Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Gold/Mining/Energy : A to Z Junior Mining Research Site -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: 4figureau who wrote (3894)	4/2/2003 10:44:32 AM
From: 4figureau	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 5423

Baghdad battle tonight >>There was growing speculation today that Saddam Hussein's regime may be on the brink of capitulation after another night of explosions in Baghdad - observers reported hearing "considerable" small arms fire near the centre of the city last night.<< By Bob Graham in Baghdad, David Taylor and Justin Davenport, Evening Standard American armoured forces were racing towards Baghdad today after stunning successes on two fronts in a "rolling attack" on the Republican Guard. Military chiefs in Qatar were predicting that allied forces could even seize the chance to reach the outskirts of the capital tonight, depending on the strength of Iraqi opposition. By mid-morning UK time, troops of the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanised) were within 30 miles of Baghdad, the closest the Allies have yet come to the capital. They encountered a few abandoned tanks and personnel carriers on the road from Karbala, but there was no sign of a large Iraqi presence. Asked if they would reach Baghdad today, a senior US source said: "Just keep watching the television." In the first of a series of dramatic moves, troops completely encircled the city of Karbala, 68 miles southwest of the capital, before sweeping past along both sides of the Euphrates. In a separate action to the southeast, US marines fighting the Republican Guard near the city of Kut took a vital bridge over the Tigris, hailed by one senior officer as "the last big bridge we needed" before Baghdad. Thousands of US troops crossed the bridge today. Sources said they are on a route described as "a dagger pointed to the heart" of Baghdad. The advances paved the way for US troops and armour to drive, on three fronts, for the so-called "red line" of entrenched positions encircling the approaches to Baghdad. Troops were punching north-east from Karbala, from Kut in the east and directly north from the town of Hillah, on the eastern side of the Euphrates. "This could last hours, this could last days. We just don't know," a senior Central Command source said. "It depends on how the Iraqis respond to us. The source said the Allies were now driving forward en masse. "There is an awful lot of firepower out there," said a senior Central Command source. "It is an all arms battle. It is a tactical battle now. We are going round, surrounding and destroying. It is not a head-on, attritional battle." The advance to within 30 miles of Baghdad raises questions about whether the Republican Guard will come out to meet the US troops, remain in their entrenched positions, or retreat to Baghdad itself in readiness for street fighting. There was growing speculation today that Saddam Hussein's regime may be on the brink of capitulation after another night of explosions in Baghdad - observers reported hearing "considerable" small arms fire near the centre of the city last night. The report raised the possibility of fighting breaking out between Iraqi forces inside the capital - or even of allied special forces operating inside the city. Air Marshal Brian Burridge, commander of British forces in the Gulf, said the battle had entered the " decisive phase" but warned that it would not be over quickly. He said: "We need to proceed with great delicacy in Baghdad as we did in Basra." A senior Central Command source said the attack on Republican Guard positions was now a rolling attack. "All of the attack helicopters are up in the air, attacking dug-in positions," said the source. "Infantry are moving under artillery and air cover, with armour up at the very front. "The attack will keep moving until it encounters substantial defence, and once it has overcome it, it will move again. The principle is that it is a war of movement. If there are units which can be outflanked, they will be, then dealt with later." Today's progress came after allied forces took advantage of the near darkness of the new moon to make some of the most dramatic advances of the campaign. At Karbala, commanders had expected to tackle 6,000 men in a day-long battle. But in just three hours the city was surrounded. With the key city effectively neutralised, US forces then advanced north from Karbala towards two divisions of the Republican Guard at entrenched positions encircling Baghdad. The Pentagon believes that the Medina Division of the Republican Guard, which is dug in south of Baghdad, has been reduced to half of its original strength after days of heavy bombardment. Elements of two of Iraq's northern-most Republican Guard divisions - the Adnan and Nebuchadnezzar - have moved south toward Baghdad, apparently to reinforce the battered Medina division. Elsewhere, B52 planes hit the northern Iraqi frontline near Mosul and US army and airforce attacked Fedayeen militia in Najaf. US officials said Iraqis had been firing from a Shi'ite shrine in Najaf, but Allies had not returned fire to avoid damaging the site. In Baghdad, jets screamed low over the city with planes targeting the palace headquarters of Saddam's son Qusay. At the same time, distant heavy artillery fire could be heard right across the southern edge of the Iraqi capital thisislondon.com