Maybe not

[khaosworks]

US denies fighting inside Iraq
March 20, 2003

THE Pentagon has denied a report of fighting between specials forces and Iraqis in the south of Iraq.

A British newspaper reported a fierce firefight involving British and US special forces near Iraq's main port of Umm Qasr.

But Pentagon spokesman Tim Blair said this morning: "I am denying this."

He added the report was probably related to an earlier incident involving Kuwaitis and Iraqis.

The Evening Standard in London said the fighting was believed to involve elite troops from Britain's Special Boat Service (SBS) and United States marines.

It did not specify its sources.

The fighting, near the southern Iraqi city of Basra, was part of operations to prepare landing sites for amphibious craft during an invasion, the paper said.

Other special units were deep inside Iraq on secret operations to prepare landing strips in the desert for airborne troops, the report added.

Agence France-Presse

And the spinning begins. Man, don't you just love deja vu?

"The first casualty when war comes is truth." -- Hiram Johnson.

Comments

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

The local news here was reporting that bombing of an artillery facility had already happened. This was the 5:00 news.

So even if there hasn't been an "elite invasion," there is still war activity going on before the deadline.

[umbran.livejournal.com]

I'm not overly trusting of governmental sources, but I am also not overly trusting of news services. In war, any news report that cannot or does not quote a source is suspect. Simply put- don't believe everything you read.

Sometimes, the truth is slain by the overenthusiasm of those sworn to protect it.

[mysticlegacy.livejournal.com]

One of the few times I'm actually glad to be in the UK is when it comes to news reporting. I find American news highly sinister, especially after reading that Fox story the other day.

[figmo.livejournal.com]

There's a reason I attribute stuff. Sometimes I'll say, "The Associated Press reports..." and so forth.

I prefer to cover my ass in the event someone feeding me information is lying through their teeth.