Blogs of War

11:36pm CST
This war is unfolding in a truly historic and unprecedented manner.

11:34pm CST
The Coalition of the Willing is large and growing. View the list here.

11:29pm CST
Black smoke floating over Kuwait City from burning oil fields in Southern Iraq. Live footage on Sky News broadcast

11:27pm CST
Latest CH-46 crash casualty numbers are 12 Brit commandos and 4 member U.S. crew lost.

11:14pm CST
Amazing surrender numbers confirmed. British military official says 20% of Iraqi Republican Guard has surrendered or will soon – Fox News broadcast

11:01pm CST
7th Cav. charging north at 30-40mph. Only minimal opposition met. – CNN broadcast

10:53pm CST
Live video of Iraqi troops at edge of Kurdish territory on CNN broadcast.

10:39pm CST

U.S. intelligence officials believe Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, possibly accompanied by one or both of his powerful sons, was still inside a compound in southern Baghdad early yesterday when it was struck by a barrage of U.S. bombs and cruise missiles.

- Washington Post

10:36pm CST
Duane Apling writes that “CNN is showing the advance of three troops of the 7th Cavalry unit out ahead of the 3rd ID. I’m guessing they are 10-20 miles further into Iraq. Their guy’s lens is clean.”

10:14pm CST
Iraqi troops still hold Umm Qasr but coalition forces will take control shortly. – Sky News broadcast

10:10pm CST
The Fox News broadcast footage of the rush to Baghdad is amazing but it would be so much better if they would occasionally clean the lens.

10:09pm CST
Added Christopher Blosser to the Blogs of War Wall of Honor. Thanks Chris.

9:55pm CST
Blackhawk down? Kerry Sanders is reporting live and siad that a Blackhawk heli is reported down but he can’t confirm. – MSNBC broadcast

9:19pm CST
Day of the Warblogs.

9:12pm CST
Live footage of U.S. tanks and troops hauling serious ass through the desert towards Baghdad on Fox News broadcast.

8:55pm CST
Sad news turns worse. 12 Americans and 4 Brits feared dead in chopper crash. – Sky News broadcast

8:51pm CST
Slight format change. I will now create and update a single post for each day. Most recent events will be “above the fold” or at the top of the page for those of you unfamiliar with print lingo.

8:44pm CST
Crews searching for downed U.S. Marine CH-46 helicopter. 8 Brits and 4 Americans feared lost due to mechanical failure. – Fox News broadcast

8:42pm CST
“The march to Baghdad has begun.” Troops on the ground in the “North, South, and the West” – Breaking on Fox News broadcast

8:36pm CST
Rick Leventhal is reporting live on Fox. This guy has been been with the Marines 3rd LAR and they’ve been pounding the Iraqis with artillery all day. – Fox News broadcast

8:25pm CST
Sad news developing. U.S. Marine helicopter down in Kuwait. All aboard feared lost. Mechanical problems suspected. – Fox News broadcast.

8:11pm CST
Iraqi command and control is in jeopardy. A large percentage of the Iraqi military is expressing an interest in surrender – Fox News broadcast

8:09pm CST
The Washington Post has more information on the Al-Qaeda suspect wanted by the FBI.

8:02pm CST
30 fireballs seen in direction of Basra – Sky News broadcast

8:01pm CST
Donald Rumsfeld is telling reporters that there is still hope of regime change without the full force of war being applied – Fox News broadcast

8:00pm CST
A reader has posted a link to some of the antiwar rhetoric found on the net. This is particularly disturbing:

People everywhere must attack US troops with words and disgust. Spray paint or use blood and write USA Troops=War Criminal Scum, Death to USA Imperialist Armed Forces One and ALL!Everyone in the USA whop is not fighting against the USA are criminal scum who desreve death too. Prepare…

- Chicago Indymedia

7:00pm CST

I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, hereby determine that the United States and Iraq are engaged in armed hostilities, that it is in the interest of the United States to confiscate certain property of the Government of Iraq and its agencies, instrumentalities, or controlled entities, and that all right, title, and interest in any property so confiscated should vest in the Department of the Treasury. I intend that such vested property should be used to assist the Iraqi people and to assist in the reconstruction of Iraq, and determine that such use would be in the interest of and for the benefit of the United States.

I hereby order:

Section 1. All blocked funds held in the United States in accounts in the name of the Government of Iraq, the Central Bank of Iraq, Rafidain Bank, Rasheed Bank, or the State Organization for Marketing Oil are hereby confiscated and vested in the Department of the Treasury, except for the following:

- Whitehouse.gov

7:12pm CST
The antiwar movement is going to destroy what little goodwill it has with the American people. MSNBC broadcast is showing video of protesters blocking Lakeshore Drive in Chicago. Chicago is preparing to deploy “bus loads” of riot gear clad police. And at the Leftist site sf.indymedia.org you get updates like this:

1:30PM: Crowd is getting rowdy at 7th & Market. One cop down.

7AM: Dozens of actions are planned in SF’s Financial District which vow to shut down the city. Thousands will plan to “call in sick” when the war starts to help disrupt capitalism from steamrolling on.

Disrupt capitalism from steamrolling on? I think they’re showing their true colors.

7:20pm CST
According to the Air Force the B-2 has has “joined the team” at a forward deployed location:

“Our primary job is ‘kicking the door down,’ as we like to say,” said 1st Lt. Matthew Hasson, a 509th Bomb Wing public affairs officer from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., the home station of all the B-2s. “We clear out the integrated air defenses that pose a threat to the other, less-stealthy airframes.”

- Air Force

7:21pm CST
Huge explosions and fireballs are being reported near Basra. Visible from 30 miles away. Speculation that the MOAB (RealVideo) is being used. – Sky News broadcast

7:49pm CST
More reports of explosions. This time in Mosul. – Fox News broadcast

Photo of the first Tomahawk missile to be fired into Iraq

6:00pm CST
Still no word of coalition casualties. Thank god.

6:27pm CST
Peter Arnet reports Baghdad is quiet. – MSNBC broadcast

6:44pm CST
Saddam ordering execution of deserters. Not exactly surprising. – Sky News broadcast.

6:52pm CST

The antiwar crowd has made me sick for years. Apparently they are now having the same effect on themselves:
In a unique form of opposition, some protesters at the Federal Building staged a “vomit in,” by heaving on the sidewalks and plaza areas in the back and front of the building to show that the war in Iraq made them sick, according to a spokesman.

- SFgate.com

6:54pm CST
Everyone is reporting rumors of fractures in Iraqi leadership and mass surrenders but nothing has materialized yet.

5:15pm CST
I had to take short break but updates are resuming.

5:16pm CST
Added Michael McCauley, Valerie Deeb, and Constance Strell to the Blogs of War Wall of Honor. Thank you!

5:22pm CST
Air raid sirens in Kuwait City again. Fox News reporter in gas mask again. Less than 24 hours into the war and it has almost become routine for everyone involved. – Fox News broadcast

5:36pm CST
Iraqi pilots are being forced to fly suicide missions. Interesting exchange between the talking heads on Sky with one saying that we can’t discount the Iraqi air force and the subject matter expert saying in effect “yes we can”. – Sky News

5:46pm CST
Check out this site for nice photographs of the conflict – Mark Holland

5:54pm CST
MSNBC has mentioned Blogs of War in a feature called Blogging the War. Welcome MSNBC viewers/readers.

2:00pm CST

The bombing aould come and go in waves, nothing too heavy and not yet comparable to what was going on in 91. all radio and TV stations are still on and while the air raid began the Iraqi TV was showing patriotic songs and didn’t even bother to inform viewers that we are under attack. at the moment they are re-airing yesterday’s interview with the minister of interior affairs. THe sounds of the anti-aircarft artillery is still louder than the booms and bangs which means that they are still far from where we live, but the images we saw on Al Arabia news channel showed a building burning near one of my aunts house, hotel pax was a good idea. we have two safe rooms one with “international media” and the other with the Iraqi TV on. every body is waitingwaitingwaiting. phones are still ok, we called around the city a moment ago to check on friends. Information is what they need. Iraqi TV says nothing, shows nothing. what good are patriotic songs when bombs are dropping

- Where is Raed? (Iraqi Blogger)

2:01pm CST
Air raid sirens sound in Baghdad. Attack incoming. – Sky News broadcast

2:21pm CST
Air raid sirens in Mosul – Fox News broadcast

1:00pm CST
President Bush will be briefing his full cabinet in about 15 minutes. The event will be televised. – Fox News broadcast

1:02pm CST
“Indications that the Iraqi military is breaking from within” – Fox News broadcast

1:04pm CST
FA-18 Jets launching from the U.S.S. Constellation – Sky News broadcast

1:07pm CST
Cruise missles launched against republican guard – AP

1:11pm CST
Multiple reports of Iraqi’s surrendering – Fox News broadcast

1:16pm CST
Sirens in Baghdad again.

1:18pm CST
First town in Iraq (Umm Qasr) has been taken, Tony Blair to address UK at 4pm CST – Fox News broadcast

1:20pm CST
British Harrier Jumpjets have been hunting and killing scuds – Sky News broadcast

1:26pm CST
Added Paul Robichaux and Joy Shepherd to the Blogs of War Wall of Honor. Thank you both.

1:29pm CST
Saddam family home targeted and hit. All clear sirens in Baghdad – Fox News broadcast

1:40pm CST
U.S. and UK firing artillery rockets in Iraq – Sky News broadcast

1:44pm CST
U.S. and Kurdish troops (up to 100,000 strong) uniting for operations in Northern Iraq – Fox News broadcast

1:51pm CST
Good news:

Two pilots in the Illinois Air National Guard should be spared from courts-martial for a fatal friendly-fire bombing in Afghanistan, an Air Force hearing officer says.

- STLtoday.com

12:00pm CST
Air raid sirens in Baghdad. No signs of strike yet. – Sky New broadcast

12:10pm CST
Air raid sirens in Baghdad. No signs of strike yet. – Sky New broadcast

12:03pm CST
John Little weakens. Pepperoni pizza reported incoming. There is still hope.

12:06pm CST
Great video on CNN. Huge explosion near reporters. I think Nic Robertson is going to hyperventilate. Can’t say I blame him.

12:21pm CST
Explosions near Iraqi intelligence HQ and two of Saddam’s palaces – Sky News broadcast

12:30pm CST
Military officials say “major war has begun”. – MSNBC broadcast

12:32pm CST
MSNBC has video of a burning building in Baghdad. Reportedly a building near the Ministry of Information. – MSNBC broadcast

12:48pm CST
Current strikes still being described as preparatory by MSNBC military contacts.

12:50pm CST
Iraqi’s must have a great deal of faith in our precision and compassion. Pedestrians strolling the streets in the midst of attacks.

12:55pm CST
Royal Marines begin offensive in Southern Iraq – Sky News broadcast

11:05am CST
Live footage of the ground action in Southern Iraq on Fox News (and Sky News) broadcast now.

11:16am CST
Rick Leventhal is live on Fox News. Reporting that incoming artillery is landing “very close” to his position. – Fox News broadcast

11:20am CST
MSNBC features live nightvision video of downtown Baghdad on their video page.

11:25am CST
White House briefing in 5 minutes.

11:30am CST

Two-thirds of Iraq’s conscript army are ready to surrender without a fight, according to US military sources in Kuwait.

Two army divisions totaling 20,000 troops based in the south of Iraq are set to give themselves up to Allied forces in nearby Kuwait, the sources told Sky News reporter Colin Brazier.

- Sky News Online

11:31am CST
Fox News broadcast is reporting large explosions around Basra. Sky News is reporting “over 100 shells fired across the border”.

9:00am CST
The antiwar protesters are frothing at the mouth about the war. Their plans? Disrupt capitalism of course.

9:08am CST
Added James Wood and George Gill to the Blogs of War Wall of Honor. Thank you James and thank you for the very generous contribution George.

9:11am CST
Donald Rumsfeld expected to announce “broad rules of engagement” in the the war zone and that special forces troops are hunting down surface-to-surface missiles. – Fox News broadcast

9:12am CST
The “Coalition of the Willing” is growing and the White House may have updates soon. – Fox News broadcast

9:18am CST
Iraqi’s are lighting up some of the Southern oil fields. – Fox News broadcast

9:20am CST
Kuwait City’s air raid sirens are blaring. Missiles may be incoming. – Sky News broadcast

9:24am CST
One of the Fox News embedded reporters is hinting at significant coalition airstrikes in Southern Iraq soon.

9:32am CST
All clear sounds in Kuwait City.

9:38am CST
Pentagon confirming 2 oil well fires in Southern Iraq. – Fox News broadcast

9:40am CST
U.S. Troops told to be “Combat Ready” within the next 50 minutes. Rules of engagement broadened and forces can engage at will. – Sky News broadcast.

9:45am CST
Rick Leventhal is embedded with U.S. Marines 3rd LAR in Northern Kuwait and he is reporting that they are hammering away at Iraqi positions on the horizon. No video but he had a short but dramatic audio report with artillery fire and screaming soldiers in the background – Fox News broadcast

9:49am CST
Rick Leventhal is confirming via another audio report that airstrikes are underway in Southern Iraq. More dramatic reports filled with the sounds of explosions in the distance and helicopters overhead. Sounds like quite an event. – Fox news broadcast

9:54am CST
A Pentagon briefing will begin soon. You can watch it on the web via MSNBC. Click here for their video feed options.

8:05am CST
I’ve had three hours of sleep. My wife woke me up (asleep in front of the T.V.) with a giant latte. Updates will resume in just a few minutes.

People are writing and asking how I “beat the media” on a number of stories last night. I think the main reason is that I can publish to the web in seconds after it hits my eyes and ears. I have no editors (isn’t that obvious), producers, or web developers to please or rely on.

In a couple of cases I did have good sources and I was the first (that I could tell) to find DoD still photographs of the attack and republish them. However, in most cases the mainstream media and the wire services were my sources.

I’m in awe of the reporters on the ground in the war zone. Anyone who stayed up until the wee hours of the morning and saw the missle attacks on Kuwait will understand why. I think Fox News, MSNBC, and Sky News did an amazing job of pulling it all together last night. However, I found the mainstream media’s web sites quickly outpaced by events when things really got interesting.

8:40am CST

A helicopter carrying U.S. special forces crashed inside southern Iraq hours before the missile strikes Wednesday night, a senior defense official said. There were no casualties and the troops on board were all taken out safely, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The official said the military was taking steps to destroy the helicopter rather than let it fall into Iraqi hands.

- FOXNews.com

8:47am CST
Sky News has live footage of B-52s on the tarmac in the UK. You can watch them live on the web via the link on the left side of this page.

8:53am CST
The Iraqi ambassador to the U.N. claims that there has only been 1 Iraqi civilian death so far. – Sky News broadcast

8:54am CST
The French are using the words “United Nations” and”legitimacy” in the same sentence. Hilarious.