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The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC
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A "shock and awe" phase of Operation: Iraqi Freedom is wrapping up at this hour and
military officials confirm that a second marine has been killed in action....A senior
U-S official says the escalation of the aerial campaign might not be as intense as
originally planned. The official says surrender talks with senior Iraqi officials are
continuing.
The Pentagon unleashed its "shock and awe" aerial strike across Iraq on Friday,
defense officials told NBC News. As word of the promised massive bombardment came from
the Pentagon, Baghdad and its outskirts were rocked by new explosions.
http://msnbc.com/news/870749_asp.htm
Huge explosions rocked Baghdad as a barrage of mighty bombs crashed down on the Iraqi
capital on Friday, sending up huge clouds of smoke and flame. (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=540&ncid=716&e=1&u=/ap/20030321/ap_on_re_mi_ea/war_iraq
As the United States launched a long-awaited massive aerial campaign against Iraq,
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Friday that Saddam Hussein's regime "is
starting to lose control of their country." (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=540&ncid=716&e=2&u=/ap/20030321/ap_on_re_mi_ea/war_us_military
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Richard Meyers urged Iraqi soldiers to do the "honorable
thing" and stop fighting
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- Turkish government allows U.S. military
overflights for Iraq war, military official says.
Here's what we're hearing from top military sources on tonight's targeting:
ALL THE TARGETS ARE ON THE WEST BANK OF THE TARGETS ALONG A FIVE MILE LONG STRETCH OF
THE RIVERFRONT.
--THE AL SALAM PALACE
--THE REPUBLICAN PALACE
--AL SIJOOD PALACE
--BA'ATH PARTY HEADQUARTERS
--SPECIAL REPUBLICAN GUARD FACILITIES
--SPECIAL SECURITY ORGANIZATION FACILITIES
--NATIONAL AIR DEFENSE OPERATIONS CENTER
--PROJECT 2000 REVOLUTIONARY COMMAND COUNCIL BUNKER
--THE MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND MILITARY INDUSTRIALIZATION
--THE HUSSEIN FAMILY COMPOUND
--RASHEED AIRPORT, THE REPUBLICAN GUARDS AIRFIELDS.
Here's the release on the two KIA (killed in action)
March 21, 2003
Release Number: 03-03-36
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TWO MARINES KILLED TODAY
CAMP COMMANDO, Kuwait - Two U.S. Marines died in combat today during operations
performed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The first, a Marine from the 1st Marine Division, died early this morning after
leading his infantry platoon in a firefight to secure an oil pumping station in
Southern Iraq. The Marine's platoon engaged a platoon of dismounted Iraqi infantry.
The Marine was transported by helicopter to a surgical company in Kuwait.
The second, a Marine from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, died at approximately 4
p.m. this afternoon while taking actions against enemy Iraqi forces near the port of
Umm Qasr.
Names are being held pending next-of-kin notification.
###
In addition...
12 killed as U.S. chopper goes down...A U.S. Marine helicopter crashed Friday inside
Kuwait, killing all four U.S. and eight British troops aboard, the Pentagon said.
Officials told NBC News the incident did not involve hostile fire.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/888496.asp
Housekeeping....
A number of you are glued to MSNBC as we are and wondering what's going on with Chris
and Hardball...At this moment, MSNBC is engaged in comprehensive hour by hour, even
minute by minute, coverage of the ongoing conflict with Iraq...Chris will be a part of
that coverage providing strategically targeted analysis surgically inserted into the
broader MSNBC aegis...
Hardball, as you currently understand the concept and show, will not be airing for the
time being in order to bring you our coverage backed by the power of NBC News...Brian
and Lester are honchoing the main anchor desks...When the show comes back, we'll let
you know...
In the meantime, we'll be working hard at home and abroad to bring you the latest, up
to the minute information so please keep the television tuned to MSNBC...It's way too
difficult as you can understand to put all the headlines in here, as they keep coming
fast and furious...By the time you read this stuff, it could outdated...I urge you to
stay with MSNBC and http://msnbc.com for the latest...Bear with me, trying to put out
the links and is like trying to take a drink of water from a fire house....It's too
much....
MSNBC Iraq homepage http://msnbc.com/news/attack_front.asp?0cv=NA01
Frantically looking for MSNBC on your dial http://findmsnbc.msnbc.com
For those with young children, MSNBC and WebMD have assembled for your benefit this
helpful guide to discussing the conflict with kids
http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/61/67258.htm
Dominic Bellone wrote, compiled and edited The Briefing from Washington, DC
Here now, just a handful of news items moving across the wires this afternoon...
Television images of U.S. tanks tearing across desert sands make the invasion of Iraq
look as easy as punching through a soggy paper bag, but the toughest battles of this
war are yet to come. (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=AZNBIYB2UTUEECRBAELCFFA?type=focusIraqNews&storyID=2423542
U.S. Marines took full control of the strategic port of Umm Qasr in southern Iraq on
Friday, a British military official said. The takeover came after overnight shelling
in the area. (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=540&e=1&u=/ap/20030321/ap_on_re_mi_ea/war_southern_front
U.S. and British forces met sporadic resistance Friday as they advanced toward key
Iraqi targets in southern Iraq, including Basra, the nation's second-largest city.
Commanders said scores of Iraqis had surrendered, but underscoring the perils of the
mission to topple the Iraqi regime, the Marine Corps reported the first combat
casualty of the operation. http://www.msnbc.com/news/870749_asp.htm
President Bush, updating congressional leaders on the war, said Friday the United
States is "making progress" in its mission to disarm Saddam Hussein's regime and
liberate Iraq (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030321/ap_on_re_mi_ea/war_us_iraq&cid=540&ncid=1480
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein may have been wounded in an American air attack, but
U.S. officials cautioned Friday that reports on his fate were circumstantial and
uncorroborated. (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=540&ncid=716&e=3&u=/ap/20030321/ap_on_re_mi_ea/war_saddam
U.S. Marines hauled down giant street portraits of Saddam Hussein in a screeching pop
of metal and bolts Friday, telling nervous residents of this southern Iraqi town that
"Saddam is done."
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=540&u=/ap/20030321/ap_on_re_mi_ea/war_conquered_town_2&printer=1
A CIA analysis of Saddam Hussein's speech has found it was likely his voice, but it
was unclear when the tape was made and the fate of the Iraqi leader remained unclear
after a missile strike on his residence, U.S. officials said on Friday. (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=2423231
U.S. military commanders in the Persian Gulf now may target Saddam Hussein without
direct approval from the White House, a move designed to quickly exploit emerging
intelligence about the Iraqi leader's whereabouts. (USA Today)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=676&e=5&u=/usatoday/20030321/ts_usatoday/4976414
7 in 10 Americans Back War Decision...While most Americans support the war in Iraq, a
new Washington Post-ABC News poll indicates disagreement on what constitutes a success
(The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1733-2003Mar21.html
The Democratic National Committee is asking party members to defend Senate Minority
Leader Tom Daschle's criticism of the way President Bush has handled the Iraq crisis
even as U.S.-led forces invade the country. (The Washington Times)
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030321-98853114.htm
In a setback for President Bush's economic plan, the U.S. Senate on Friday voted to
trim $100 billion from his $726 billion tax cut plan in order to set aside money to
cover the cost of war with Iraq. (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=2424341
Pentagon hawk linked to UK intelligence company...Richard Perle is director of firm
selling terror alert software (The Guardian)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,918742,00.html
Anti-war activists rolled out another wave of demonstrations Friday in their campaign
against the war on Iraq that includes sit-ins in the streets and at federal buildings,
mass rallies and quiet vigils. Hundreds have been arrested. (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=519&ncid=703&e=5&u=/ap/20030321/ap_on_re_us/war_us_rallies
The militant Islamic groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad urged Iraqis Friday to carry out
suicide bombings against invading U.S. and British forces in Iraq (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=574&ncid=721&e=2&u=/nm/20030321/wl_nm/iraq_hamas_bombers_dc
Tommy Franks: The 'muddy boots' soldier...General Tommy Franks is as comfortable with
his troops as he is with foreign leaders. NBC News reports on the man who is
commanding the U.S. troops.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/887633.asp
Opinion/Editorial
Kinsley: Unauthorized Entry...The Bush Doctrine: War without anyone's permission.
http://slate.msn.com/id/2080455/
The Wall Street Journal: Saddam's Casualty Strategy...The Iraqi dictator seeks mass
carnage--among Iraqis.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110003232
Deciphering body doubles
How can we tell if that was Saddam on TV last night or a double? An explainer by
Brendan Koerner.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/888112.asp
Kane: Black liberals need to respond to insult of Rice by Baraka
http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-md.kane19mar19,0,7101945.column?coll=bal%2Dnews%2Dcolumnists
Chapman: War in Iraq is a boost for big government http://www.majority.com/ct/ct1.html
Bacevich: The Nation at War...Force Has Emerged as the Preferred Instrument of
American Policy http://www.latimes.com/la-war-oebacevich20mar20,0,906952.story
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