comments

[Gary MacLennan <g.maclennan@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I made it into work yesterday where my email is still going instead of to
my home computer.  thought I had fixed that but haven't.  So I am only
getting a trickle from the list. I did quickly access some of the posts in
my office including Jay's update from the Russian site.  I repeatedly
wonder how accurate their reports are.  When one compares these posting
with the mainstream media it still seems to be a case of two different
wars.  It is so hard to work out what is happening. But John Enyang has
asked me for my opinion on the latest developments.

(BTW Apologies to Elisha for misinterpreting her post. I note her correction.}

The news this morning was led by the story of American tanks in Baghdad
story.  Operation Rolling Thunder was how it was described, I think.  It is
possible that these are probes designed to test Iraqi resolve and to show
the world, that the plan is on track and that the US army is invincible
after all. Counter claims from the Iraq side abound. If the airport has in
fact been retaken, as they say it has, that will be very significant.

I have also been monitoring Ha'aretz's coverage.  They usually present an
almost liberal view of events in Palestine, but now they are producing in
your face backing of the Anglo American invasion.  I suppose it's a
reflection of what is at stake.  A defeat for the American Army would put
Israel's very existence in danger.

The latest headlines from the Irish Times are as follows (I am not a
subscriber so I cannot access any whole story) -

11:44 US troops in Kerbala centre after fierce fight
10:46 Fate of 'Chemical Ali' unknown
10:15 Many dead in friendly fire attack on US troops
10:05 Hundreds of tanks enter Basra in major assault

If these are accurate, then there has been fierce exchanges - which seems
to contradict the latest Russian report of Anglo-American slowing down to
consolidate.  I note that the mysterious 'friendly fire' has been as usual
very active.  That makes one think there may be some truth behind Iraqi
claims to have inflicted heavy casualties.

What ever the case and I may be hopelessly wrong but I think that the
claims from the Anglo-American side have been greatly exaggerated over the
last few days.  Certainly they depressed me a good deal, but now I am not
so sure they were truthful.

Moreover the problem with their continual forecasting of a quick and easy
victory is that they have to deliver it and very soon.  The war is now in
its third week and summer has arrived in the ME.  It will get hot - very
hot soon.

regards

Gary