The War of Lies:
US Jamming of Iraqi airwaves ineffective
- Text of commentary by Sulayman al-Uqayli, entitled "The War of lies", published by Saudi newspaper Al-Watan web site on 23 March
- Source: Al-Watan web site, Abha, in Arabic 23 Mar 03
- www.globalresearch.ca 24 March 2003
The URL of this article is: http://globalresearch.ca/articles/UQA303A.html
It is obvious that the lies are more than the truths in the war on Iraq. Even western sources that often claim truthfulness have begun to lie to the world. As for Iraq, it is not unexpected for it to lie. In the Arab region, we are not accustomed to hearing truths about wars from our official circles. The day before yesterday, the US-British coalition and its media outlets claimed that it has occupied Umm Qasr in its invasion of Iraqi soil. Only hours later, the Britons changed their mind and said that their forces are facing fierce resistance in Umm Qasr and later admitted that this town was still in the hands of the Iraqi forces. To those who do not know Umm Qasr, it is the closest civilian concentration point on the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border where the attacking forces are deployed. The same thing applied to the Al-Rumaylah oil field. The Britons claimed that they had secured it and a few hours later said that they would secure it shortly. They finally claimed that it was under their control that was earlier doubted.
These conflicting reports are part of the psychological war that plays a significant role in demoralizing and defeating the adversary prior to armed clashes and in mobilizing support outside the field of operations. The western air forces jammed Iraq's satellite radio and television transmissions in an attempt to silence the other voice so that the spokesmen of the invading forces would be the only voice heard and the masters of the truth. However, the Iraqis re-installed their transmission whenever it was interrupted in a cat and mouse game on the Iraqi airwaves which are not having any effect since Iraq's airwaves are not giving information or pictures but only songs and chants that glorify the leader.
It seems to be a war packed with lies. There are no truths or transparency or integrity or credibility in this illogical, unjustified and illegitimate war.
Copyright Al-Watan 2003. For fair use only/ pour usage équitable seulement .
http://globalresearch.ca/articles/IWR303A.html
Russian Military analysis:
War in Iraq - situation at Basra and An-Nasiriya
- www.iraqwar.ru March 22, 2003, 1300hrs MSK (GMT +3), Moscow
- www.globalresearch.ca 24 March 2003
The URL of this article is: http://globalresearch.ca/articles/IWR303A.html
The IRAQWAR.RU analytical center was created recently by a group of journalists and military experts from Russia to provide accurate and up-to-date news and analysis of the war against Iraq. The following is the English translation of the IRAQWAR.RU report based on the Russian military intelligence reports.
Additional information about the situation in the primary combat areas in southern Iraq became available by 1300hrs (Moscow time, GMT +3). The US command reports about the supposed surrender of the entire Iraqi 51st Infantry Division turned out to be a complete fabrication. According to our sources the 51st Division continues to fight on the approaches to Basra and we can only talk about individual cases of Iraqi soldiers being captured in combat.
Elements of the US 3rd Infantry Division and the 1st Marine Infantry Division ended up in an exceptionally difficult situation. While attempting to encircle Basra from the north and to block An-Nasiriya elements the 3rd and 1st infantry divisions found themselves wedged between the defending Iraqi forces. The Iraqi command used this situation and delivered a decisive counterattack with up to 80 tanks in the open flank of the US forces, slicing through their combat orders. As the result of this counterattack these US units are now at risk of being separated from the main coalition forces and being surrounded.
By 1100hrs MSK Iraqi units advanced into the US attack front by 10-15 kilometers and Gen. Tommy Franks, the commander of the coalition forces, ordered his troops to switch entirely to defensive operations. At the same time he issued orders to the forward-deployed coalition tank units to halt their reconnaissance operations in the directions of Es-Samaba and An-Najaf and to move immediately to support the defending US forces. However, the situation is complicated by the fact that a part of the coalition tanks are currently disabled due to the lack of fuel and are awaiting the arrival of fuel convoys. Thus the tanks are able to gradually rejoin combat in small numbers as the fuel becomes available.
Currently the US and the Iraqi tank forces are engaged in mobile head-on combat approximately 70-90 kilometers to the south of An-Nasiriya. Combat orders have been received by the carrier borne aviation in the Persian Gulf, which until now did not take part in this battle. At the same time orders were issued to all available coalition strike aircraft in Qatar to scramble in support of the defending coalition forces.
Intercepted radio communications indicate that during the morning period of March 22 the US forces lost 10-15 tanks destroyed or disabled and up to 30 other armored vehicles. Medevac helicopters flew more than 30 search-and-rescue missions, which suggests heavy coalition losses.
Our sources report that during the early morning hours in southwestern Iraq in the vicinity of Akashat the Iraqi forces have engaged and surrounded a tactical paratroop unit of the 101st Airborne Division. Some of the surrounded paratroopers were able to break out into the desert, where they request air support and finally lost their Iraqi pursuers. However, up to 30 US troops were killed or captured in this engagement. Additionally, [Russian] radio intercept units report that one the US attack helicopters providing close air support was shot down.
The top US military command is planning to enhance the coalition command. During the Joint Chief of Staff meeting its Chairman Gen. Richard Mayers expressed strong criticism of the actions by the coalition commander Gen. Franks and proposed to strengthen his headquarters with several other senior military commanders. Gen. Franks is required to do everything he can to change the current situation on the front. Analysts believe that, if during the next 3-5 days Gen. Franks fails to achieve any significant results, than it is entirely possible that he will be replaced as the commander of the coalition forces.
Update:
The coalition forces were able to capture a bridge in the suburbs of Nasiriya. Their control of the Basra airport is tentative at best as large numbers of Iraqi forces continue to resist with heavy artillery and machine gun fire. Around Basra the coalition forces have advanced at most by 1.5 kilometers. Gen. Franks has announced a change in plans: the coalition forces are no longer set on capturing Basra so not to "create military confrontations in that city." The coalition forces still do not control Umm Qasr and appear to be losing territory.
Source: www.iraqwar.ru 03-22-03, translated by Venik. Copyright www.iraqwar.ru 2003. For fair use only/ pour usage équitable seulement .
