Dictator in hiding, Iraqis cheer Allied tank crews

[RonOnGuitar]

This roundup from the UK's "news of the world" page of the continuing liberation of Baghdad - cheering, fighting, jihadi terrorists and surrenders in the ongoing operation:



A heroes' welcome



ALLIED tanks sliced the city of Baghdad in two yesterday—and their crews were greeted as heroes.



Families of Iraqis cheered and waved as a column of US armour took an astonishing cruise through the city.



Some surrendering Iraqi soldiers leapt on to the tanks, begging to be made prisoners of war.



The reaction of the people proved that Saddam's 24-year reign of tyranny was on its last legs.



Twenty US Abrams tanks and 10 Bradley armoured vehicles swept into the city from the south just 16 days and 14 hours after the first bombs of the war fell on the capital.



Operation Thunder Run came within TWO MILES of Saddam's bunker before swinging west to link up with US forces who had captured Baghdad airport.



As the incursion went ahead US Marines were fighting with FIXED BAYONETS on the city's outskirts.



A platoon clashed in hand-to-hand combat in a reed-covered marsh with pro-Saddam volunteers from Jordan, Egypt and Sudan.



Fierce



US Col B.P. McCoy said: "It's like a jihad. They were given a rifle and told to become martyrs."



Back in the city, the column of tanks had faced fierce resistance as well as cheers.



Before reaching the airport it left behind 30 burned-out T72 tanks and 1,000 dead Republican Guards.



US Colonel David Perkins said: "We attacked down Route 8 and we attacked all the way through the city. We basically own the main road going into Baghdad, so we've cut the city in half. There was some very intense fighting."



The Abrams were attacked with shells, rocket propelled grenades and machine guns. One Saddam supporter was riddled with bullets as he tried to ram a tank in his car— perhaps a suicide bomb attack. Even a fire engine attacked the column— and was obliterated.



American journalist Greg Kelly was with the US tanks. Describing one man surrendering, he said: "Troops are telling him to lay down his weapons and get on the deck. It's the first time we've seen that." Later he shouted: "Watch out! there's a guy, don't shoot him! Another surrendering. Unbelievable."



One tank was set on fire in an underpass. As the crew tackled the blaze the commander sat on his turret, coolly taking cowboy-style potshots at Iraqis fighters with his 9mm pistol.



The Freedom Drive came on a day of success for the Coalition. But top brass—still nervous of a last-ditch chemical warfare attack—refused to say the war was nearly over.



Forceful



And the Americans are determined to take the battle into Baghdad if necessary.



"We're not going to tip-toe into the city, it will be a forceful knock-out punch every time we go in," said Marine Captain Matt Watt.



"We'll make sure there's no capability for the enemy to resist us, we'll go in shooting up every time."



But many Iraqis believe it will soon be all over. "This is it," said Nour Khaled, 48, a mother of two. "We're confronting the mightiest army in the world."



The mood was similar across Iraq. In Aziziyah cheering residents handed out cans of Coke and cigarettes to Marines entering the town.



Children held out flowers to passing Marines.



Iraqi soldiers and senior officials of Saddam's Ba'ath Party fled two days ago. Yesterday the delighted people made throat-slitting gestures at pictures of the dictator.



IN LONDON Prime Minister Tony Blair was told at a War Cabinet meeting of the collapse of the Republican Guard,



But he was warned by Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon there was still a tough battle ahead.



www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/news1.html

[MIKE BURN]

Yes, U.S. propaganda at it's best... Iraqi people cheered about the destroyed coalition tanks...

[MIKE BURN]

[LarreeMP3]

The "dick"tator is most likely dead, and Iraq is going to be FREE!



The only good Iraqi is a FREE Iraqi !!!



I am proud of my country for having the balls to deal with this evil regime once and for all. But I do feel sorry for France, Germany, and Russia. What slimy "dick"tator are they going to do business with now?

[Social Spit]

Now, is that a GERMAN car?







Mike, shaddap and give me some more beer!