US Marines Enter Basra to applause

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-03-22 11:02am

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle ... 875777.stm

Applause as Marines enter Basra
By David Willis
BBC correspondent in southern Iraq

Coming into Basra as part of a massive military convoy, I
encountered a stream of young men, dressed in what appeared
to be Iraqi army uniforms, applauding the US marines as they
swept past in tanks.

US predictions that many here would choose to surrender rather
than fight appear to have come true.

Leaflets had been dropped on the city, urging members of the
51st Iraqi Division to surrender, and I saw hundreds doing so.

Late on Friday night, they were lined up along the roadside,
being separated according to rank, checked for weapons and
documented.

Some, however, chose to fight on, and were met with a fierce
barrage of artillery fire on Friday night and early Saturday morning.

US and British marines now seem confident that they have secured
Iraq's second-largest city, Basra.

Intermittent shelling continued around the port city throughout
Saturday morning.

Troops are now securing the city's vast oil fields, although
some have been set ablaze.

Giant plumes of smoke now dominate the horizon of this historic
city as, in what looks like an eerie repeat of the last Gulf War,
oil fields are ablaze.

As we arrived in Basra, I counted half a dozen oil fields billowing
smoke and flame.

The Rumeila oil fields account for roughly half of Iraq's oil output
and are capable of pumping one million barrels a day.

US and British forces succeeded in securing the majority before
they could be set alight.

Doing so was seen as important for the economic future of Iraq
post-Saddam Hussein.

But some of the wealth those oil fields generate is literally going
up in smoke in front of my eyes.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2003-03-22 11:04am

While I don't discount it, I'll be interested to know when it is all done, what the ratio between those who surrendered and those who kept fighting is. Remember, alot of this could be oppertunism and/or survival.

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-03-22 11:07am

Marine commanders questioned in Um Qasr by that CNN woman- Amanpour or whatever said that they hadn't seen any waving of white flags in the city or waving smiling crowds, contrary to earlier reports.

Next of Kin · Post by **Next of Kin** » 2003-03-22 11:26am

Doesn't suprise me if the Shia'a population applauds the arrivial of U.S. troops as they hate Saddam.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-03-22 11:54am

The city has suffered so heavy since the early 80's I'd be surprised if this was true.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-03-22 12:05pm

As we arrived in Basra, I counted half a dozen oil fields billowing
smoke and flame.

Don't they mean oil wells?

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-03-22 12:14pm

HemlockGrey wrote:
As we arrived in Basra, I counted half a dozen oil fields billowing
smoke and flame.
Don't they mean oil wells?

yeah, i would assume so. if you manage to torch an entire field at once, the fireball would be...well, Dante's Inferno comes to mind.

The Duchess of Zeon · Post by **The Duchess of Zeon** » 2003-03-22 12:34pm

ABC was also reporting that Basrah has fallen, a good hour ago. Several revolts have been suppressed in the city by Iraqi troops, so there could be popular support for the entry there. As for Umm Qasr, the interview there could simply refer to the personal experiences of those being interviewed, or to Umm Qasr itself as opposed to Basrah.

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-03-22 11:44pm

Just 30 minutes ago I heard on BBC that it hadn't fallen, and that they didn't plan on taking it. Talk about fog of war.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-03-23 12:03am

I'm waiting for the official line from the US Army.

It seems that the mass surrender of much of its defending force may have made the media think it had fallen. But it did sound like that with only a few division to work with, the plan called for avoiding capturing urban areas and holding POW's whenever possibul. Though by April first forth infantry division should have arrived and with reports of The II Marine Expeditionary Force flying into Iraq via Jordan things will be greatly eased.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-03-23 12:45am

i just hope that once these places do indeed fall, that the local police will help keep uprisings to a minimum. it would be good to see local support for this war on a grand scale.

Enlightenment · Post by **Enlightenment** » 2003-03-23 01:37am

I can't dig up a reference at the second but current information is that Basra has not yet been captured. The Basra airport and "a bridge" have been siezed and the city has been surrounded by UK troops but they have not entered the city proper.

The American spearhead forces moved on after defeating all resistance outside Basra and handed control of the area to the British. In military terms, Basra has been bypassed.