War: Latest News

[danielson]

Look at this asshole: (Brits should be extra interested)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,922836,00.html

as a british citizen i dont think he can be viewed as part of an iraqi army unless he holds dual nationality, and even then treason is illegal

and im not sure militia fighters get classed as soldiers under the geneva convention as well

so i;d hope this is one of the few legitamate uses of terrorism laws

 

[Y_lifter]

Changes to the rules of engagement..

All Coalition forces are required to wear Chem Suits when in field
at all times. Anyone NOT wearing one, even in Uniform is suspect.

 

[kenleo]

AL JAZEERA TV


THEY ARE REPORTING A MINE SWEEPING DOLPHIN HAS BEEN KILLED TODAY AND ANOTHER DOLPHIN IS BEING HELD AS POW THE IRAQIS ARE TORTURING THE MAMMAL. STAY TUNED FOR LATER DEVELOPMENT ON THIS STORY.

 

[Y_lifter]

Don't piss me off with Dolphin Jokes...

 

[Delinquent]

Shit is about to hit the fan



U.S. accuses Syria of aiding Iraq

Rumsfeld also warns Iran, stops short of threatening strikes


MSNBC STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

WASHINGTON, March 28 — Defense Minister Donald Rumsfeld on Friday lashed out at Syria and Iran, accusing Syria of aiding Iraq militarily and Iran of sending in shiite expatriates as the U.S.-led coalition tries to remove Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. He did not explicitly threaten military action, but said the alleged actions could be considered a “hostile act.”

IN THE CASE of Syria, Rumsfeld told reporters that “we have information that shipments of military supplies have been crossing the border from Syria into Iraq, including night-vision goggles.”
Asked if the United States was threatening military action against Syria, Rumsfeld said: “I’m saying exactly what I’m saying. It was carefully phrased.”
“These deliveries pose a direct threat to the lives of coalition forces” fighting in Iraq, Rumsfeld added, and will be considered a “hostile act” if they continue.
Syrian officials were not immediately available for comment.

IRANIAN ‘COMBATANTS’?
On Iran, Rumsfeld said armed Iranian proxies were gathered inside Iraq and would be considered combatants if they interfered with U.S. forces.
“They report up to the (Iranian) Revolutionary Guard, and they’re armed, and there are some additional ones that are close to the border,” Rumsfeld said. “To the extent they interfere with Gen. (Tommy) Franks activities they would have to be considered combatants.”
Iran has opposed Saddam, and even waged an eight-year war against him in the 1980s. But it also has called the U.S.-led coalition an illegal invasion. One possible scenario is that any Iranians in Iraq might move to rally fellow Shiite Muslims in Iraq’s south.
Senior U.S. military officials told NBC News that a “few hundred” exiled Shiite Iraqis had re-entered from Iran recently. They saw the move as a significant development because it adds yet another group into the mix.
One of exiles’ stated goals is the liberation of two Shiite holy cities in Iraq, Karbala and Najaf.

 

[DcupSheepNipples]

US lawmakers seek to end French company's contract

Reuters, 03.28.03
By Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON, March 28 (Reuters) - No matter whether it's french toast or french fries they're serving to the Marines, a group of U.S. lawmakers want caterer Sodexho Inc. to stop it -- because its parent company is French.

Angry at France's refusal to support the war on Iraq, the lawmakers are urging the military to cancel a contract with Sodexho Inc., the North American unit of France's Sodexho Alliance <EXHO.PA>.

But one lawmaker, whose Maryland district contains Sodexho Inc.'s headquarters, has launched a counterattack, noting the company employs Americans in every U.S. state.

Rep. Jack Kingston, a Georgia Republican, has collected some 60 lawmakers' signatures against Sodexho so far and plans to send the petition later on Friday to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, a Kingston spokeswoman said.

"My colleagues and I abhor the idea of continuing to pour American dollars into a French-based firm when those dollars could be feeding our wartime economy," says the petition.

Terminating Sodexho Inc.'s $881 million contract to supply 55 Marine mess halls across the United States would "send a tangible signal to the French government that there are economic consequences associated with their international policies," Kingston wrote.

But his effort has launched a war of words with Maryland Democrat Rep. Chris Van Hollen who has sent Rumsfeld his own letter that notes that the people working for Sodexho in those Marine mess halls are Americans.

"Sodexho provides 110,000 American jobs, employing people in all 50 states and paying $646 million in taxes," said Van Hollen's letter. Also, he said, Sodexho Inc. lost employees at New York's World Trade Center in the Sept. 11 attacks, and participated in the recovery efforts there by catering for rescue workers.

Sodexho Inc. spokeswoman Leslie Aun said the controversy was unfortunate. "The Marines have a lot on their plate right now," she said. "We want to keep putting food on their plate." She said the company, headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, had also catered for U.S. soldiers in the 1991 Gulf War and in Bosnia.

Kingston's effort reflects indignation among some U.S. policymakers at the French for helping to confound U.S. attempts to get the United Nations Security Council to authorize military force against Iraq.

Earlier this month, lawmakers in the House of Representatives changed "french fries" and "french toast" to "freedom fries" and "freedom toast" on House menus. Since then, "freedom toast" has also been served on the president's plane, Air Force One.

Copyright 2003, Reuters News Service

 

[DcupSheepNipples]

'Showdown' looms - UK army chief


British soldiers in Basra risked their lives to protect civilians under fire
Britain's most senior army chief has said a "showdown" with Iraqi units in Baghdad loyal to Saddam Hussein is "not too far away".
Chief of the General Staff General Sir Mike Jackson said irregular Iraqi forces were being "pinned down" and "dying in large numbers".

He spoke as earlier in the day British troops engaged in fierce fighting on the outskirts of Basra to defend some 2,000 Iraqi civilians who were fired on by the country's militia.

Sir Michael said he believed a major clash with Iraqi Republican Guard forces - entrenched outside Baghdad - would happen soon.

He rejected suggestions coalition forces have become "bogged down" and that military plans have gone astray.

'Stopping and regrouping'

There has been criticism in some quarters at the pace of coalition advances and the progress made by troops trying to reach the capital.

Speaking at a news conference in London, General Jackson dismissed suggestions that the strength of Iraqi forces had surprised UK and US troops.

"Armies cannot keep moving forever without stopping from time to time to regroup, to ensure their supplies are up," he said.

"This 'bogged down' is a tendentious phrase. It's a pause while people get sorted out for what comes next."

Outside Basra on Friday the fighting continued, with British troops trying to defend civilians trying to flee the city coming under fire from Iraqi militia forces.

Women and children were among those attacked with mortars and machine guns.

British forces spokesman Group Captain Al Lockwood said: "Paramilitary forces loyal to the regime followed them and commenced firing upon them.

"The Black Watch then attempted to intercept the paramilitaries by going round the civilians."

BBC correspondent Hilary Andersson said British military ambulances had reportedly taken away the wounded, although casualty figures were unknown.

It was suggested the civilians may have been trying to get to food and water at points outside Basra - as they had done on previous days.

The city has been encircled for five days and with water supplies cut by half and international agencies warning of a crisis, coalition forces are anxious to be seen to deliver aid.

Major Will McKinlay said centres were being set up on Basra's outskirts to provide food and water to the "hundreds" of fleeing civilians, who would be given safe passage.

'Not many more troops'

Sergeant Duane Gardner, of the Queen's Royal Lancers, said: "Civilians tell us that the militia have piled into Basra.

"All their kit, their army - apparently the tanks are hidden in the shop windows and under car parks."

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said on Friday that Britain would not be sending many more troops to join the 45,000 already in Iraq, despite Washington's decision to sent up to 120,000 US reinforcements.

Meanwhile the first British aid ship has reached the southern port of Umm Qasr, and the bodies of the first British servicemen killed are being flown home.

 

[Delinquent]

from CNN breaking news


An explosion in Kuwait City early Saturday sent smoke over the city. The cause was not immediately known. Details soon.

No link yet

 

[DcupSheepNipples]

Possible Missile/Patriot! No major Casualties!

Live Video Kuwait City!
http://www.msnbc.com/m/lv/default.asp?0cm=c50

 

[wyld1g]

CHINESE MADE SILKWORM ANTISHIP MISSLE. Did you see the battery that said france in the hospital?