TROOPS TOLD: 'BE READY'
430 PM GMT stands for 430 PM Greenwich Mean Time. That is the time in London. 430 PM in London = 730 pm Baghdad = 1130 am EST in Washington
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,3 ... 94,00.html
US forces in northern Kuwait have been told to be ready to
launch a major attack on Iraq at 4.30pm GMT.
Troops assembled close to the border with Iraq have been ordered
to be battle ready - wearing full chemical protection suits and gas masks.
It comes as Downing Street confirmed Tony Blair will address the
nation tonight.
US Security sources have also claimed that the Iraqis have set
fire to oilfields in the country's south.
Sporadic fighting has also broken out in the deminitarised zone
between Iraq and Kuwait, according to the US sources.
Earlier, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon - following the first meeting
of Britain's War Cabinet - said a larger scale operation was "very,
very near."
The first air salvoes started at dawn when the US military says about
40 cruise missiles were fired at the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.
Washington admitted the attack came earlier than expected
following intelligence information on the whereabouts of Iraqi
leader Saddam Hussein.
CIA director George Tenet told the US President that intelligence
sources indicated the possibility that Iraqi leaders were meeting
in the area.
President Bush gave the go-ahead for the attack - aimed at "taking
out" Saddam and "decapitating" the Iraqi regime.
Just hours later, the Iraqi leader made a television appearance urging
his people to fight to victory and declaring a holy war.
US security officials said a glitch in the speech proves it was
pre-recorded - and hinted a Saddam body-double could have been used.
The CIA is trying to ascertain if the Iraqi leader was killed in the
strikes - but say that could take days.
However, Israeli security sources said Saddam's appearance was
"live and authentic".
Iraq responded to the dawn attacks, in which they claim one civilian
was killed, by firing scud missiles on targets in Kuwait.
According to US officials, they were targeting US troops. Two missiles
hit Kuwaiti territory and two were intercepted by patriot missiles.
Artillery fire was also heard in an attack on Iraq from northern
Kuwait.
France is leading the opposition to the war, with President Jacques
Chirac calling for a swift end to action. Russia, China and Germany
have all expressed "grave concerns".
Last Updated: 15:51 UK, Thursday March 20, 2003
TROOPS TOLD: 'BE READY'
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MKSheppard
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TROOPS TOLD: 'BE READY'
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"The present air situation in the Pacific is entirely the result of fighting a fifth rate air power." - U.S. Navy Memo - 24 July 1944
"The present air situation in the Pacific is entirely the result of fighting a fifth rate air power." - U.S. Navy Memo - 24 July 1944
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