A letter from the Olde Countrie

2003-06-25T19:31:00.001Z

Forget Warbloggers
Now we have Nudebloggers.

Do you get naked to blog?

Shocking Shell does.

Do you?

2003-06-25T19:31:00.000Z

Looking for love in all the right places
'We found love online'.

It is possible, I know.

2003-04-14T08:09:00.000Z

ANNOUNCEMENT
This blog has moved to:

http://www.acrosstheatlantic.com.

You will be redirected in 30 seconds.

It has also merged with the blog formerly known as Shellshocking.

Over at our new home, we will be posting much the same thing as you are used to reading here, but debating it from A US and a UK viewpoint. One hint: Marmite rules, and "y'all" is not an improvement to the language.

The new blog is running under the much more reliable Movable Type (Yayy!). It will takes us a week to get the blogroll and other links moved over there, so don't worry if you're blog is blogrolled here but not there - we'll get around to you soon.

2003-04-13T18:36:00.000Z

They've got Saddam's half-brother
Trying to cross into Syria.

Fox News says he was caught in Mosul, on his way to Syria.

Well, isn't that a surprise? Not.

2003-04-12T18:58:00.000Z

Forget my last post, I couldn't ignore this
What?

This belated "No shit!" moment, after reading a story that seems to have been quietly buried:

An Egyptian immigrant's deadly attack on an Israeli airline ticket counter last year has been ruled a terrorist attack related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, an FBI spokesman said Friday.

"Given his political views and the fact that El Al is an Israeli government-owned airline, that met the criteria for a terrorist attack," said Matthew McLaughlin, a spokesman for the Los Angeles field office of the FBI.

Hesham Mohamed Hadayet, 41, opened fire at Los Angeles International Airport's El Al ticket counter on July 4 last year, killing two people before being shot dead by an airline security guard.

The Department of Justice had withheld characterizing the shooting while federal agents launched a worldwide probe to determine whether it was a terrorist attack, hate crime or motivated by personal reasons.

The FBI findings were made several months ago and were recently approved by the Justice Department. McLaughlin said his office was told not to issue a press release but was given permission to confirm the decision if asked.

He said Hadayet acted alone and had no ties to any terrorist organization.

The investigation, however, found that Hadayet supported the Palestinian cause in the Israel-Palestine conflict and had become increasingly militant in recent years.

"The investigation developed information that he openly supported the killings of civilians in order to advance the Palestinian cause," McLaughlin said.

He said Hadayet bought the weapons used in the attack just weeks before the shooting, closed his bank accounts and sent his family overseas. He walked into the terminal with a .45-caliber semiautomatic Glock pistol, a 9 mm handgun and a six-inch knife.

The finding also contradicts the notion that Hadayet acted for personal reasons or because he was despondent over financial problems, said Hier, leader of the Jewish human rights organization.

In a 1993 interview for asylum, Hadayet told U.S. immigration officials that Egyptian authorities arrested him and accused him of involvement with Al-Gamma'a al-Islamiyaa, the Islamic Group. The group at the time was waging a violent effort to topple the secular Egyptian government and replace it with Islamic rule.

Hadayet said he was falsely accused of belonging to the group, which is now on the State Department's list of terrorist organizations.

I found the part about not announcing the decision particularly disturbing.

Any possibility this story was buried because Egypt is supposed to be our friend?

2003-04-12T16:47:00.000Z

Watch this space
Posting will be light this weekend as the Movable Type installation goes ahead on the new webspace and we I take care of testing and moving things over.

Watch this space for announcements on Monay. We I think you'll like the changes.

There were no hints whatsoever in the above.

2003-04-11T10:13:00.000Z

Day 23 update
Mosul falls without a fight to Kurds and US special forces
After Many of Saddam's better troops abandoned the city and the conscripts remaining (very wisely) chose to surrender.

Forfeited the right to be listened to
The Axis of Weasels, better known as France, Germany and Russia, are going to get together to decide policy on post-war Iraq.

Isn't that rather like Iceland, Greenland and Outer Jibberobia getting together to decide what the US should do about the Mexican illegal immigrant problem?

So has this guy
Hans Blix has something to say about war aims:

The invasion of Iraq was planned a long time in advance, and the US and Britain are not primarily concerned with finding any banned weapons of mass destruction, says the chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix.

"There is evidence that this war was planned well in advance. Sometimes this raises doubts about their attitude to the (weapons) inspections," Blix told the Spanish newspaper El Pais.

"I now believe that finding weapons of mass destruction has been relegated, I would say, to fourth place, which is why the US and Britain are now waging war on Iraq.

"Today the main aim is to change the dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein," he said.

Why hasn't Blix figured out that he has lost all credibility? Pension him off.

Now.

2003-04-10T18:13:00.000Z

Yes, we really meant it Part 2
What?

That we'd do the job in Iraq, then come home.

British Marines, who had been involved in heavy fighting in southern Iraq (during which they didn't lose a single man in combat), are expected home in a month.

(According to BBC TV news - nothing on the web yet)

2003-04-10T17:55:00.000Z

Iraq: The (nuclear) smoking gun?
Could be.

The discovery was unexpected and forces in the area are testing a variety of things to best determine the significance of the find.

Marine nuclear and intelligence experts have so far found 14 buildings that have high levels of radiation, an embedded reporter from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Thursday, noting that some of the tests have found nuclear residue too deadly for human occupation.

The Marine radiation detectors go "off the charts" a few hundred meters outside the nuclear compound, where locals say "missile water" is stored in enormous caverns, the correspondent, Carl Prine, reported. Prine is embedded with the U.S. 1st Marine Division.

"It's amazing," Chief Warrant Officer Darrin Flick, the battalion's nuclear, biological and chemical warfare specialist told the paper. "I went to the off-site storage buildings, and the rad detector went off the charts. Then I opened the steel door, and there were all these drums, many, many drums, of highly radioactive material."

2003-04-10T10:16:00.000Z

Day 22 update
Oil town Kirkuk now mostly in Kurdish hands

US-backed Kurdish forces are reported to have moved into the centre of the northern town of Kirkuk, one day after the regime of Saddam Hussein collapsed in Baghdad.

A BBC correspondent travelling with the troops, Dumeetha Luthra, said local people were celebrating.
"I am surrounded by crowds of people. They're celebrating what appears to be the fall of Kirkuk," she said.
Our correspondent said there were still pockets of resistance, but the army appeared to have fled the town that controls strategically significant oil fields in northern Iraq.

It was amusing to see that the Kurdish artillery appears to be equipped with British WWII (or earlier) era 25 pounder field guns.

The Arab press and the fall of Baghdad
The BBC has an err, amusing article:

Newpapers throughout the Arabic-speaking world reacted with a mixture of amazement, concern and delight on Thursday to the sudden fall of central Baghdad to US military forces.

"Momentous", "inexplicable" and "loathsome" were among the comments, as were "good news" and "rejoice".

The article has links to various Arab news sources and is more than a little amusing.

Towards Freedom
Is the name of the newest TV station on the planet. It will broadcast inside Iraq, on the same channel as the former state controlled TV station, is coalition controlled and has just broadcast a message from President Bush and ~~Vive President~~ Prime Minister Blair. In it. they promised that the money from Iraqi oil belongs to Iraq.

2003-04-10T07:21:00.000Z

Not the war 6: A piece of magic passes on
Concorde, the world's first operational supersonic passenger jet, is to be taken out of service in the autumn.

Concorde flights are to end after more than three decades of luxury travel.

British Airways and Air France made simultaneous announcements that they would be permanently grounding the famous supersonic airliners from the end of October. Passenger numbers have never recovered since the crash near Paris in 2000 and the aircraft no longer makes a profit.

In a statement, BA said Concorde would cease flying in the autumn because of "commercial reasons, with passenger revenue falling steadily against a backdrop of rising maintenance costs for the aircraft".

Concorde is a record-breaking aircraft, despite it's troubled history politically and otherwise. Military aircraft are capable of Mach 2+ (twice the speed of sound) in short dashes only. This is primarily because of the vast amount of fuel used. Concorde travels from London (and Paris) to New York at Mach 2 all the way - so fast, it outruns the timezones crossed and you arrive before you left.

Concorde is, in my not even slightly humble opinion, one of the most beautiful aircraft ever built:

2003-04-09T18:14:00.000Z

Day 21: This is not the end, despite what all UK news sources are saying
But it is very close to the end. Baghdad is now largely under US control.

I am sick of hearing reporters talking about how long it has taken. Get a grip boys and girls - the US and UK have subdued a country the size of France in three weeks with little loss of life! It took twice as long to liberate Kuwait during Gulf War I, and that was a very quick conflict.

What coalition forces have done is nothing short of amazing. There could so easily have been many more deaths and injuries, both civilian and military. It could also have taken so much longer.

I shall now endeavour to stop foaming at the mouth.

2003-04-09T18:06:00.000Z

Welcome
To readers of the New Observer.

2003-04-09T08:15:00.000Z

Not the war 5: little sympathy from me
In the US, the Seattle Times reports that gas (petrol) prices may drop to as little as US$ 1.58 a gallon after the war.

In the UK, where petrol is taxed to freakin' death (despite us owning many North Sea oil fields), we're currently paying anything up to US $ 6.00 a gallon.

And now I've started another day by foaming at the mouth.

2003-04-09T08:10:00.000Z

Yes, we really meant it, Part 1
Meant what?

That Iraq should be run by its own people after the war.

British troops appoint a 'mayor' of Basra.

British forces in southern Iraq say they have asked a tribal leader to take over as the "mayor" of Basra. The unnamed cleric will head a committee of local people to run Iraq's second city, where the British have overcome most Iraqi resistance.

In Basra, UK military spokesman Colonel Chris Vernon said the British hoped to move from a combat role to "post-conflict nation building" operations within a day or so.

2003-04-08T17:15:00.000Z

"This could be the big one."
The words of an Airborne Air Controller (presumably on board an AWACS) to the crew of the B-1 bomber being directed onto Saddam last night.

I imagine that got their attention.

2003-04-08T07:31:00.000Z

Not the war 4: McDonalds to go up-market
According to the BBC.

Fast food giant McDonald's says it is changing direction, after suffering the first loss in its 55-year history.

The firm's executives have conceded that its approach is out of date and would now change to give more healthy food and higher quality burgers.

The company plans to introduce a "premium hamburger" made with more wholesome meat. It says staff will be better trained, would smile and apologise.

Stainless steel and plastic will be counter-balanced by "aroma and warmth", executives say.

We will see. I haven't been into a McDonalds for anything other than a Diet Coke for several years.

2003-04-08T07:15:00.000Z

Day 20 update
Did they get Saddam during the night?
Group Captain Al Lockwood, confirmed the coalition had intelligence from three different sources that Saddam, together with his two sons and other officials, were meeting in a house. A B1-B bomber dropped three so-called "bunker busting" bombs on the house, leaving a 60 foot deep crater.

Saddam was believed to be in a structure attached to a restaurant or dining area, along with at least his son Udai and two to three dozen security or Baath party officers, officials told Fox News. Those present at the meeting were discussing how to get out of Baghdad, the officials said.

The target location, which officials believed had a bunker and underground tunnels, was a large crater after the strike. "Whoever was in there is dead," an official told Fox News.

Centre of Baghdad under attack
This morning, as coalition forces push forward.

Can't lead, won't follow, refuse to get out of the way
Who?

The treehuggers who delayed an Australian frigate heading for the gulf.

2003-04-07T19:33:00.000Z

And now?
US forces are not pulling out of Baghdad tonight. They are in the city in signficant numbers, and seem like they're there to stay.

British forces are out of their armoured vehicles and patrolling Basra on foot. There are some isolated incidents, but the city seems to be pacified.

2003-04-07T06:38:00.000Z

Day 19 Update
Now they're really there
US troops are certainly in the centre of Baghdad this morning. Conflicting reports say that one of Saddam's palaces and the Ministry of ~~silly walks~~ Disinformation are in US hands. Interestingly, the Minister of Lies is speaking in a hotel, 10 yards from a BBC reporter, rather than from his ministry. We've also seen very surprised looking Iraqi soldiers running, some in their underwear - perhaps awoken rudely?

He's talking about US columns being "slaughtered" and that they've re-taken the airport.

Bugger! I had hoped that half a dozen hulking great US Marines would walk in on one of his press conferences, just as he said something about how the US and British forces are in full retreat.

Basra: British troops tighten their hold
Basra falling.

UK forces have been consolidating their hold in Basra overnight, after a major assault on the southern Iraqi city in which three British soldiers were killed. British commanders said they made "big gains" in the assault on Sunday, and much of the city was now in their hands.

2003-04-06T14:45:00.000Z

Afternoon update (1600 GMT)
Basra
British armoured column reaches the centre of Basra, second takes and holds power station. Spokesman says "Basra is falling".

George Galloway to be expelled by the Labour Party in the UK
Saddam's Minister of Disinformation in Britain, (AKA 'Member for Baghdad Central') Labour Member of Parliament George Galloway, has vowed to fight any attempt to expell him from the party.

Mr Galloway, who last week branded allied leaders wolves, said it was his duty to speak out against the war. He also denied being a traitor, and said millions of people across the UK backed his stance.

"I am not without support in the country, not least within the Muslim community, which feels virtually powerless and almost voiceless amidst this catastrophe in Iraq. And it would send the message that Mr Blair wants free speech in Baghdad, but not in the British Parliament.

The 48-year-old MP was met with a backlash when he attacked allied leaders during an interview on Abu Dhabi TV. Armed forces minister Adam Ingram accused him of breaking his oath of allegiance to the Queen, while Education Secretary Charles Clarke branded his remarks completely unacceptable.

Suicide bomber hands himself over to British troops

A suspected suicide bomber has handed himself in to British troops in the suburbs of Basra.

The man, who was in his late 40s or early 50s, walked up to gates of a Royal Marines' base in Iraq's second city carrying five hand grenades.

He claimed to have been behind at least two attacks on the base in recent days but had enough, an officer said.

2003-04-06T08:53:00.000Z

Day 18 morning update (1000 GMT)
US Marines attack almost-empty terrorist training camp
"Marines moving through the town early Sunday found abandoned trenches, reinforced with sandbags, and empty sandbag nests on rooftops."

US Central Command
No link - it was a BBC TV interview.

Would neither confirm nor deny eyewitness reports that "large numbers" of coalition vehicles, including tanks, were moving into Baghdad from the direction of the airport.

"Chemical" Ali's bodyguard dead - positively identified. No news on Ali himself.

"Somewhere near 7,000" Iraqi prisoners of war now in custody.

Marines digging for chemical weapons in school

Marines are digging up the courtyard of a girls' school south-east of Baghdad after a tip-off chemical weapons may be buried there.

The Marines said they had been told about it by a man who described himself as a former member of the Iraqi special forces.

He said groups of men had knocked down a wall of the school two months ago, hidden something in the courtyard and then concreted it over again.

Friendly fire
In the last hour, a BBC reporter travelling with Kurds and US special forces in Northern Iraq, has witnessed another friendly fire incident. Up to ten vehicles were damaged or destroyed, all carrying Kurds and US troops. BBC reporter John Simpson was wounded in the leg during the attack. More soon.

From the BBC TV morning news
British tanks in the centre of Basra, according to eyewitnesses in a TV report.

An armoured Battle Group, comprising 2,000 assorted vehicles, has crossed the Euphrates River into Baghdad.

A British Army spokeman describes the push into Basra as "Brigade sized", and encountering little resistance. "Severa" battle groups are involved, so this can be seen as a "here to stay" operation.

2003-04-05T16:36:00.000Z

The first day of the end?
American forces report the can move freely around Baghdad. The Republican Guard seems to be holed up in its barracks and taking a pounding.

Americans estimate 1,000 Iraqi soldiers killed, for the loss onf one tank, the crew of which are safe. The headquarters of the Republican Guard's Medina Division is in US hands.

It is now dark in Baghdad and all is, for now at least, quiet.

The killing fields of Iraq? The remains of hundreds of men have been found at an abandoned military base. The bodies have been there for some time, and many show signs of mutilation. Most had died from gunshot wounds to the head. I wonder if any are of troops punished for "failing" to perform during Gulf War I?

COMMENT: I don't think anybody thought this much progress would be made so quickly in Baghdad. All, I think, as a result of a small patrol that met little resistance and so was reinforced quickly.

2003-04-05T12:39:00.000Z

Afternoon update from US Central Command (1330 GMT)
A water pipeline from Kuwait into Southern Iraq has been completed. Water should soon be restored to Basra.

The airport formerly known as Saddam International is under the "full control" of US forces. Extra troops and specialists are being sent int to make it an operating base.

Private Lynch rescue: Said "I'm an American soldier too." when her rescuers identified themselves. Weapons cache and terrain model found in the hospital. Graces dug up by hand in the hospital to recover US dead from Jessica's unit.

Infrastructure for oil production is being repaired.

2003-04-05T09:40:00.000Z

Laughing out loud
The Iraqi ~~Minister of silly walks~~ Minister of (Dis)Information is saying that they still have control of Saddam International Airport and that reporters will be taken there to see for themselves, just as soon as they finish mopping up the last few remaining Americans.

He goes on to say that they are inflicting heavy losses on Biritsh forces in and around Basra, destroying tanks.

He promised that electricisty will soon come back "to incrasing parts of Baghdad."

More martyrdoms.

We will "slaughter" the invaders, "those thugs."

Iraqi police cars are driving around the centre of Baghdad with their sirens sounding. You don't think this is a pathetic attempt to cover the sound of the fighting?

2003-04-05T09:06:00.000Z

Breaking news
What started out as a probe encountered little resistance and more forces are being sent in. A BBC reporter in Baghdad has reported seeing the battle in progress, roughly a mile from the centre of the city. Reuter's camera shows multiple plumes of smoke that look different to the ones caused by the oil trench fires.

I wondered if this is what might happen. They sent in probing forces, to see what the resistance might be. They probably had orders to pull back if they encountered serious problems. It is possible central command were surprised aty how little resistance was encountered and have hastily changed their plans.

This may not be the "big push", but I think it is much bigger than originally intended.

2003-04-05T07:17:00.000Z

Day 17 update
Breaking news: Knocking on the door
The US military says it has "forces" in the centre of Baghdad.

US tanks probe Baghdad defences
Up to 8 US Abrams tanks moved into the outskirts of Baghdad last night. Coalition HQ says they are "taking ground", not just probing.

No news yet on whether the above two are related. It has to be a given that special forces are in Baghdad, and may well have reached the centre. One analyst, speaking on the BBC, suggests the tanks may have kept going if they found little or no resistance. Baghdad is a big city, covering a similar area to London, so advancing that far seems unlikely without reinforcements. However, if little resistance is met, it must be at least possible that this is the beginning of the end.

Go home
Controversial muslim cleric Abu Hamza, who likes nothing more that to tell his followers to rise up against the infidel, may find himself on his way back home to Egypt soon. It is believed he holds dual British/Egyptian nationality. New government powers give the Home Office the right to strip British nationality from anyone holding dual nationality, if they are a naughty person.

A brief bio of this unsavoury character:

Egyptian-born Mr Hamza has been resident in the UK since 1979, gaining British citizenship back in 1981.

A former Soho nightclub bouncer, Mr Hamza has become the controversial face of radical Islam in the UK.

He was a regular preacher at the Finsbury Park mosque in North London until his suspension by the Charity Commission last April.

In 1999 Abu Hamza was questioned by Scotland Yard detectives on suspicion of terrorism offences in Yemen.

He was held for several days before being released without charge. He has always maintained his innocence.

The Yemeni authorities had requested his arrest and extradition, claiming he was linked to plots to bomb targets there.

But Mr Hamza came to real public prominence in the aftermath of September 11 when he praised the terrorist attacks on the US.

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

2003-04-04T17:51:00.000Z

Saddam: I'm not dead yet
Iraqi tv has just broadcast (aaprox. 1830 GMT) what appear to be pictures of Saddam, touring Baghdad. There is no way of telling that the filming was done today, but what look like palls of smoke are visible in some shots. This coud mean they were taken in the last 12 days, meaning that he did survive the strike on Day 1.

Curiouser and curiouser.

Hmmm .... closer look - he looks suspiciously young. Could be a double.

Then, on TV, he mentions an Apache helicopter being shot down on March 24th.

Shame the power is off in Baghdad - hardly anybody will have seen the broadcast.

2003-04-04T11:46:00.000Z

Day 16 Update the second
Gotcha?
A man identified "as possibly" someone who was connected with the killing of two British soldiers near Basra a few days ago, detained at British checkpoint.

British forces advancing into Basra
And they dealing very effectively with the opposition as they go.

British Marines thrashed 9-3
During a game of football (soccer) against the local team in Umm Khayyal. Ah, winning their hearts and minds.

2003-04-04T06:41:00.000Z

Day 16 update
Now known as Baghdad International Airport?
Coalition forces really do seem to be mostly in control of the former Saddam International Airport, although morning reports say that Iraqi forces are counter-attacking.

In the US: House approves almost US $80 billion to fund Gulf War II
The Washington Post reports.

Blair had to persuade Bush: Taliban first, Iraq second

Tony Blair had to persuade George Bush to tackle the Taliban before attacking Iraq after September 11, according to the former British Ambassador to the US.

2003-04-03T12:00:00.000Z

Give this young woman a medal
19 year-old Private Jessica Lynch, rescued from an Iraqi hospital, looks like a heroine, according to early reports:

Pfc. Jessica Lynch, rescued Tuesday from an Iraqi hospital, fought fiercely and shot several enemy soldiers after Iraqi forces ambushed the Army's 507th Ordnance Maintenance company, firing her weapon until she ran out of ammunition, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

Lynch, a 19-year-old supply clerk, continued firing at the Iraqis even after she sustained multiple gunshot wounds and watched several other soldiers in her unit die around her in fighting 11 days ago, one official said. The ambush took place after a 507th convoy, supporting the advancing 3rd Infantry Division, took a wrong turn in the southern city of Nasiriya.
"She was fighting to the death," the official said. "She did not want to be taken alive."
Lynch -- the first U.S. prisoner of war extracted from enemy hands since World War II and the first woman ever to be rescued -- was stabbed when Iraqi forces closed in on her position, the official said.

2003-04-03T11:40:00.000Z

The most recent briefings on the war
Summarised, BBC style.

2003-04-03T06:05:00.000Z

Day 15 Update
Pause? What pause?
Leading coalition ground units can "see the lights of Baghdad", and are just 15 miles away.

US air losses
A US Black Hawk helicopter has been shot down with 7 dead, 4 wounded. A F/A-18 jet, believed downed by a surface to air missile.

Republican Guard on the move
Republican Guard units are reported to be moving South, presumably to reinforce the depleted units there. I guess the Iraqi high command (which mys by consist of the Minister of Disinformation and the junior who makes the tea) aren't expecting an attack from North of Baghdad.

Priceless: Baghdad shoots itself in the other foot
The Al Jazeera TV station (thought by many to be Arabic for Baghdad Broadcasting Corporation), has stopped reporting from Iraq, following the barring of two of its journalists.

2003-04-02T16:48:00.000Z

Not the war 3: Apple phase out the computer that saved it
The iMac.

Are they mad?

2003-04-02T14:51:00.000Z

Afternoon update
Reuters reports US troops now "less than 20 miles" from Baghdad.

The Republican Guard "Baghdad" division has been "destroyed" South of Baghdad.

US troops have "crossed the red line" at which chemical attacks may be expected.

Tony Blair says post war Iraq should be run by the Iraqi people, not the UN or the coalition.

Saddam says "Victory is near" in another announcement, again read by the information minister. I am becoming more and more convinced that Saddam is dead - we got him on Day 1.

2003-04-02T07:14:00.000Z

Day 14 update
US Special Forces rescue POW
19 year old Private Jessica Lynch, captured along with others last week by Iraqi forces, was last night rescued from an Iraqi hospital. Unconfirmed is that the bodies of two others US soldiers were also removed. Jessica has several gunshot wounds and both legs and arms are broken.

No pause
Coalition forces have begun a big push towards Baghdad, with US forces "probing the outskirts" roughly 30 miles out.

Documents discovered
US forces have found incriminating documentary evidence in Northern Iraq that, among other things, gives instructions how to make Sarin.

Another heavy night bombing Baghdad
Err, aren't they running out of targets yet?

2003-04-01T12:40:00.000Z

Government breaking a deal
Ten years ago, when the Queen Elizabeth II bridge was built across the River Thames to the East of London (to supplement the tunnels that coul no longer cope with traffic flow), the toll was increased in order to pay for the bridge over many years. The promise was that the toll would be completely withdrawn once it was paid for, and a maintenance fund set up. Both conditions have been met. The crossing should have been free from today. It isn't, unless you're on a motorcycle.

The feeble excuses being given are all things that were known 10 years ago. I am deeply underwhelmed.

Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, has his eye on almost GBP 10 million a day the crossing generates, despite the crossing being between Kent and Essex, and not being in London. Red Ken, implementer of the GBP 5.00/day congestion charge for London drivers, after more money? How could I even suspect such a thing?

2003-04-01T12:11:00.000Z

ANNOUNCEMENT
I have finally had enough of Blogger's err, quirkiness. (It's been down all day so far.

In the next 7-10 days, this blog will move to MovableType; a new host; have a very new look; and a surprise or three. My 2 remaining readers can look forward to all the old insanity, with a twist.

Oooh, look, a multi-word item list with semi-colons, how quaint and old fashioned.
Watch this space.

2003-04-01T08:50:00.000Z

Day 13 update
Why they would have used the veto
This chart, over at the excellent Command Post, shows which countries sold weapons to Iraq. Guess who's top?

My name is Bond, Marine Bond
From an (obviously amused) Fox News:

For British soldiers fighting in Iraq, the code names involved in their mission are hard to forget ? for anyone who has ever seen a James Bond movie.

Crackling over the British communication equipment come references to "Operation James" and its military targets, code-named "Goldfinger," "Blofeld" and "Connery."

By alluding to James Bond, its star Sean Connery and some of the heroes and villains in the 007 movies, British commanders have several goals in mind.

They include confusing the enemy, helping British soldiers remember the code words and boosting military morale with a little humor.

One is amused.

Women and children shot checkpoint
After failing to stop. This is, of course, a terrible tragedy. I cannot find t in myself to blame the US troops who opened fire on their vehicle, especially after the suicide bomber that killed four of their number last week.

2003-03-31T20:29:00.000Z

Today Newsweek, tomorrow the world
They're talking about me.

2003-03-31T20:14:00.000Z

This may be the best piece of writing I've read for a while
What?

This.

2003-03-31T18:49:00.000Z

Some might call this treason II
I have just watched an Iraqi living in Briatain (the report didn't say which country he is a citizen of), explain to BBC TV that he wants to go back to Iraq and defend his country, even if that means fighting against British soldiers.

Fine. Your choice. Your democratic right.

I hereby authorise my government to use taxpayers money to ship him, and any like him, back to Iraq.

You have the right of freedom of speech, and I defend that right. You do not have the right to threaten to take up arms against the country you have made your own. Fuck off.

2003-03-31T17:20:00.000Z

That'll help
Today marks day 1 of another month-long amnesty to illegal gun owners in the UK. We can hand them in, no questions asked, and they'll be destroyed.

Gun crime is up on pre-take-all-the-guns-away-from-the-legal-gun-owners law. The criminal fuckwits still have guns, former legal gun owners (like) me, still don't. Another amnesty is bound to help gun crime - it's a well known fact that the criminal scumbags will hand them in, isn't it?

I'm sorry, my [sarcasm] switch is again stuck on [maximum].

2003-03-31T15:46:00.000Z

Some might call this treason
What?

This:

US broadcaster NBC has sacked celebrated journalist Peter Arnett after he gave an interview on Iraqi television saying the US-led coalition's initial war plan had failed.

NBC said on Monday: "It was wrong for Mr Arnett to grant an interview to state-controlled Iraqi TV, especially at a time of war. "And it was wrong for him to discuss personal observations and opinions in that interview."

Arnett, one of the few US correspondents left in Baghdad, became a household name reporting for CNN there during the Gulf War in 1991.

2003-03-31T11:34:00.000Z

Day 12 update
Some Republican Guard captured
Ananova reports:

American troops fighting in central Iraq have captured several enemy fighters who said they were members of Saddam Hussein's Republican Guard.

The US soldiers had been battling Iraqi forces in the town of Hindiyah and over a key bridge across the Euphrates. The prisoners told the Americans they belonged to the guard's Nebuchadnezzar Brigade, based in Saddam's home area of Tikrit, and they had the guard's triangular insignia.

Hmmm, would you admit to being in the Republican guard?

Oh bugger!
Three US Marines were killed when a Huey helicopter crashed, apparently due to mechanical failure, last night.

Going after a scumbag
Some of the Iraqi despots are worse than others, 'Chemical Ali', for example, who oversaw the nerve gassing of Kurdish villagers in 1988. Well, they're after him.

2003-03-30T07:35:00.000Z

Day 11 update
Royal Marines in Basra
BBC TV news this morning reports that British Marines are on the streets of Basra, in the south-East corner of the city. This is not a general attack, but "an ongoing incremental series of aggressive moves". They are supported by tanks. They have captured Iraqi Tanks, equipment and troops, including two "senior officers".

Baghdad: another night of heavy bombardment
One of the heaviest of the war so far.

You're fired!
Saddam has fired his Head of Air Defence. What air defence? Or was he fired for dropping missiles on his own people? Just a thought.

Saddam Hussein has fired his commander of air defenses as U.S.-led forces claimed control of 95 percent of Iraq's sky, the British government said Saturday.

Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman said Saddam had sacked his cousin, Musahim Saab al-Tikriti, and replaced him with Gen. Shahin Yasin Muhammad al-Tikriti. The spokesman also said new, unspecified intelligence indicated that U.S. and British bombing may not have been to blame for explosions in two marketplaces in Baghdad this week.

He stopped short, however, of saying that Iraqi missiles were responsible for the explosions, which reportedly killed scores of civilians.

2003-03-29T12:04:00.000Z

The dead come home
The bodies of the first British servicemen to be killed during Gulf War II are due to arrive at RAF Brize Norton shortly.

UPDATE @ 1248 UK time: The RAF C17 Globemaster transport is being unloaded now, the coffins draped with the Union Flag, while family, friends and officials look on. The band of the Royal Marines, accompanied by the RAF band are playing appropriate music. Each coffin has 6 pallbearers from the service the dead man served in.

The Ministry of Defence has made it clear that, if the families wish, the dead will be buried with full military honours.

UPDATE @ 1608 UK time: The names of the dead:

Captain Philip Guy
Warrant Officer Mark Stratford
Major Jason Ward
Marine Sholto Hedenskog
Sergeant John Cecil
Lance Bombardier Llywelyn Evans
Sergeant Les Hehir
Operator Mechanic Ian Seymour
Flight Lt Kevin Main
Flight Lt Dave Williams

UPDATE @ 1840 UK time: Fox News has the list of US dead, MIA, and POW.

2003-03-29T10:48:00.000Z

Iraqi missile hits Kuwait City
An Iraqi missile has hit a seaside shopping mall in Kuwait City. It was seen to come in at very low level. This suggests that it was an anti-ship missile, rigged on a ground launcher. The Patriot anti-missile system is, so far as I am aware, helpless against a low-flying threat.

2003-03-29T10:15:00.000Z

Day 10 Update
From the Ministry of Disinformation in Iraq
The minister is accusing British forces of targetting food stores in Basra. He explained that the equivalent of 20,000 truckloads of food and other supplies have been destroyed by the British, and that is why there is a food shortage in Basra.

Suicide bombing
Reports are coming in of ~~five~~ "at least three" US troops being killed at a checkpoint in Najaf by an Iraqi suicide bomber in a taxi. He's gone to his reward now - 72 Virginians, wasn't it?

It is a nasty turn of events if the fanatics are doing this. It also means the Iraqis will suffer - one US officer his reported as saying that "It simply means that no Iraq vehicle will be allowed on this highway. If they approach, they will be fired on."

UPDATE @ 1030 UK time: Ananova reports.

A suicide bomber has killed five Americans in an attack north of the city of Najaf.

Captain Andrew Wallace said a taxi stopped close to the checkpoint, and the driver waved for help. Five soldiers approached the car, and it exploded. The victims were part of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.

The attack happened at a US-manned checkpoint on Highway 9, north of Najaf, about 95 miles south of Baghdad.

4-6 day halt in advance?
Reporters are saying that the US high command has ordered a 4-6 day halt in the general advance, due to a shortage of supplies and manpower. The high command has so far declined to comment.

2003-03-28T22:03:00.000Z

Huge explosion in Baghdad marketplace
A coalition attack hitting some of the missiles and other nasties Uncle Saddam likes to park close to hospitals, schools, homes etc., or a horrible mistake? BBC story.

2003-03-28T20:25:00.000Z

British military humour?
Seen over at The Corner at NRO online:

This may be apocryphal but it?s too good not to repeat. UK defense minister Geoff Hoon has reportedly described Um Qasr as being ?a city similar to Southampton" [a port town in the south of England], a remark that produced the following response from two British soldiers seen, apparently, on Sky News:
First soldier: "He's either never been to Southampton or he's never been to Um Qasr."

Second soldier: "There's no beer, no prostitutes and people are shooting at us. It's more like Portsmouth."

Portsmouth UK is a big Navy town.

2003-03-28T13:47:00.000Z

What if the US loses?
I was sent several unattributed images in e-mail today. I thought I'd share two of them with you:

2003-03-28T13:13:00.000Z

Al Jazeera Web site hacked
CNN reports the Arab TV site was hacked yesterday.

Some of my readers may be surprised to hear that I disagree with this. I believe very strongly in the freedom of speech, even when what is being spoken is a pile of fetid dingo's kidneys. I am thankful every day that I live in a society where it is (mostly) ok to say what you think.

2003-03-28T07:56:00.000Z

Day 9 Update
First humanitarian aid arriving
As I write, the British military transport ship, RFA Sir Galahad, is being lead up the swept channel to Umm Qasr by a minesweeper. It is expected to dock this afternoon, and is carrying 500 tons of aid. We have already seen many TV images of the problems involved with the distribution of the aid, with more than one convoy having to withdraw when militia opened fire on the crowd.

UPDATE @ 1300 UK: The Sir Galahad has docked.

US reinforcements to number 120,000
Reinforcements being sent from the US, mostly from the 1st and 3rd Cavalry, will number some 120,000 troops. US officials deny this is a change in policy.

BBC TV newsflash
Unconfirmed, from British troops on the ground: One to two thousand civilians are trying to leave Basra. Iraqi forces are firing on them. British forces are engaging.

UPDATE @ 0905 UK time: from an ITV New reporter with the British Black Watch regiment on the spot: The civilians were moving across a bridge, as food was waiting for them on the other side, when they came under mortar and machine gun fire from Iraqi positions.

UPDATE @ 1300 UK time: The BBC has the story.

Unloading chemical drums?
Fox News and the US Marines think so.

2003-03-27T19:31:00.000Z

Yayy!
UK Channel 4 newsflash: US ambassador to UN storms out after Iraqi ambassador accusses the US of trying to exterminate the people of Iraq.

I rather thought that was what Saddam was trying to do.

2003-03-27T18:33:00.000Z

Sending in the cavalry?
It almost sounds like a western: many of the thousands of reinforcements being sent from the US are from the 1st and 3rd Cavalry.

2003-03-27T12:19:00.000Z

Hans Blix loses the plot completely
I have just watched on Biritsh TV (recorded Wednesday evening, I think) an interview with Hans Blix, head of the UN weapons inspectors in Iraq. On being asked what he thought of the discovery of 1,000 chemical protection suits in Iraq, as well as respirators and other equipment, he responded that the Iraqi regime had these in place because they were expecting chemical weapons to be used on them.

This man's credibility is at zero and falling fast.

2003-03-27T07:45:00.000Z

Day 7 Update
Challenger tanks in action
British Challenger II tanks have engaged and destroyed 14 Iraqi T-55 (Russian built, older design) tanks, south of Basra.

Al Jazeera TV shows how unbiased it isn't
I was disgusted by the arab TV station showing the bodies of what are believed to be the two British servicemen missing from the Basra area since the weekend. I'm assuming that Al Jazeera translates as "Arab biased propoganda infidel scumbags die TV station."

Oh no it isn't
The BBC and many others, is reporting with a headline something like "US paratroops open north Iraq front". No they bloody haven't! 1,000 paratroops can not open a new front. The 80,000 troops originally planned to attack from the north before our ~~fiends~~ friends in Turkey let us down, could have opened a new front. Don't you just love unbiased and accurate reporting?

I'm sorry, my [Sarcasm] switch seems to be stuck in the [Enable] position.

Aid ship delayed
The British Royal Fleet Auxilliary Sir Galahad, has been delayed from delivery 500 tons of humanitarian aid to Umm Qasr, following the discovery of another mine in the channel to the city.

Iraqi forces reported as having shot some POWs
CNN reports.

Broadcasting warm and fuzzies
Emerging reports state that British forces around Basra have destroyed the TV and radio station and are now themselves transmitting messages on the same frequencies, in an attempt to reassure the civilian population.

2003-03-26T21:08:00.000Z

Saddam's last gamble?
The column moving towards out od Basra has been "broken up", according to British spokemen.

A much larger column, of up to 1,000 tanks and other vehicles, is moving out of Baghdad, towards the positions held by the US 7th Cavalry. They are moving under cover of the continuing sandstorms.

My guess is that this is the last great strategic gamble by the Iraqi military, and that the smaller breakout from Basra may have been a diversionary tactic, which a British officer described as "suicidal". If the attack out of Baghdad is as big as reports suggest, it must be the bulk of Saddam's remaining strength and if it fails (as fail it must), then Saddam is done for. That is the point, if any, that I think he will use chemical or biological weapons, if he has any.

He has nothing to lose, assuming he is still alive. Even if he could find a country that would accept him, he would soon be sought out for assassination, or for kidnapping and tral. He may have a so-called Hitler complex, and take as much down with him as he can before he himself dies.

2003-03-26T18:16:00.000Z

Another Iraqi counterattack?
Reports are coming in on BBC TV of a colum of "between 70 and 120" vehicles, including armour, heading south-east out of Basra. The column is under air and artillery attack now. A desperation move?

2003-03-26T16:08:00.000Z

Not the war 2
This is VeryVeryBad:

The (US) Air Force is replacing the four top officers in charge of its academy in Colorado Springs, officials announced today, after a scandal in which dozens of women attending the academy said they were raped and accused the institution of systematically punishing victims who came forward.

2003-03-26T15:52:00.000Z

Day 7 update
Missed?
A BBC reporter saus that two missile have hit a parade of shops in Baghdad, and that they are "several hundred metres" from any military target. Bugger!

A nephew of a friend is with this unit
A US intelligence officer says 650 Iraqis were killed in the largest battle of the war so far, involving the US Seventh Cavalry near the central town of Najaf.

Iraqi prisoners of war
Now number some 4,000, according to an official coalition spokesman.

Taking Basra the hard way?
All the signs seem to indicate that British ground forces are preparing to enter the city of Basra. I hope this doesn't turn into a hour-by-house battle.

2003-03-25T21:20:00.000Z

Subtle
A translated sample of the leaflets being dropped over Iraq.

2003-03-25T16:41:00.000Z

Day 6 Afternoon update
The bill for Gulf War II
Will be at least US $ 75 billion, because that is how much President Bush is asking Congress for. This includes an amount for the initial rebuilding of Iraq.

Another so-called friendly fire incident
A US F16 jet attacked a US Patriot missile battery after the Patriot's radar locked onto to it. No injuries reported. Doe Patriot have a problem identifying friend from foe?

Iraqi counterattack repulsed
"Up to" Iraqi ~~500~~ 50 tanks and other vehicles attacked southwards out of Basra during the night. They were repulsed by British Marines and air forces.

Iraqi forces engaging US Marines from inside a hospital
Assholes.

Bad weather slows advance
Sandstorms and rain have caused helicopters to be grounded and halted some ground forces because of ensuing bad visibility.

Breaking News
British troops are firing on Iraqi positions in Basra that were engaging there own people, apparently in some sort of civilian uprising. This is exactly what we have been hoping for, so let's hope it's true. The BBC has the story.

2003-03-25T09:20:00.000Z

Blair: "Huge amount" achieved in first 5 days
Ananova reports:

He claims coalition forces had penetrated twice as far into Iraq as they had done by the end of the 1991 Gulf War, when ground operations followed five weeks of aerial bombardment.

Addressing his first monthly press conference of the conflict in Downing Street, Mr Blair says coalition forces are advancing towards Baghdad in a two-pronged assault. He said: "Our aim remains as has been stated, to remove Saddam as the route to disarming Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, so the progress towards Baghdad is of vital strategic importance.

"Coalition forces are therefore continuing what is effectively a two-pronged advance."

Mr Blair said that lead elements of the US 5 Corps had now reached the town of Karbala, 50 miles south of Baghdad.

"They are opposed by the Republican Guard Medina Division, which is under heavy air attack, although poor weather will hamper this," he said.

"1 Marine Expeditionary Force are advancing towards Al-Kut along two converging routes. Al-Kut is defended by the Republican Guard Baghdad Division."

I do not agree with your political beliefs, Tony, but I do believe this war is a necessarry evil. I also believe that your days as Prime Minister are numbered if it isn't over as quickly and cleanly as possible -- too many people in your own party didn't want Gulf War II.

Day 6 of the war: Morning update
The two pilots of the downed Apache helicopter were paraded on TV in Iraq. They weren't forced to speak, which probably makes it no different to the coalition showing footage of prisoners of war.

A British soldier was killed in action during the night.

Basra has been declared a military objective. Although quite how they propose to take it without sending troops onto the streets is another question. Militarily, to take an objectinve, hoild and control it, you at some point have to send the infantry in. Much of Basra has been without water and power for several days, and aid needs to be offered to the civilian population as soon as possible.

Republican Guard units outsaide Baghdad are coming under heavy airborne and artillery attack.

The weather may delay the advance to Baghdad. Serious sandstorms are moving across Iraq and Kuwait -- it's raining in Kuwait City this morning.
UPDATE @ 14:10 UK time: an Apache and a Black Hawk helicopter gunship are missing - feared downed by bad weather.

2003-03-24T17:34:00.000Z

KISS
Trying To Help - by Dennis Miller

All the rhetoric on whether or not we should go to war against Iraq has got my insane little brain spinning like a roulette wheel. I enjoy reading opinions from both sides but have detected a hint of confusion from some of you. As I was reading the paper recently, I was reminded of the best advice someone ever gave me. He told me about the KISS method ("Keep It Simple, Stupid!) so, with this as a theme, I'd like to apply this theory for those who don't quite get it. My hope is that we can simplify things a bit and recognize a few important facts. Here are 10 things to consider when voicing an opinion on this important issue:
1) Between President Bush and Saddam Hussein ... Hussein is the bad guy.

2) If you have faith in the United Nations to do the right thing, keep this in mind, they have Libya heading the Committee on Human Rights and Iraq heading the Global Disarmament Committee. Do your own math here.

3) If you use Google search and type in "French Military Victories," your reply will be "Did you mean French Military Defeats?"

4) If your only anti-war slogan is "NO WAR FOR OIL," sue your school district for allowing you to slip through the cracks and robbing you of the education you deserve.

5) Saddam and Bin Laden will not seek United Nations approval before they try to kill us.

6) Despite common belief, Martin Sheen is not the President. He only plays one on TV.

7) Even if you are anti-war, you are still an "Infidel" and Bin Laden wants you dead too.

8) If you believe in a "vast right-wing Conspiracy" but not in the danger that Hussein poses, quit hanging out with the Dell computer dude.

9) We are not trying to liberate them.

10) Whether you are for military action or against it, our young men and women overseas are fighting for us to defend our right to speak out.

"Extraordinary" and "rapid"
General Tommy Franks says that coalition forces are making "extraordinary" and "rapid" progress.

Forget the individual firefights and other incidents, what matters is that the big picture is going our way. Big time.

First pictures of the suspected chemical plant in Iraq
A 100 acre site, surrounded by an electric fence, and draped in camoflage that would make it difficult to see from the air. No hard evidence of anything naughty so far.

Saddam's speech very odd
Saddam's broadcast today was very odd. Strangely cut and edited, the usual exhortations to fight, and vague references to obvious targets. I remain unconvinced as to Saddam's good health.

2003-03-24T06:58:00.000Z

Morning update

Baghdad TV announces Saddam is going to make "an historic speech" very soon.

Two British servicemen are missing in Iraq after the vehicle they were travelling in came under fire.

Respirators (gas masks) have been found in Iraq -- sold by a British company, according to the paperwork.

At least one "suspected chemical warfare plant" is being examined. Cynical reporters saying things like "Cynics would say this is a very convenient find after yesterday's setbacks, wouldn't they?" Morons.

The arial bombardment has now begun in earnest in northern Iraq. Baghdad attacked overnight in the heaviest raids since the near-constant bombardment on Friday night.

Anti war speeches during the Oasacrs ceremony. BBC coverage here.

Iraqi forces, usually dressed in civilian clothes, are employing ever dirtier tactics. Sometimes appearing to surrender, then ambushing troops approaching them. One wonders whether any disarmed troops that have been allowed to "fade away" are amongst them. Do they have the sense to know that things will get nastier for them if they continue this way?

2003-03-23T19:56:00.000Z

I hope this was a publicity stunt
I was watching several thousand Iraqis, mostly civilians, setting fire and shooting into undergrowth on the banks of the River Tigris. They were doing this because several civilians reported seeing two parachutes going into the reeds. Coalition forces say they have lost no aircraft.

One suggests it is either a stunt, or maybe parachuted munitions coming down.

Becoming pissed-off with the press
I have just listened to Lindsey Hilsun, Channel 4 news reporter, saying that the battle report given by Iraqi officials earlier today could have been lies. Of course, she went on to say, there is no guarantee that the coalition reports are the truth either.

I am seriously pissed-off with this moral equivalence shit. Saddam and his henchmen have a long history of being lying, cheating, muderous, psychotic scumbags. The coalition doesn't. I am quite prepared to accept that we are having information wihtheld from us by the coalition but, looking at track records, it doesn't take a genius to work out which side is most likely to be telling the truth.

2003-03-23T18:47:00.000Z

The US prisoners of war
It seems a US convoy of the 507th Maintenance Division took a wrong turn in the confusion, causing some to be captured. Rumour has it that some of them may have been executed by Iraqi forces -- shot in the head at close range. That would make the asshole Iraqi responsible a war criminal. One of the prisoners is female.

Battle around Nassiriya
"Significant guerilla action going on", air strikes still being called in, battle not yet over.

The press keep reporting that the military are surprised to find resistance. I wish they'd shut up, because the military don't seem very surprised. It's obviously just the press who are.

2003-03-23T16:57:00.000Z

Afternoon update

Tornado shot down by 'friendly fire'
The RAF aircraft mistakenly downed by what was probably a US Patriot missile, was a Tornado GR4. The Tornado has a crew of two, and both are currently missing in action. It seems possible the Tornado's IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) system was either malfunctioning or damaged. Sky news story here, with video and a picture believeing to show the moment of impact. I fear the crew are lost.

Later thought: Why didn't the AWACS catch it?

Iraq has US prisoners of war
Iraqi TV has broadcast pictures of 4 dead US servicemen and paraded several prisoners of war on TV, some of whom made statements to the camera. Some people twitched because the coalition showed pictures of prisoners of war, but the Iraqi side are in clear breach of the Geneva Convention, because they are using them for publicity. Assholes. BBC coverage here.

That strike against Saddam
Officials are now saying that Saddam was hit by the surgical strike on night one of the war, and that he left the bunker in an ambulance.

British intelligence reports suggest President Saddam Hussein emerged alive from the initial US raid of the Iraq war but left the area in an ambulance, junior Foreign Office minister Mike O'Brien has said.

"We've received information that Saddam Hussein left the area in an ambulance. There was some talk that he had been injured, even some suggestion that he had been killed. "It seems that is unlikely, that if he was injured it doesn't appear it was a serious injury," O'Brien told BBC radio.

He said the information came from "at least one eye witness".

Curses, foiled again!

Sky News story.

2003-03-23T11:16:00.000Z

Update now that Blogspot (AKA piece of shit) is again working
It is all over the Internet that the US soldier under arrest is a black Muslim. "Treason" is one of the words that springs to mind. If true, this is going to cause all sorts of trouble. It seems he threw more than one grenade into a tent where fellow troops were sleeping.
UPDATE 1700 UK: BBC coverage here.

Air Marshall Brian Burridge confirms an RAF plane is missing, apparently shot down while returning from a mission. He wouldn't give any details of the type of plane, or number of people missing. Rumour Control has it that it was a Tornado - perhaps because the RAF has more of those in theatre than any other type.

Quote of the day: Major General Cordingley, former commander of the British Desert Rats: The resistance isn't serious, we aren't taking casualties. The Iraqi defenders are just being a bore.

10:30am UK. B52s are running their engines at RAF Fairford. Much ground activity. UPDATE: 11:13UK, B52s are taxiing, apparently preparing to take off. This will put them over Baghdad after dark.

An Iraqi official is saying they have American prisoners of war in custody and that they will be shown on TV soon.

Explosions reported near the campaign headquarters outside Doha, Qatar, outside the base.

Confirmed: B52s are taking off now
11:23am UK, 6:23 Eastern. That puts them over Iraq after dark.

I hope Saddam is bombed to hell and back. I pray no civilians are hurt.

Later
I'm off to spend some time with my kids. Don't break the war while I'm gone.

2003-03-23T08:51:00.000Z

Morning update
An RAF plane is missing over Iraq. There is evidence that it was shot down by so-called friendly fire - a US Patriot missile.

Fighting continues around Umm Qasr, against "pockets of resistance". It seems some Republican Guard units were moved into the south of Iraq before the shooting started and they are providing the resistance.

Basra is "secured".

Overnight raids on Baghdad less intense.

A US serviceman has been detained after a grenade attack in Northern Kuwait.

Coalition forces say they are "half-way to Baghdad."

2003-03-22T21:16:00.000Z

Our friends in Turkey
From the BBC:

The Pentagon has abandoned the idea of sending the US army's 4th Infantry Division through Turkey as part of its plan to send US forces into northern Iraq.

With friends like France, Germany and Turkey, we don't need enemies. I hereby declare Turkey to be a member of the Axis of Weasels.

(With apologies to the mammal that no longer wishes to be known as a weasel)

2003-03-22T17:55:00.000Z

Not the war
The last ship to be built by the yard that also built the Titanic has set sail from Belfast. A small piece of history, and rather sad.

2003-03-22T13:19:00.000Z

First briefing by General Tommy Franks in Qatar
Main points, nothing new:

Condolences to familes of those that have already made the ultimate sacrifice.

Summarising the aims of the campaign, as defined by Rumsfeld yesterday.

"Campaign unlike any other in history."

General Brooks now talking:

Brief video showing destruction of an Iraqi border outpost and another building.

Three key oil terminals saved. Weapons, ammo and expolosives found on them.

Video of Iraqi patrol boat being destroyed.

Working on keeping waterways open. Picture of an Iraqi tugboat carrying mines. 139 mines so far prevented from deployment by the Iraqis.

Only 9 of the 500 oil wells in the Ramallah oil field have been set alight by Iraq.

Video of 700 Iraqi soldeirs in the desert away from their equipment, awaiting coalition ground forces arrival, presumably to surrender to them.

Back to Franks and questions:

Won't comment much on peace negotiations with senior Iraqi officials, just that they are happening.

Ground opposition to air campaign: no coalition aircraft damaged by Iraqi air defences.

"Regime target attack" success and Saddam's health: confusion within regimce; command and control not "as advertised" on Baghdad TV; nothing about Saddam.

Weapons of mass destruction: receiving information every day.

Status of Basra: sounds like he isn't going to attack it, because it is not really defended.

Turkish forces: light formations; continuing discussions.

Wednesday's surgical strike against Saddam: not a scramble; flexible plan; "always be a need to engage emerging targets"; "closest coordination I have ever seen".

About Iraqi forces surrendering: 1,000-2,000 enemy prisoners of war so far. Thousands more have laid down their weapons and gone home.

Where is Saddam?: "Actually, I have no idea where he is right now."

Surprised at non-use of chemical weapons? : Remain concerned.

Comment on Iraqi claim of 200 civilians killed: "Non-combatants are injured and killed in a war." Precise targetting to "extraordinary lengths" to reduce likelihood of civilian casualties.

Then a reporter with a French accent suggested that the abscence of weapons of mass destrcution so far meant the US used them as an excuse to attack Iraq. He was basically ignored, as weasels should be.

That may have been one of the most boring press briefings I have ever heard.

Nasiriyah and Basra in coalition hands
At least according to BBC TV news reports.

2003-03-22T11:31:00.000Z

Newsflash: B52s warming up
Live TV cameras (not webcams, unfortunately) show the B52 fleet at RAF Fairford preparing for takeoff. They left about this time yesterday, as I reported at the time.

UPDATE: Oh no they're not. Although some of them have clearly been loaded with weapons, all is now quiet and they remian on the ground.

2003-03-22T10:23:00.000Z

This post will be continuously updated as Blogspot is still intermittently swallowing new posts - my most recent posts at the top of each section.

Will they like navy cooking?
A BBC reporter, speaking from HMS Ocean, said he has been down to the galley and seen the navy cooks preparing food for Iraqi prisoners of war, as well as 40 Royal Marine Commando, one of the units the Ocean is supporting.

Having spent time on several RN ships is the 70s, I am wondering whether this counts as torture.

UK Defence Secretary Hoon speaking from the Ministry of Defence now

US V Corps has secured two bridges over the Euphrates.

The river is the major choke point on the road to Baghdad. Saddam should have had them blown.

Attacks are not aimed to make Iraq a wasteland, but to topple the regime.

I think we understood that - it explains why the lights are still on, TV still transmitting etc.

UK Chief of Defence Staff now talking:

3,000 sorties flown so far.

Confirmed that 51st Iraqi division has surrendered: "Many thousands of prisoners of war".

UK's 16 Air Assault Brigade occupying the southern oilfields. Engineers starting work on making mined well heads safe.

"Practically all" oil platfroms and associated works were prepared for blowing by Saddam's men.

Royal Navy mine countermeasures vessels clearing the approaches to the port at Umm Qasr, allowing key shipping access for humaitarian rewlief and other supplies.

RAF "heavily involved" during last night's attacks. First use of UK's Storm Shadow missile - "it was a successful outing."

Money quotation: "People surrendering will slow you down far less than people fighting."

Hoon:

No coment on Saddam's state of health.

Regular Iraqi units seem to have left Basra. Saddam's security forces still there. This seems to be the model so far.

Daylight attacks on Baghdad
Three explosions have just been heard in Baghdad 10:26am UK time.

BBC report
US forces trying to negotiate the surrender of the city of Basra.

2003-03-22T09:08:00.000Z

Wonderful!
What?

The pictures here

2003-03-22T01:10:00.000Z

Major battle west of Basra
Going on right now.

Saddam's son dead?
The Iraqi opposition thinks so.

Anybody seen Uncle Saddam?
I strongly suspect he is either dead or injured.

I could be wrong - that happened once.

It seems that "Chemical Ali", the scumbag who used chemical weapons on Iraqis back in the 80s, may also be dead or seriously injured. I hope he's burning in hell.

Saturday morning update
All seven crew members aboard two British Royal Navy Sea King helicopters perished in an accident. They were from 849 Squadron, operating off HMS Ark Royal. Guardian report here.

A new wave of attacks began on Baghdad 4 hours ago.

Turkey has sent 1,000+ troops into Northern Iraq. opportunist fools. They are ostensibly there to stop Kurdish refugees entering Turkey. Morons! As they well know, the Kurds are itching to advance on Norther Iraqi cities. And Turkey wonders why we won't let them into the EU? BBC story here.

Umm Qasr has not yet fallen, only the port, not the town. From reporters on the spot, seeing the fighting.

Iraqi officials say 200 civilians were killed during overnight raids. I hope they're lying.

Several explosions have happened since sun-up in Baghdad. No news yet on whether these are secondary, or an indication of daylight attcks.

An entire division?
The BBC News 24 channel says the Pentagon has confirmed that "Senior officers and elements of ....." the Iraqi 51st Division have surrendered - up to 8,000 men. The Iraqi 51st has been taken out of the equation. We can hope for many more to go the same way.

ADDITIONAL: The 51st had been tasked with protecting Basra. This should make it easier for ground forces to take the city port.

I'm off to bed now - it's 1:01am here in the UK.

In the past 24 hours .....
1,000 cruise missiles.

B1, B2 and B52 bombers.

4 or 5 aircraft carriers.

Have all been thrown at Iraq. As a BBC reporter said:

"This is what it is like to be on th receiving end of the world's only superpower."

2003-03-21T19:42:00.000Z

More strikes on Baghdad
Aircraft over Baghdad - low enough for reporters to hear them. More buildings being hit. Channel 4 reporter reporting live at the scene using a standard landline telephone. We don't seem to be hitting the infrastructure.

The FoxNews front pages has pictures.

An ICQ chat between your host, the Group Captain and ShockingShell
About Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi of California:

ShockingShell: Stupid congresswoman (Dem, of course) talking about the level of power that we have is "chilling".

Group Captain: The stupidity needed to say that is chilling.

ShockingShell: Me: "it's not chilling, it would be chilling if the bad guys had this much power"

Group Captain: No shit!

2003-03-21T19:19:00.000Z

Is he or isn't he?
Although "the working assumption is that he's alive and well.", the CIA remains convinced that the surgical strike on night hit senior members of the Iraqi leadership. They are sure that Saddam may no longer be in direct control, and that could be why senior officials were apparently negotiating a surrender yesterday.

We will see.

2003-03-21T18:30:00.000Z

UK Ministry of Defence breaches 3rd Geneva Convention?
But probably inadvertantly. They released video of Iraqi prisoners earlier today, and the Geneva Convention prohibits this. Will the looney left treehuggers want to prosecute us for war crimes?

From the Pentagon
Official from the Pentagon: B52, B1 and cruise missiles all being used against Baghdad tonight.

It seems the pause in hostilities until today may have been in part caused by high level peace negotiations with senior Iraqi officials which have since collapsed.

Perhaps this "shock and awe" is to show them what will happen if they don't surrender their ass.

Rumsfeld: "Regime starting to lose control of the country."

"Their behaviour is likely to change [as the realisation that the regime is doomed]." He's saying that those close to Saddam may turn against him as the awful truth dawns on them.

2003-03-21T18:08:00.000Z

Baghdad taking a hammering right now
BBC TV is showing live video from Baghdad rooftops. There are clearly many more explosions than on previous nights. There are hits, glow of fires, palls of smoke, across what looks like 180 degrees of the horizon. The reporter, beginning to sound a little worried, says there explosions everywhere he looks.

ADDITIONAL: Sky News has pictures and video.

I can barely begin to imagine what it must be like for Iraqi civilians, for whom I feel great empathy.

Moving fast
US 3rd Infantry Division now 100+ miles inside Iraq and starting to meet resistance.

Blogging up a storm
Over at Ed Driscoll's blog.

2003-03-21T17:38:00.000Z

Update
Chief of UK Defence Staff says that Umm Qasr has fallen to coalition forces, and that other ground forces have reached the outskirts of Basra.

Air raid sirens in Baghdad; ground explosions. Some, perhaps, caused by the B52s that left RAF Fairford earlier today - the elapsed time is right for that.

A "Senior US Defence spokeman" has said that the main air campaign against Iraq has now started.

Mustacha Al-Well, spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Disinformation, says:

In the spirit of international fraternisation, our glorious armed forces have rented Umm Qasr to the troops involved in a goodwill visit to Iraq. They are charging a nominal rent of one camel a year. Negotiations are currently underway regarding the possibility of also renting Basra.

No expense has been spared to ensure thet the celebratory fireworks display over Iraq will for tonight and coming nights be particularly spectacular.

2003-03-21T15:14:00.000Z

Make war, not love
ZDNet UK reports that 'war' has now become a more popular search term than 'sex' or 'Britney Spears'.

Ah, they don't make geeks like they used to.

2003-03-21T14:05:00.000Z

Iraqi press release
Mustacha Al-Well, spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Disinformation, today released the following statement:

Our glorious army continues to host the goodwill vist of 250,000 US and UK troops. Friendly games of football and cricket continue.

The nightly fireworks display, celebrating Uncle Saddam's millionth ~~murder~~ moustache hair, will continue until morale improves.

The Ministry of Tourism is pleased to announce an influx of international holidaymakers into Iraq, as evidenced by the continuous stream of flights into the country.

Uncle Saddam, during this quiet time, continues to work on his cellar remodelling.

Hey! That is no sillier than what they are really saying.

2003-03-21T12:05:00.000Z

This post will be continuously updated as Blogspot has decided to intermittently swallow new posts - my most recent posts at the top of each section.

Latest
British 7th Armoured Brigade inside Iraq, heading north.

US ground forces advancing on the city of Kirkuk in the north of Iraq. I'm guessing they came in via Turkish airspace.

Iraq denies enemy forces are inside their borders.

Umm Qasr not yet fallen
Despite earlier reports, it seems that the town is not yet fully in coalition hands. Reporters on the spot report fierce fighting.

Announcement from British Defence Secretary
Iraq has set fire to 30 oilwells.

Denied by Iraq
That the 250 Iraqi soldiers who were captured/surrendered during the taking of Umm Qasr are soldiers at all. Perhaps they are the janitorial staff?

The SeaKnight helicopter that crashed, kiling 12, was actually shot down by Iraqi forces, even though it was inside Kuwait at the time.

Ah well, I expect the Arab News will believe them.

Confirmed: US Marines report first combat fatality
More soon.

A prediction
"Shock and Awe" will not be unleashed if they can get the Iraqi leadership, then persuade the army not to fight.

Rumour Control has it that Iraqi units are being ordered to prepare for suicide missions, with the threat of torture to their families if they don't.

2003-03-21T11:06:00.000Z

Confirmed: main ground offensive has begun
The UK Defence Secretary has confirmed that the main ground offensive against Iraq began at 3am this morning UK time.

He also said that coalition forces have come up against "stiff resistance" in some parts of Iraq.

2003-03-21T10:06:00.000Z

My condolences
The Washington Post reports 4 US aircrew and 12 British Marines were killed when a US SeaKnight helicopter crashed in Northern Kuwait during the night.

Breaking news: B52s in the air, now
B-52s are taking of from RAF Fairford right now (10am UK, 5am Eastern). A flight time of 4-6 hours to Iraq means a daylight raid - I guess we're confident that Saddam's air defences are crap.

[slapping head] 6 hours flying time, Iraq 3 hours ahead of the UK, means they'll be attacking after dark. 8 have so far taken off.

Saddam safe so far, perhaps
The Iraqi information minister, speaking now, says that Saddam is safe.

"British troops will not leave Iraq alive."

The fool is talking the usual bullshit. There is a numbwit standing next to him, armed with what looks like a chrome plated AK47.

"We are prepared to sacrifice our families and sons. Shame on Blair and little Bush."

"You will in a few days see victory. Victory will be assured, granted." Well, he got that right.

Baghdad in 3-4 days?
The BBC says their sources say so.

2003-03-20T21:47:00.000Z

Enough
I've been live blogging for 15 hours and need some sleep. I'll be back around 7am UK time (2am EST).

Do try not to break or win the war while I'm gone.

British forces cross into Iraq
As reported by an acredited ITV News reporter, travelling with 7th Parachute Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, who may be the first British troops across the Kuwait/Iraq border.

War should have started on Saturday
Heard from many unofficial sources: the main attack was originally intended to start on Saturday, but Saddam's setting fire to oil fields caused the attack to be moved up.

2003-03-20T20:36:00.000Z

Today's Arab News cartoon is actually funny
Take a look.

Britain's Marines going after Scud sites?
Reports say that British Royal Marines from 3 Commando have made an amphibious landing on the Al-Faw peninsula, following an intense bombardment. This is the area the Scuds have been launched from.

Not yet
US sources are saying that what we are seeing tonight is still not "Shock and Awe".

British troops in action during siezing of Umm Qasr
Us and British ground forces have siezed control of the Iraqi town of Umm Qasr, just south of the key city of Basara, Ananova reports.

The Glaswegian foootball fans could have told him where to go
Peace protestor chains himself to the wrong building.

2003-03-20T19:31:00.000Z

"All clear" sounded in Baghdad
According to a Channel 4 News reporter on the spot.

How long do we expect that to last?

UPDATE: Not long - the sirens are again sounding at 8pm UK (3pm EST).

This is priceless
Anti-war protestors in the UK earlier stopped the London to Glasgow train, by sitting in front of it when it was stopped at a station.

They moved when several Glasgow football supporters, travelling to watch their team, had an err, polite word with them.

People outside the UK may not know that Glasgow is a tough city, and it is generally best not to annoy football fans there.

UK Channel 4 news
Iraqi radio has reported that Saddam's home was hit last night, but no one was hurt.

2003-03-20T19:10:00.000Z

Are they preparing to surrender?
No reports yet of Iraqi ground units shooting back down at the Kuwait border.

2003-03-20T17:42:00.000Z

Blair's TV broadcast
Is now expected at 10pm UK time (5pm EST).

Unconfirmed: UK forces engaged on the ground now
Makes sense, as other sources say US Marine units are also engaged, and British ground forces are attached to themm.

Major building on fire in Baghdad
It seems to be in the administrative district of the city, where many key government buildings are located.

Saddam cut off from his Army?
Associated Press, picked up via Ananova, says that the US military thinks Saddam may be cut off from his forces. There is no coordination of Iraqi efforts, for example.

Live in Baghdad
Explosions on BBC TV news reports.

I am puzzled
Where is Saddam getting his Scud missiles from?

After all, Hans Blix says he hasn't got any.

All your missiles are belong to Hans.

British ground units not yet moving
This is presumably because they are attached to the US Marine Division(s) that will attack towards Basra. The assault now starting appears to mostly involve the US Army units tasked with punching through to Baghdad - a much longer journey. It makes sense that they go first.

Air raid sirens
Are sounding in Baghdad right now (almost 6pm UK, 1pm EST).

Saddam's son Uday err, dead?
AlBabwa reports:

Uday, the elder son of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, struck by brain hemorrhage following conflict with a member of Saddam's Fedayeen on Thursday.

The Iranian news agency, IRNA, quoted sources in northern Iraq as saying that tough and indecent orders, issued by Uday, who heads Saddam's Fedayeen, had provoked the conflict as the young man attacked Uday.

Uday's bodyguards then beat the man to injury, the unconfirmed report said.

According to some observers, the recent report on Uday could be part of the American and the Iraqi opposition propaganda campaign against Saddam Hussein's regime.

Could it, in truth, have been caused by a 1,000lb laser guided bomb?

Scud (?) missiles coming down
..... on US Marine positions in Kuwait.

Seen at FoxNews.com.

2003-03-20T17:10:00.000Z

Tony Blair
..... Has recorded an address to the Briitsh people, to be shown later this evening. It doesn't take a brain the size of a planet to work out he'll be announcing that the main phase of Gulf War II has begun

ADDITIONAL: Broadcast expected in a few minutes in the UK.

Unofficial from BBC reporter at RAF base in Kuwait
She saw RAF Tornado ground attack planes returning "without their payloads".

It has begun
A "huge artillery barrage" has just begun in Southern Iraq and, guess what, it's not the Iraqi side doing the firing.

Information via BBC TV news reporter travelling with the US 3rd Infantry Division.

2003-03-20T16:39:00.000Z

Turkey finally agrees
..... to allow overflights. That might help.

ADDITIONAL: The price could be high - the Turks hate the Kurds in Northern Iraq, and they may use this opportunity to move their own troops against the Kurds, rather than caring any more than peripherally about the Iraq war.

I think it's tonight
With the ground units apparently moving into far forward positions (not somewhere you leave them for too long), and all the air movements, I think it could be "Shock and Awe" time tonight.

RAF Fairford
Confirmation (unofficial - it's coming from long-lens TV crews) that the B52s at Farford have external weapons on board right now.

2003-03-20T14:31:00.000Z

B52s at RAF Fairford
A live camera shot 30 seconds ago appeared to show intense ground activity around the bombers at Fairford.

BBC TV reporters live in the Gulf
Are reporting heavy ground and air movements inside Kuwait, and that they are travelling with armoured columns. Those columns were ordered to be combat ready by 16:30 UK time (10 minutes from now) and are wearing NBC suits - they aren't allowed to say any more.

Rumsfeld is speaking
"The days of the Saddma Hussein regime are numbered."

In response to a question, he says "there are indications" that three or four oil wells have been set alight in the south of Iraq.

Standard briefing - nothing new.

An Air Force general is speaking now. Again, nothing new.

What will the night bring?
It is now dark in Iraq. I predict tonight will bring more so-called surgical strikes.

Breaking news: helicopter crash
The BBC news front page says that a US special forces helicopter has crashed in southern Iraq. The crew, thankfully, have been rescued.

2003-03-20T12:36:00.000Z

Saddam and mini-Saddam?
Ed Driscoll thinks so, and he's got the pictures to prove it.

12:43pm UK time: Air Raid sirens again sounding in Kuwait city
No wonder the Kuwaiti people are so keen to get rid of Saddam, between Scud attacks and his constant threat to their little country.

UPDATE: "All clear" now sounded. Perhaps it was a false alarm? I certainly hope so.

UPDATED UPDATE: One of the Scuds may have come down in a suburb of Kuwait City. Unconfirmed.

Saddam - not dead yet
Saddam has appeared on Iraqi TV to denounce last night's attacks. He stated the time of the attacks so, assuming it wasn't a very good Saddamalike, he's still alive.

Update: UK Defence Secretary statement to the House of Commons 12:30pm UK
1. Confirms last night's strike was aimed at very senior Iraqi leaders, following intelligence received.

2. Confirms more limited attacks against Iraqi installations in the Southern no-fly zone. (Suggests "Shock and Awe" is 48 hours away)

3. He's now repeating things said before the attack.

4. British forces are "engaged" in Iraq. (Probably special forces, as UK forces are not yet "substantially engaged")

He's finished the statement and isn't taking questions.

2003-03-20T12:02:00.000Z

What a PR foulup
Last night's attacks were either unplanned or done without the knowledge of the UK and the military headquarters in the theatre. UK politicians were woken up and told (Jack Straw admitted he was deeply asleep), and reporters in theatre report officers at all levels being taken completely by surprise when the surgical strikes took place. Some even seemed to think the main attack had started, and nobody had bothered to tell them.

Big PR and operational screup, methinks, and the media folks are now working frantically to paper over the cracks.

Three Scuds confirmed
The BBC TV news has said that "British military sources" have confirmed that a total of three Scuds have been fired into Kuwait, and that they had conventional i.e. not nuclear, biologicl of chemical warheads.

My thought is that these were presumably fired from the Souther No-Fly zone and one is left wondering how this happened, given how closely that zone is monitored.

A change of plan?
Or did they intend this all along? Military analysts are now saying we may see up to 48 hours of limited surgical strikes like last night's, before the "Shock and Awe" main attack.

All quiet on the Eastern Front?
Things have been quiet for an hour now.

2003-03-20T10:02:00.000Z

Another thought
The war has started too soon, as a result of the targetted attacks last night. Saddam has responded with his Scuds and the thing is snowballing. I suspect some parts of the battle plan are being re-written.

NEWSFLASH: Iraq using Scud missiles
Live BBC news broadcast says 2 Scud missiles have hit Kuwait, with 2 more incoming.

UPDATE: The Patriot missile system has destroyed one incoming Scud. Go Patriot!

Kuwaiti TV reports another Scud landing in the north of the country.

Air raid sirens in Kuwait city again
It's now 10:28am UK time, 5:28 EST.

Blogspot: is now failing to call external graphics. I have them stored on two servers with different ISPs, so I am fairly sure Blogspot is at fault, not my graphics servers.