STARTED! Baghdad Being bombed - Post made by Mr. OverclockerBloke, War Fanatic

Sleepy · 5 Apr 2003 at 23:57

CENTCOM says the Super Cobra that crashed earlier today, killing both marines on board, was not brought down by hostile fire.

Sleepy · 6 Apr 2003 at 00:05

News Items that were missed today due to the incursion into Baghdad:

ABC News reporter says seven civilians, including three children, died when US marines fired at two lorries that refused to stop at a checkpoint south of Baghdad.

A US soldier is charged with the murder of two officers in a grenade attack at an army camp in Kuwait last month; Sergeant Hasan Akbar also faces 17 counts of attempted murder.

Reuters report that a US officer has said that first tests of a white powder found in thousands of boxes near the Iraqi capital indicated it was not a chemical weapon. - An exposive IIRC

Sleepy · 6 Apr 2003 at 01:11

Originally posted by dirtydog
1988 I believe. When they got caught in the crossfire between Iran and Iraq's armies who were attacking each other with poison gas. That's how the Kurds in Halabja died.

Thats not what the Human Rights Watch documentation says. They have eye witnesses to 40 seperate attacks over a 16 month period. They were tagetted by Iraqi air and barrel artillary. The figure of 40 errs on the low side.

HRW

Werewolf · 6 Apr 2003 at 04:58

Did anyone else see the guy on the news (BBC) commenting about the Iraqi troops (presumably on Iraqi TV) celebrating around the turret of a blown up tank in some iraqi propigander.

Apparently it's off a soviet model tank (not American, but Soviet, as in the type the Iraqi's use).

The expert made the point anyone with some knowledge of tanks could ID it as such.

Also i'd like to take this opportunity to request that everyone calm down.

If need be make use of the "ignore" option in the control panel for a few hours/days (i've done that recently, and some of the other Dons i suspect have been tempted)

Yossarian · 6 Apr 2003 at 10:03

A US plane has bombed a convoy of their own special forces and some Kurdish soldiers killing at least 10. John Simpson (BBC Chief Liberator) was injured in the attack.

silverpaw · 6 Apr 2003 at 10:08

Originally posted by Yossarian
John Simpson (BBC Chief Liberator) was injured in the attack.

Nooooooooooooooooo! John Simpson's quality.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2921743.stm

US bombs own convoy in N Iraq

US forces have bombed a convoy of American special forces and Kurdish civilians in northern Iraq, the BBC's world affairs editor John Simpson says.

John Simpson, who himself suffered minor injuries in the attack, said he could see a lot of bodies.

He described the attack as a "bad own goal" by the Americans.

The convoy contained between eight and 10 cars, two of which contained US special forces.

Among the injured is thought to be a senior Kurdish political figure, our correspondent says.

MacX · 6 Apr 2003 at 10:18

Originally posted by Werewolf
Did anyone else see the guy on the news (BBC) commenting about the Iraqi troops (presumably on Iraqi TV) celebrating around the turret of a blown up tank in some iraqi propigander.

Apparently it's off a soviet model tank (not American, but Soviet, as in the type the Iraqi's use).

Spotted that straight away when they showed the celebrating Iraqis. One particular man was holding a battered turret upright, which looked like a BMP2 turret from its shape and line of smoke dischargers.

Also regarding that Abrams tank that was destroyed. If you watch the film supplied by the Fox reporter of the incursion into the outskirts of the city, you can see the tank commander spike the immobilised tank with a grenade or something.

Watch carefully as he is standing on top of the tank. He seems to make a motion like pulling a pin from a grenade, then drops something into the open hatch before jumping off.

silverpaw · 6 Apr 2003 at 11:02

British tanks are going into Basra center.

[Edit:]John Simson just told an American Special forces medic to, um, leave him be

[/Edit]

Sleepy · 6 Apr 2003 at 12:53

Originally posted by silverpaw
British tanks are going into Basra center.

Looks like were here to stay.

Werewolf · 6 Apr 2003 at 13:20

apparently in another friendly fire incident American ground forces were shooting at a British Helicopter.

According to the news the pilot landed and "berated them" :eek:

then carried on his business
I would assume he landed after identifying himself rather firmly over the radio.

KPeh · 6 Apr 2003 at 13:25

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/39058000/rm/_39058629_iraq_simpson_1135_vi.ram

There's the John Simpson report

.

And the transcript is here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2921807.stm

dirtydog · 6 Apr 2003 at 13:27

Originally posted by Yossarian
A US plane has bombed a convoy of their own special forces and some Kurdish soldiers killing at least 10. John Simpson (BBC Chief Liberator) was injured in the attack.

Sounds like John Simpson was lucky - another very nasty incident

Originally posted by Werewolf
apparently in another friendly fire incident American ground forces were shooting at a British Helicopter.

According to the news the pilot landed and "berated them" then carried on his business
I would assume he landed after identifying himself rather firmly over the radio.

How many aircraft have the Iraqis flown in this war so far? So when those American soldiers saw a helicopter they assumed it was an Iraqi one not a coalition one? :rolleyes:

I imagine what the Brit pilot said is unrepeatable.

Bony Maloney · 6 Apr 2003 at 14:36

^^^^Have they actually managed to get a plane/helicopter off the groud?? I thought their air power was null and void.

dirtydog · 6 Apr 2003 at 14:46

Originally posted by Bony Maloney
^^^^Have they actually managed to get a plane/helicopter off the groud?? I thought their air power was null and void.

Exactly.. I guess those soldiers didn't think of that! Trigger happy / gung ho? Nah!

Will · 6 Apr 2003 at 14:54

Please remove...

theleg · 6 Apr 2003 at 15:00

Heres a clue for those who jump to conclusions from a position of absolute ignorance..

The British army uses Gazelle helicopters..these

Iraq bought 100 of these from france in the late 80s.

Until we know more about the incident, why dont we stop calling the US forces names?

Ex-RoNiN · 6 Apr 2003 at 15:21

War is hell

Will · 6 Apr 2003 at 15:51

Originally posted by Balddog
Heres a clue for those who jump to conclusions from a position of absolute ignorance..

The British army uses Gazelle helicopters..these

Iraq bought 100 of these from france in the late 80s.

Until we know more about the incident, why dont we stop calling the US forces names?

Eek, you're right, forgot about the Gazelle....I would be fairly surprised if the iraqis had kept them flying since they are supposed to have received no parts for their military since the start of the sanctions, but still, there is a possibility....will retract my earlier statement.

theleg · 6 Apr 2003 at 15:56

Originally posted by Will
....will retract my earlier statement.

Twasnt your statement i had a problem with mate

You were right about the pumas and the other one flown by the RAF..unfortunately the gazelle is built by both westland and aerospatiale(sp?) and the french sold to iraq. As for spare parts, I dont think that would be a problem. While the UK and possible france wouldnt have sold parts direct to iraq, the gazelle is in service with a lot of nations who would happily sell despite the sanctions.

seaviewuk · 7 Apr 2003 at 08:36

AP NEWS:

"Chemical Ali's" body has been found