Dawn bombing in Baghdad as Bush Announces: War has Begun
19.03.2003 19:10 | Anti-militarism
[All UK local time]
02:50 Explosions and sirens as UK/US forces target central and southern Baghdad, near the edge of the city. It seems the attack has been limited and the trumpeted "shock and awe" mass bombing will come at a later stage. Rumours in the media point at a possible attempt to kill some Iraqi officials after intelligence on their whereabouts.
03:15 Bush announces to the global media the start of the war, in a speech full of enemy demonisation -- children as human shields -- and nice PR-fodder about Iraq's people, culture and religion.
03:30 Main Iraq radio taken off air. Now it broadcasts psy-op UK/US propaganda.
04:00 Bush calls it a day, and goes to bed. The Pentagon has confirmed the attack was just an opportunity strike intending to kill senior Iraqi leaders in their sleeping hideout. Cruise missiles were fired from US warships and warplanes also took part in the bombing. Reports in Al-Jazeera talk about three dozen bombs.
02:50 Explosions and sirens as UK/US forces target central and southern Baghdad, near the edge of the city. It seems the attack has been limited and the trumpeted "shock and awe" mass bombing will come at a later stage. Rumours in the media point at a possible attempt to kill some Iraqi officials after intelligence on their whereabouts.
03:15 Bush announces to the global media the start of the war, in a speech full of enemy demonisation -- children as human shields -- and nice PR-fodder about Iraq's people, culture and religion.
03:30 Main Iraq radio taken off air. Now it broadcasts psy-op UK/US propaganda.
04:00 Bush calls it a day, and goes to bed. The Pentagon has confirmed the attack was just an opportunity strike intending to kill senior Iraqi leaders in their sleeping hideout. Cruise missiles were fired from US warships and warplanes also took part in the bombing. Reports in Al-Jazeera talk about three dozen bombs.