U.S. Apache helicopters searching for Republican Guard tanks near Karbala, about 50 air miles southwest of Baghdad, ran into heavy ground fire today and one was shot down. The Iraqi government said a second copter had been downed, but the U.S. commander, Gen. Tommy Franks, denied it.
A few hours later, Iraqi TV showed tape of two of the U.S. fliers, who were dressed in flight suits and appeared to be in good condition. Unlike the five POWs shown Sunday, they were not questioned on camera. The U.S. had complained that questioning them on TV violated Article 13 of the Geneva Convention on prisoners of war. The second crew was unaccounted for.
Military analysts had said that today -- the first day of long-distance contact between U.S. troops and the Iraqi Republican Guard, would tell much about Iraqi determination.
The message the Iraqis delivered was not the one coalition forces had hoped for. All 32 helicopters in the attack were damaged. They were forced to withdraw, though they did take out several tanks and shot up infantry positions.
The U.S. continued massive air strikes on Republican Guard divisions before a frontal assault on their positions.
When that assault will come is unclear. The level of Iraqi resistance will be one factor. The weather may be another: sandstorms are forecast.
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