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23 March 2003
 

With regard to the current allied difficulties, it is important to note what some senior American officials said about taking Iraq's capital, Baghdad.

Occupying Baghad would be "unpardonable expense in terms of money, lives lost and ruined regional relationships." Colin Powell.

"We should not march into Baghdad. . . . To occupy Iraq would instantly shatter our coalition, turning the whole Arab world against us, and make a broken tyrant into a latter-day Arab hero . . . assigning young soldiers to a fruitless hunt for a securely entrenched dictator and condemning them to fight in what would be an unwinnable urban guerrilla war. It could only plunge that part of the world into even greater instability." George Bush Snr.

See Nicholas Kristof's piece in the IHT.


9:31:36 PM    Click here to add to the [] comments

Karlin has also linked to a story in today's Observer on new drinks to appear on the market this month. They are your average alcopops, like Bacardi Breezer or Smirnoff Ice - but with a twist.

Powerful blends of Chinese aphrodisiacs, vodka and passion fruit will create a 'generation of randy super beings', according to drinks manufacturers who expect the new tipples to rock the market the way alcopops did in the 1990s.


8:24:26 PM    Click here to add to the [] comments

Karlin has picked up on a story in the Washington Post today. It is something I wondered about as I was watching the news at 3.10am GMT on March 19. The White House is apparently none too happy with the BBC for broadcasting 1 minute 37 seconds of Bush, before his address started. It shows him drinking water, doing his lines and having his hair combed.

But while I was watching the BBC, I also switched to ITN's Euronews, being broadcast on RTE's TG4. They actually showed much more, about 5 minutes of Bush sitting in his chair, before the address.

I recorded 3 mins 50 seconds of it. After playing it back an 'Oh shit' can clearly be heard in the background, I can't be sure if it was Bush who said that - but his lips moved when it was said. It might have been the technician realising that he had flicked a switch accidentally. Oh shit indeed. It all proved quite hilarious.


8:22:26 PM    Click here to add to the [] comments

ITN is reporting the loss of one of its main reporters, Terry Lloyd. They believe his body to be in a hospital in Basra - still under Iraqi control.

I would aspire to be as successful as Terry in reporting - and even though I never met or knew him - I have watched his news reports all of my life. ITN reports on it here. The Gurdian reports it here. ITN's profile of Terry is here.

I am deeply saddened by his death.

 Terry Lloyd 1952-2003


7:27:40 PM    Click here to add to the [] comments

There appears to have been some liberal quoting going on, early in the story of missing journalist Terry Llyod and his news team. One cameraman escaped to safety - but there are conflicting reports on what happened. Sky News tells the story here.

What Daniel Demoustier is saying is that they came under fire from UK tanks and small arms.

Demoustier told her they had been fired on by tanks from the coalition forces at Iman Anas, while they were trying to drive away from a group of Iraqi soldiers.

"Immediately the allied tanks started heavy firing directly at us. Rounds were coming straight at the Jeep, smashing the windows and puncturing holes in the bodywork," he is quoted as saying.

It should be noted that Terry Llyod was a unilateral - not embedded with any military force.

Sky News then says:

MoD sources have said the ITN group had gone through several checkpoints where they had been warned to turn back but instead they chose to carry on.

I have read counter claims to this by Daniel - he said they were waved through without problem.

And quotes the Ministry of Defence (MoD)

"They went into an area against the advice of the military. We wouldn't deliberately target journalists."

Of course we all know what Kate Adie said about this before the war started - that journalists would indeed be fired on.

I wonder whether this was an honest mistake - their vehicles were clearly marked 'TV'. I wonder also if we will ever know the full story.


3:58:33 PM    Click here to add to the [] comments

I woke up this morning to something of a gloomy picture in Iraq - at least on the allied side. The number of accidents has been growing. Iraq is gaining some small victories. These incidents now include:

Seahawk helicopter crashes in Kuwait- near the border with Iraq. 12 soldiers killed.

2 Seahawks collide in the Gulf.

UK Tornado shot down by US Patriot battery.

Reports of US plane shot down over Baghdad.

At least 4 marines killed in Nasariyah - more injured.

US prisoners shown on Al-Jazeera. Up to 10 captured.

4 soldiers killed in RPG attack on Humvee in Northern Iraq.

Journalists apparently fired on by UK military - now missing.

Umm Qasr still not taken by allied forces.

US soldier held for grenade attack on senior officers of the 101st Airborne.


3:35:46 PM    Click here to add to the [] comments


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