EllieTalbot
Fear the Spoon
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2003
- Posts
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I was just wondering if anyone else watched the CENTCOM briefing today and noted the question directed to Gen. Brooks from the Canadian reporter. (I can't remember exactly which Canadian news org. he was from- sorry).
He was asking Gen. Brooks about a Canadian military unit or division (?) in an operation outside "Iraqi Freedom" that has access to/knowledge of the location of fled Iraqi war criminals and Al-Quaeda operatives, but was withholding this information and these criminals from the U.S., due to Canada's stated passive stance on "Iraqi Freedom." He wanted Gen. Brooks's reaction to this.
Brooks simply stated that whatever the situation with Canadian forces elsewhere in the world, they were operating outside the parameters of "Iraqi Freedom" and therefore not relevant. Only he said it better than I just paraphrased it.
Does anyone know anything further about this, or remember exactly what was said during the briefing?
Also, was anyone watching when the Saddam statue toppled? At first, Iraqis tried to bring it down with a rope and by taking turns with a sledgehammer. After nearly an hour and not much of a dent made, an American tank rolled up to help. Actually, it wasn't a tank, but a support vehicle of some sort, and it had a crane-like attachment which they tied the rope to. At one point, when they were tying it on, a Marine covered the face of the statue with a U.S. flag, but it was taken off after a few moments and replaced with a pre-Saddam Iraqi flag around the statue's neck.
I thought that was good. I can understand how, in the jubilation, the Marine got caught up in the excitement and grabbed the American flag to put up there. But it really was the Iraqis who were having their moment. It was palpable even through a TV set. And, sorry for the personal aside, but knowing my brother was somewhere in the melee... trying to catch a glimpse of him...
I wish I'd been there. Odd, but true.
Reports have been coming through left and right about COs telling their men to take down American flags from tanks, not to hoist them onto Iraqi monuments and buildings, etc., since we're not occupiers, but liberators.
Coalition forces, overall, have been demonstrating a great deal of grace under fire, sensible judgment and have been setting a good example. They're doin' us proud.
And... I really don't know what else to say. It's mostly emotion right now...
Babbling in Baghdad,
Ellie
He was asking Gen. Brooks about a Canadian military unit or division (?) in an operation outside "Iraqi Freedom" that has access to/knowledge of the location of fled Iraqi war criminals and Al-Quaeda operatives, but was withholding this information and these criminals from the U.S., due to Canada's stated passive stance on "Iraqi Freedom." He wanted Gen. Brooks's reaction to this.
Brooks simply stated that whatever the situation with Canadian forces elsewhere in the world, they were operating outside the parameters of "Iraqi Freedom" and therefore not relevant. Only he said it better than I just paraphrased it.
Does anyone know anything further about this, or remember exactly what was said during the briefing?
Also, was anyone watching when the Saddam statue toppled? At first, Iraqis tried to bring it down with a rope and by taking turns with a sledgehammer. After nearly an hour and not much of a dent made, an American tank rolled up to help. Actually, it wasn't a tank, but a support vehicle of some sort, and it had a crane-like attachment which they tied the rope to. At one point, when they were tying it on, a Marine covered the face of the statue with a U.S. flag, but it was taken off after a few moments and replaced with a pre-Saddam Iraqi flag around the statue's neck.
I thought that was good. I can understand how, in the jubilation, the Marine got caught up in the excitement and grabbed the American flag to put up there. But it really was the Iraqis who were having their moment. It was palpable even through a TV set. And, sorry for the personal aside, but knowing my brother was somewhere in the melee... trying to catch a glimpse of him...
I wish I'd been there. Odd, but true.
Reports have been coming through left and right about COs telling their men to take down American flags from tanks, not to hoist them onto Iraqi monuments and buildings, etc., since we're not occupiers, but liberators.
Coalition forces, overall, have been demonstrating a great deal of grace under fire, sensible judgment and have been setting a good example. They're doin' us proud.
And... I really don't know what else to say. It's mostly emotion right now...
Babbling in Baghdad,
Ellie
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