Smiles and Flowers for U.S. Marines in Baghdad
Robin | 09.04.2003 12:41
Smiles and Flowers for U.S. Marines in Baghdad
Wed April 9, 2003 07:49 AM ET
By Sean Maguire
BAGHDAD - Hundreds of jubilant Iraqis mobbed a convoy of U.S. Marines on Wednesday, cheering, dancing and waving as American troops swept toward central Baghdad through slums and leafy suburbs from the east.
Crowds threw flowers at the Marines as they drove past the Martyrs' Monument, just two miles east of the central Jumhuriya Bridge over the Tigris river.
Young and middle-aged men, many wearing soccer shirts of leading Western clubs like Manchester United, shouted "Hello, hello" as Marines advanced through the rundown sprawl of Saddam City and then more prosperous suburbs with villas and trim lawns.
"No more Saddam Hussein," chanted one group, waving to troops as they passed. "We love you, we love you."
One young man ran alongside a Marine armored personnel carrier trying to hand over a heavy belt of ammunition.
An older man made a wild kicking gesture with his foot, saying "Goodbye Saddam."
Women waved from balconies, girls threw flower petals at young Marines leaning across gun turrets. One woman held her baby aloft.
Tank crews picked the flowers from the tops of their fighting machines, smelt them and grinned.
One man shouted to a soldier: "Is it over?."
"Almost," came the Marine's reply.
"To be honest, I'm happy it appears they're not going to fight. I was a little nervous when the crowd was so exuberant, we've heard so much about suicide bombings and drive-by shootings," said Captain Dan Rose.
"We are the lead regiment now. We are the furthest forward of anyone," Colonel John Toolan, commander of 1st Marine Regiment, told Reuters.
"I believe we are on the last leg."
Wed April 9, 2003 07:49 AM ET
By Sean Maguire
BAGHDAD - Hundreds of jubilant Iraqis mobbed a convoy of U.S. Marines on Wednesday, cheering, dancing and waving as American troops swept toward central Baghdad through slums and leafy suburbs from the east.
Crowds threw flowers at the Marines as they drove past the Martyrs' Monument, just two miles east of the central Jumhuriya Bridge over the Tigris river.
Young and middle-aged men, many wearing soccer shirts of leading Western clubs like Manchester United, shouted "Hello, hello" as Marines advanced through the rundown sprawl of Saddam City and then more prosperous suburbs with villas and trim lawns.
"No more Saddam Hussein," chanted one group, waving to troops as they passed. "We love you, we love you."
One young man ran alongside a Marine armored personnel carrier trying to hand over a heavy belt of ammunition.
An older man made a wild kicking gesture with his foot, saying "Goodbye Saddam."
Women waved from balconies, girls threw flower petals at young Marines leaning across gun turrets. One woman held her baby aloft.
Tank crews picked the flowers from the tops of their fighting machines, smelt them and grinned.
One man shouted to a soldier: "Is it over?."
"Almost," came the Marine's reply.
"To be honest, I'm happy it appears they're not going to fight. I was a little nervous when the crowd was so exuberant, we've heard so much about suicide bombings and drive-by shootings," said Captain Dan Rose.
"We are the lead regiment now. We are the furthest forward of anyone," Colonel John Toolan, commander of 1st Marine Regiment, told Reuters.
"I believe we are on the last leg."
Robin
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