--no other outlets are following suit, and the story first appeared around 4.30pm GMT (it's now 8.00pm).

[Liberal]

CNN reports that the White House has advised that Americans should be prepared for casualties, and not be misled into believing that the war will be sanitary. The Pentagon stresses that "the war has not started yet". It says that it will be very clear when the war has begun. (Sorry, Beagledave!) Sensor-fused weapons will be making their debut. In time-honored tradition, surrendering Iraqi officers will be allowed to keep their sidearms.

[koeeoaddi]

Thank you Libertarian! I have no TV and these updates are very much appreciated.

[beagledave]

fair 'nuff. I saw the Evening Standard link at another board..but it sounds like they jumped the gun

[White Lightning]

Originally posted by UnwrittenNocturne
Let us then, both for or against, hope for a swift resolution. My thoughts lie with all involved, the families of the American, British, Australian and Iraqi forces and of course the combatants themselves. Let us hope for a minimum of civilian casualties and a speedy end to the dictator.

I thought this was worth repeating.

Thanks Libertarian.

[Liberal]

You're welcome, Koeeoaddi!

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That's okay, Beagledave. It was worth reporting anyway. You never know!

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Fox News reports via an embedded reporter (reporters who travel with the troops in personnel carriers) that the 3rd Infantry division is now in "attack position" and is prepared to carry out the president's orders. All threats from Iraqi missiles and artillery against forward positioned troops have been "neutralized". Israel says that it is "100% prepared" for any Iraqi attack.

[jacksen9]

In time-honored tradition, surrendering Iraqi officers will be allowed to keep their sidearms.

[World Eater]

Originally posted by Libertarian
In time-honored tradition, surrendering Iraqi officers will be allowed to keep their sidearms.

What tradition is this?

[Liberal]

[...shrug...] I just report. You decide.

(I suspect it goes all the way back to the War Between the States, and maybe before. Lee and his officers kept their sidearms. I think that one theory is that the surrendered officers can help control their men. Their sidearms are no match for the arms of their captors.)

[World Eater]

Well I guess the sidearms are ok as long as they have no bullets in them.

[Liberal]

Okay, well, I gotta break off now. You're pretty much up to date as of now. When the war has started, President Bush will announce it from the Oval Office. If anyone wants to post updates, please feel free. Thanks.

[UnwrittenNocturne]

Thanks Libertarian, your efforts have been appreciated

[BMalion]

Originally posted by World Eater
Well I guess the sidearms are ok as long as they have no bullets in them.

Then we'd have the Iraqi officers as dangerous as Barney Fife, and I'm not so sure I'm comfortable with that.

[caveman]

Originally posted by World Eater
Well I guess the sidearms are ok as long as they have no bullets in them.

I dunno...isn't pistolwhipping a WoMD?

[World Eater]

<watching tumbleweed blow by>

Well I'm sure this thread will be hopping later tonight.

[funions]

Thanks Lib, your efforts to keep us informed are truly appreciated. I have a TV, but it has a mind of it's own. This is a better way to keep updated anyway - no pesky commercials or blathering anchors.

[Coldfire]

Silence before the storm, surely.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2862905.stm

A by-the-hour page by the Beeb. For when Lib isn't typing.

[Coldfire]

Dutch text TV says that Bush is expected to give the go-ahead for full scale bombing at 2:15 AM CET, which is 8:15 NY time (roughly an hour and a half from this post). Where they get this info, they do not say.