RIVER CROSSING
The coalition's road to Baghdad has reached a significant milestone: the crossing of the Euphrates River. Fighting continues to intensify the closer troops get to Baghdad, but at the moment troops are also being slowed by fierce sandstorms.

U.S. officials are keeping a close eye on Iraq's treatment of American POWs, which now numbers seven -- five Army soldiers captured two days ago and paraded on Arab TV, and two Apache helicopter pilots.


PFC Kevin Gropp of Littleton, Colorado, with the U.S. 3rd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division, sleeps in a foxhole by his Humvee at an undisclosed location in southern Iraq, Tuesday, March 25, 2003. Thousands of troops were rumbling north toward Baghdad on Tuesday, taking safer dirt roads to avoid cities and towns where they could face Iraqi resistance, but many were halted by a sandstorm 50 miles south of the Iraqi capital. (Associated Press)

The Other Side - Analysis, angles and opinions on the Web

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Pragmatism means backing the right horse, The Straits Times (Singapore) - An interesting perspective on how foreign countries should handle their relationship with the U.S.

Iraq/USA: No double standards for POWs, Amnesty International - The human rights organization's official press release.

'Bush's War' tempted Clinton, The Globe and Mail (Canada) - A look at the Iraq agenda Bill Clinton continued in between Bush, Sr. and Bush, Jr.

What's Bush's next target for axis of evil?, The Hill - How should the North Korean situation be handled?

Who dropped the Turkey?, UPI - U.S. miscalculations with its usually steadfast ally could have long-term repercussions.

War in Iraq will result in great political costs for U.S., The Collegiate Times - America risks destroying what respect it has painstakingly built up in the international community, writes this guest columnist.

APPROACHING THE HORNET'S NEST
Allied forces draw ever nearer to Baghdad, finally engaging Iraq's elite Republican Guard units in heavy fighting roughly 60 miles from the capital city. One U.S. Apache helicopter has been confirmed shot down, with its crew missing. Officials could not verify Iraq's claims that a second Apache had also been brought down.

Elsewhere, the bloodiest fighting has occurred at Nasiriya, where U.S. commanders say they have taken the town, but at great cost: 10 Marines were killed and another 12 are missing, possibly among captured and dead POWs Iraq paraded on Arab TV.

Speaking of which, said Arab network Al Jazeera has just launched a website that offers a fascinating counterpoint to Western news reporting. Whom to believe?

Coalition troops have also made their first possible WMD (weapons of mass destruction) seizure, discovering and securing a chemical plant that may have been used to produce chemical weapons. Military specialists will soon begin investigating the site.


An F-14 Tomcat returns to the USS Harry S. Truman from a strike against Iraq, Monday, March 24, 2003. The Truman aircraft carrier launched strikes against Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (Associated Press)

The Other Side - Analysis, angles and opinions on the Web.

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Columnist Criticizes Iraq Coverage, Editor & Publisher - The inaugural practice of "embedded journalism" in this war has colored the news in a whole new way.

A curious sort of war, Canada.com - All sorts of peculiar paradoxes exist in the Iraqi conflict.

Of Iraqi Freedom, Democratic Contagion And Giant Mistakes, AllAfrica.com - Is America, like Sigmund Freud once said, a "mistake, a giant mistake"?

From Shock and Awe, to Aw, Forget It, BusinessWeek - A facetious look at the sometimes overenthusiastic and biased Western press.

Weapons Of Mass Delusion, OutlookIndia.com - The world is being "catapulted towards chaos" in this op-ed piece.

The Lords of Vengeance, LiberalSlant.com - Both the U.S. and Iraq will pay too high a price in the war, says this Boston teacher.

Avert a bloodbath at Baghdad's gates, Toronto Star - Should the U.S. try to leverage the Arab League into brokering a surrender?

US will ignore Turkey's gray wolves at its peril, Asia Times - According to a former Turkish ambassador, Turkey is just waiting to pounce on Iraqi territory.

INTO ENEMY HANDS
And the fourth day brought bad news. The U.S. confirms 12 soldiers are unaccounted for, some of whom may be among captured and dead soldiers shown on Arab TV by their Iraqi captors.

A friendly fire incident has brought down a British Tornado GR4 aircraft, reportedly by a U.S. Patriot missile. The casualty list so far stand at two pilots.

All the way back in Kuwait, betrayal among the 101st Airborne has resulted in one dead and 12 injured after a U.S. soldier rolled several grenades into a command tent and opened fire with a handgun. Resentment has been speculated to be the motive, but authorities are still questioning the suspect.


A U.S. Army combat engineer of the 535th company points his machine gun as he secures important ground south of the city of Najaf in central Iraq, March 23, 2003. (Reuters)

The Other Side - Analysis, angles and opinions on the Web

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First Stop, Iraq, TIME Magazine - A fascinating, year-long look inside the White House and how Iraq made its way to the top of President Bush's agenda.

A Familiar Future For Iraq, AlterNet.org - What if, after the war, absolutely nothing changes in Iraq?

From False Start to Sure Victory, The Moscow Times - The coalition's gradual start to the war may have been a mistake, but technological superiority should win the day, says this Russian defense analyst.

A war of ifs, buts and maybes, The Age (Australia) - This anti-war professor acknowledges his private dilemma.

Noses out of joint over Iraq? That's fine by me, The Roanoke Times - Why should President Bush let other countries dictate U.S. foreign policy anyway?

Justifying the conflict, The Courier (Australia) - An Anglican bishop offers up his stance on the Iraq war.

Postwar Iraq could be awesome shock, too, Baltimore Sun - The state of Iraq after the conflict could be a powder keg of racial, cultural and class division.

'Democracy in Iraq will take up to 30 years', Swissinfo - A Middle East specialist says the U.S. has bitten off more than it can chew with its ideas of "nation-building."

Surprising silence on war in Iraq, San Francisco Chronicle - In the financial community, why are managers of "socially responsible" mutual funds keeping quiet?

Reviving Iraq's middle class, Boston Globe - Can post-war Iraq be restored to its pre-1990 affluence?

Iraq - The Fallout - Go As You Please, Barbados Daily Nation - How it feels to live in the shadow of the U.S.

Bush doctrine goes on trial, Jamaica Gleaner - Is the U.S. a bully in the mold of Al Capone?

SOUTHERN FRONT
On this third night of bombing, allied warplanes continue to bombard Baghdad and other strategically key cities like Kirkuk, Mosul and Tikrit.

Meanwhile, coalition forces keep pressing on through the desert of southern Iraq, reportedly seizing an airport and bridge in the key city of Basra. Iraqi forces continue resisting in the core of the city, however. Military officials say "thousands" of Iraqi soldiers have surrendered thus far.

More non-combat casualties have occurred: Two British Royal Marine helicopters collided with each other, killing one U.S. officer and six U.K. soldiers. That brings the non-combat deaths up to five Americans and 14 Britons. Two additional U.S. Marines have died in combat after firefights in southern Iraq.

And in the enough-is-enough department, CNN is reporting that the U.S. will set up base in eastern Jordan and fly in airborne troops from there, bypassing Turkey's ground and airspace and avoiding exasperating negotiations.


A U.S. Marine from CSSC 117, a part of the 3rd Marine Battalion, aims his rifle as a gun battle erupts some 200 yards from a military convoy in southern Iraq, March 22, 2003. (Reuters)

The Other Side - Analysis, angles and opinions on the Web

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Looming Confrontation, Arab News (Saudi Arabia) - What will happen when the U.S. and Turkey really face off on the issue of the Kurds and northern Iraq?

Where is Bush heading to?, Daily Nation (Africa) - How the U.S. can appear to someone on the other side of the fence.

Britain, Kuwait may benefit in post-war equation, The Hindu (India) - Could the U.K. and Kuwait be given a little slice of that Iraqi pie?

POWs - What To Do With Them?, WTOL.com - Captured Iraqi soldiers might be considered a lock-'em-up and done deal, but that could just be the beginning of the problem.

Consider the issue of Iraq from all perspectives, The Barbados Advocate - An assessment of tyranny from a non-U.S. viewpoint.

The naval battle within the war, United Press International - The air and land campaigns have been getting all the focus, but what's going on in the sea?

The monster slain by optimism, The Globe and Mail (Canada) - Saddam's overconfidence could be his undoing, but as allied forces close in on Baghdad, it's where he could be at his most dangerous.

Mundane Impressions of Otherwise "Brutal Iraq", Rediff.com (India) - Could the Western media be painting a skewed picture of Iraq?

SHOCK AND AWE
The allied forces have started to unleash the full might of their firepower, Pentagon officials describing it as "A-Day." Large explosions are being reported over Baghdad and the northern cities of Kirkuk and Mosul. This development comes after U.S. and British troops seized strategically important airfields in western Iraq and oil fields in southern Iraq.

Turkey has yet again changed its mind on use of its airspace by coalition warplanes. Earlier in the day the government had agreed to let U.S. jets fly over, but at the last minute voiced its uncertainty over permission, forcing planes already en route to Iraq to detour.


Huge plumes of smoke are seen rising above buildings during air strikes on Baghdad March 21, 2003 in this frame grab taken from television footage. Explosions rocked Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's complex in central Baghdad on Friday, shaking the city with massive blasts. The air strike, the fiercest on the city yet seen in the U.S.-led war against Iraq, came after U.S. officials said they had launched a major air war in their effort to topple the Iraqi leader. (Reuters)

Click here to get to know the men and women of the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division, which was among the troops that crossed the Kuwaiti border into Iraq.
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They didn't listen then and they're not listening now, Sydney Morning Herald - A poignant article from 1990 on the horror of war.

United they fall, The Spectator - Richard Perle bids a fond adieu to the United Nations and its "abject failure."

Danger in the softly-softly approach, The Age - Trying to get inside Saddam Hussein's head. What are his objectives in this war?

Saddam link to Bin Laden, The Guardian - A 1999 article linking the Iraqi president to the terrorist leader.

A prayer for the young, here and there, Cleveland Plain Dealer - A perspective on the conflict through the eyes of a parent.

Upside of the Iraq war, The Manila Times - How the Iraq war is going over on the streets of the Philippines.

U.S. technology v. Iraqi rhetoric, Canada.com - The flexibile and unpredictable allied military campaign could be making the war of words even more effective.

Americans cross their fingers and hope as Iraq war begins, The Sacramento Bee - Dan Walters says for many of us, being for or against the Iraq war is not always a case of black and white.

If Backed Into Baghdad, Will Iraq Use Chemicals?, Newsday - Will the capital city fall easily, or with great resistance?

Iraq: the marketing war, The Inquirer - An examination of the battle being fought on the propaganda front.

Gussied Up Patriots Debut in Iraq, Wired News - How are the new and improved Patriot missiles doing?

Ground Phase Kicks In
At this moment, approaching 5:00 AM in the morning (Baghdad is eight hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time), the city is quiet, the allies apparently pausing in their air attack.

However, the ground advance continues with the U.S. Marines 1st Expeditionary Force, U.S. Army 7th Cavalry Regiment, and British Royal Marines rolling into southern Iraq. Explosions have now been reported in Iraq's third-largest city of Basra which, if captured, military analysts say would be a huge victory for allied forces.


The planning ministry in Baghdad explodes after being hit during the second day of U.S. raids on the Iraqi capital March 20, 2003. The United States attacked key targets in Baghdad, including President Saddam Hussein's family home, with cruise missiles on Thursday, setting government buildings on fire in a ferocious assault intended to topple Saddam's government. (Reuters)

Stay tuned for updates throughout the day and continuous additions to the list of interesting Web articles below, or catch minute-by-minute breaking headlines at Lycos News.
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Peace camp needs to get its house in order, The Straits Times - Is it better to be a strong, swift hawk than a meek dove?

UFOs are Saddam's secret - UFO watchers claim, Stuff - All righty, then.

Web Sites Vandalized With Antiwar Messages, Washington Post - A battle being waged in cyberspace by opponents of the war against Iraq.

Europe Can't Afford to Stay Mad for Long, BusinessWeek - A close look at the shaky economic and political ground members of the European Union are standing on.

Saddam's men, Radio Netherlands - Examining the loyalty of the people Saddam Hussein surrounds himself with.

Benson's View, The Arizona Republic - Some comic relief courtesy of Pulitzer prize-winning political cartoonist Steve Benson.

Forgotten victims of Iraq's venom, New Zealand Herald - A look back at those who have suffered at the hands of Saddam Hussein.

Qatar: The model post-Iraq State?, MSNBC - So what's Qatar? Possibly the ideal political structure for an oil-producing, Middle East country.

Winning the peace is no easy task, The Ithaca Journal - It's not what happens during the war, but what happens afterwards that counts, says this guest columnist.

Victory in Iraq may be hard to define, The Globe and Mail - What exactly will clearly signal the endgame?

The path to war in Iraq: a look back, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle - A comprehensive timeline of events, going back two years, leading up to the war on Iraq.

'Blair played his cards brilliantly', Guardian Unlimited - Tony Blair, it would seem, has managed to win over a few critics in Britain.

War with Saddam? It had to happen--the man wouldn't comply, Free Lance-Star - An earnest op-ed piece written by a 15-year-old Virginia high school student.

Preventive war sets perilous precedent, Seattle Post-Intelligencer - Helen Thomas thinks the world may be less, not more, secure after the Iraq war is over.

'Opening Stages'
President Bush has addressed the nation, telling the world that the disarmament of Iraq has begun. Reports are that U.S. cruise missiles have already struck selected targets.

This will be a history-making war on a couple of levels. First, the number of journalists accompanying allied troops is unprecedented, and the intensity of stories coming from the front lines will probably be unlike anything the world has ever seen or heard before. As well, this is the first war of the Internet generation, so if you've got something to say, or want to express your thoughts and support for our troops, then be sure to speak your mind here or at our Lycos message boards and chat rooms.


U.S. Marine Corporal Brian Shumylo of Dyer, Indiana, shields his face from blowing sand around the landing pad at an air base in Kuwait after arriving by helicopter from a ship. Shumylo is in a unit that helps load heavy-lifting helicopters. The Arabic word on his facemask translates to "Shymylo." (Associated Press)

US gambles on a 'smart' war in Iraq, NewScientist.com - The technology behind U.S. smart bombs.

Why the hypocrites are right this time, The Age - This Aussie editor sides with the U.S. in spite of herself.

The Time for War, GoErie.com - Patience and diplomacy can only go so far with Saddam Hussein, argues this columnist.

Bush's coalition, its firepower and resolve weak, won't pack the punch of 1991 alliance, HoosierTimes.com - Comparing the international anti-Iraq coalition then and now.

Sins of Hussein follow the sons, analysts say, SFGate.com - A look at the cruel and ruthless offspring of the Iraqi dictator.

Iraqi TV derides 'Bush the idiot', BBC - The Iraqi propaganda machine at work.

War in Iraq: Then and Now, Sky News - A military analysis of the differences between 1991 and now.

Gulf War II - a very different battleground, Reuters AlertNet - Another comparison between the two conflicts.

Local Gulf War vets reflect on likely Iraq war, Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Picking the brains of those who have been there before.

Airlines dropping flights in anticipation of war, San Jose Mercury News - How the conflict is affecting travel worldwide.

Iraq in the balance, The Barbados Advocate - One writer's opinion of why Saddam Hussein has brought this on himself.

The silly tantrums of a Super Power, Sify News - An op-ed piece with a look from the outside in at the U.S.

Countdown to War
The world is bracing for impact after Saddam Hussein rejected President Bush's ultimatum last night to leave Iraq within 48 hours. Many world leaders called on Bush to give diplomacy and inspections more time. But France, a vocal critic of the U.S., surprisingly softened its stance a bit by saying it would assist the coalition allies in a war if Saddam Hussein used biological or chemical weapons.


Under a full moon at dawn, a soldier from the U.S. Army's A Company 3rd Battalion 7th Infantry Regiment walks past a line of Bradley fighting vehicles Tuesday, March 18, 2003. (Associated Press)

Spain: No combat role in Iraq war, CNN - Despite siding with the U.S. and Britain, Spain's Prime Minister affirms no combat troops will be sent to Iraq.

US forces around Iraq, Sydney Morning Herald - A breakdown of U.S. troops surrounding Iraq.

Reporting for duty, The Independent - A report on the massive number of journalists from all over the globe converging on Iraq.

On President Bush's speech, SFGate.com - A pool of San Francisco Chronicle readers weigh in with their opinions on the Iraq war.

U.N. Inspectors Look Back in Some Anger, Reuters.com - The evacuated U.N. inspectors voice some frustration over not having more time to complete their task.

Bush charts his own course on world policy, Boston.com - A closer look at President Bush's management of U.S. foreign policy.

The Red, White and True, Newsday.com - Columnist Paul Vitello questions President Bush's plan and offers up his view on this crazy, crazy world.

How long do you think a war in Iraq would last? Post your thoughts and let us know.

First Strike Coming?
War seems more imminent now, with President Bush preparing to address the nation tonight, demanding that Saddam Hussein leave Iraq to avoid armed conflict. Meanwhile, U.S. officials have advised U.N. weapons inspectors to leave the country.

Attorney General's Iraq response, BBC - Britain's Attorney General presents the government's legal basis for going to war.

Cook becomes first UK minister to quit over Iraq, Financial Times - Robin Cook, leader of the House of Commons, becomes the first British minister to resign in protest over the looming war.

Bland words, vivid images wait to nail Saddam's crimes, The Age - A report on war crime evidence being gathered from Iraqi defectors.

Why the U.S. Inspires Scorn, CommonDreams.org - A look at how Middle East nations view U.S. foreign policy.

Truth sinks in on Iraq's streets, The Age - Some descriptions of war preparations going on inside Iraq.

Do you think there's any chance Saddam Hussein would leave Iraq -- or acquiesce in some other manner -- in order to avoid war?

Here are the headlines hitting the wires around the globe this morning:

Azores summit 'last push' on Iraq, CNN.com - U.S., British and Spanish leaders head to the Azores to try and hash out their next move.

Thirty days could be long enough: Chirac, ABC Online - French president Jacques Chirac now says 30 days could be an acceptable deadline to set for Saddam Hussein.

Iraq prepares for war: Country divided into four military zones, Al Bawaba - Iraqi leaders make more adjustments in preparation for war.

Iraq Delays Harm Global Economy, New York Post - An analysis of the economic swings that have taken place during the Iraqi standoff.

Go as you please: Iraq - the unravelling, Barbados Daily Nation - An editorial that preaches taking the middle road.

Do you think Jacques Chirac's 30-day gesture will persuade the U.S. and Britain to wait some more?