Post Latest Iraq War News Here - Part II

[Messer Niccolò]

REUTERS

One day after hundreds of Slovenians hit the streets to protest the inclusion of their nation in Tuesday's U.S. war budget, Prime Minister Anton Rop said Washington goofed.

"When we asked for an explanation, the State Department told us we were named in the document by mistake as we are not a member of the coalition against Iraq," Rop told a hastily arranged news conference.

Slovenia was one of the states named in the $75 billion U.S. war budget which must be approved by Congress and includes grants to partners in the U.S.-led military action. Slovenia was slated to get $4.5 million from the budget, which Rop said will not be forthcoming.

"We are a part of no such coalition. We are a part of a coalition for peace," Rop said.

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[CrONoS]

Uncensored War News From The Russian GRU
Mar 26, 2003
Source: Russian GRU
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March 26, 2003, 1230hrs MSK (GMT +3), Moscow - As of the morning March 26 fierce battles have resumed in Iraq along the entire front. As was previously expected the sand storm has halted the advance of the coalition forces. Additionally, the coalition troops were in serious need of rest, resupply and reinforcement.
========

http://www.jihadunspun.net/intheatre_internal.php?article=49220&list=/home.php&

[DanS]

Two Iraqi convoys decimated. The first one at times about 12 miles long near Najaf. Described as a "suicide mission". Some Iraqis were wearing US-style uniforms.

http://msnbc.com/news/891508_asp.htm

The column trying to break out from Basra was first attacked from the air, dispersed, and then was eliminated by British tanks in the largest Britihs tank engagement since WWII. Also described as a suicide mission.

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/iraq040303/page.cfm?objectid=12781043&method=full&siteid=50082

[Ned]

On CNN, reporting from the Pentagon, US has issued deployment orders for an additonal 100,000 ground troops. The additional units include the 1st Armor, 1st Cav and two armored regiments. I also assume that it includes the 4th ID.

[Eli]

100,000?

It seems like they're expecting plenty of resistance even after the occupation is over.

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The Kurdish Radio says that the Iraqi army retreated from Kirkuk.

[Ned]

Eli, I suggest the reason is that they now expect to actually have to "take" the cities.

[DarthVeda]

Big Red One (1st Infantry Division) is deploying in the North of Iraq:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/27/sprj.irq.war.main/index.html

[GRU]

Al-Jazeera has shown some new destroyed coalition equipment. Among them:
1 Apache chopper,
1 Predator UAV,
some armoured vehicles

They say this equipment was destroyed near Najaf in counter-attack of Iraqis. Coalition troops were defeated and caused to retreat in that counter-attack. No word said about Apache crew fate.

P.S. Drone of such type is definitely new loss. Regarding Apache, I personally have just stills, not film itself, and I can not recognize if it is the same Apache, which was downed several days ago or it is a new one. Any info would be welcome.

[DarthVeda]

Was it in a grassy field? If so it may have been the same one...

[GRU]

DarthVeda ,

It was. The problem is the first one was downed in similar area. I know the S/N for first, but I can not see it for second.

Sorry I can not post a link to photos 'cause I am not sure that site will not add pictures of dead servicemen.

EDIT:
Now it is clear that war-picture sites are distributing the photoes of the same Apache, which was downed several days ago!

So, any news that the second Apache has downed shall be considered as a rumour only until either US military will confirm the second loss or some new photoes would be distributed.

[Hurricane]

According to BBC World TV news, the US General in charge of the 5th Corps, William Wallace (sic!), has said that the Iraqis don't fight like the ones they wargamed. He also said that the advance isn't going as expected. This is in stark contrast to the Generals we see at the press briefings.

[Hurricane]

According to the Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2003Mar26.html), it was French-manufactured Coronet missiles that destroyed the 2 Abrams tanks yesterday. The same article also says that 30 Apache Longbows were "badly damaged" in the "hornet's nest" they stubled into when attacking the Republican Guard. Quote:

In attacking a formation of about 40 Apache Longbows on Monday, the Iraqis staged a classic helicopter ambush first perfected by the North Vietnamese in the 1960s. As the lethal, tank-killing aircraft approached on a mission to destroy the Medina Division's dispersed armor, troops dispersed throughout a palm-lined residential area and opened fire with antiaircraft guns, rocket-propelled grenades and a wall of fire from rifles and other small arms.

While the Longbow is equipped with a $3 million millimeter-wave radar that can target tanks and air defenses on the battlefield from five miles away, the $25 million aircraft is most vulnerable to troops who pop out from behind an obstruction as the helicopter is flying low overhead and open fire.

The Iraqi fire was so intense that the Apaches had to break off their mission and return to base. With about 30 helicopters heavily damaged, only one went down in enemy territory. Its two-man crew was unharmed but was taken prisoner.

[Ned]

Hurricane, All of us would love to see that interview. Post a link ASAP.

[Hurricane]

Sorry, saw it on TV. They mentioned Washington Post had interviewed him, but I cant find it on their web page at least.

[Hurricane]

Ok found it. Here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2003Mar27.html

"The enemy that we're fighting is different from the one we'd war gamed," U.S. Army Lt. Gen. William S. Wallace told Washington Post correspondent Rick Atkinson. Wallace is commander of the V Corps, which was tested by an Iraqi ground probe overnight. "We knew they were there -- the paramilitaries -- but we didn't know they'd fight like this," he said. Asked if this signaled a longer war than projected, he replied, "It's beginning to look that way."