U.S. Troops Rename Saddam International Airport

[chadtm80]

U.S. Troops Rename Saddam International Airport

POSTED: 10:56 a.m. EST April 4, 2003
UPDATED: 11:07 a.m. EST April 4, 2003

A U.S. military spokesman said Baghdad's main airport has a new name.

Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks told reporters at Friday's war briefing that it's no longer being called Saddam International Airport -- it's now Baghdad International.


U.S. forces reportedly are still facing some Iraqi resistance at the site, but Brooks indicates the airport is under U.S. control.

Brooks also confirms "combat losses" in an apparent car bomb explosion in western Iraq. Officials earlier said three coalition troops were among five people killed in the blast at a road checkpoint. A pregnant woman and the driver of the car also died. (Full Story)

Brooks said the military is still gathering information on the reported discovery of thousands of boxes of white powder at an industrial site south of Baghdad. Military officials said they also found Arabic documents dealing with how to engage in chemical warfare -- along with a nerve gas antidote. (Full Story)

People Fleeing Baghdad

Many Baghdad residents don't want to stick around if there's a siege or a battle for their city.

Thousands of civilians have decided to flee the Iraqi capital. Hundreds of trucks, buses and cars are backed up for miles on roads heading north -- away from gathering U.S. forces.

The vehicles are packed with people, baggage and food items. Baghdad has been plunged into darkness following its first widespread power outage of the war. U.S. military officials said they hadn't targeted the city's power grid.

Special Ops Still Inside Iraqi Capital

Brooks said American Special Operations Forces continue their missions inside Baghdad.

Pentagon officials have said U.S. commandos have been operating from inside the Iraqi capital at least since early in the war. The Special Forces have been scouting targets for bombs or ground assaults, contacting Iraqi officials to encourage defections -- and possibly trying to kill key officials or take out key sites.

Brooks said the Special Operations troops are in "key locations" inside the capital.

Marines Don Chemical Suits, Await Final Push Into Baghdad

They're apprehensive -- but confident in their equipment and training.

Marines on the outskirts of Baghdad have put on their chemical warfare suits, trusting the suits, masks and gloves will protect them in case Saddam Hussein's regime unleashes gas or a biological weapon in a final act of defiance.


An Associated Press reporter with the Marines said some of them sit quietly, lost in their thoughts -- while others write letters home or catch a few winks of sleep before making what's expected to be the final push into the Iraqi capital.

[Rainband]

Great choice!!!! God Speed to the coaltion!!

Johnathan

[southerngale]

Yeah Chad...cool huh?

I saw Sheperd Smith report this last night on Fox but all of the other channels were still calling it Saddam International Airport. I was so glad to hear our quick we renamed it.

Yea, USA!!!