Tribune News ServiceKuwait City, March 30
Operation James. Target Pussy Galore. Target Goldfinger. Target Blofeld. 007 is at work in Basra, Iraq’s second largest city which today saw one of the fiercest coalition forces’ attacks on it.
The British ground troops — who are mainly in charge in the American-led coalition forces’ push towards Basra — launched ferocious strikes on Basra today codenamed “Operation James” after the celluloid sensational spy James Bond. Pussy Galore, Goldfinger, Blofeld — adjectives so famously associated with James Bond movies — were the names of different targets assigned to the British troops in Basra.
According to agencies, a General from Saddam Hussein’s Army was captured in southern Iraq. An Iraqi official said 4,000 Arab volunteers had arrived, eager to carry out more suicide attacks against US and British forces. British spokesman Group Captain Al Lockwood said an Iraqi General was captured in the city of Basra. He also said Royal Marine Commandos killed a Republican Guard Colonel.
American warplanes used laser guided missiles to attack a building in Basra where some 200 Iraqi paramilitary fighters were meeting. The extent of damage and casualties was not immediately known.
Basra is at present surrounded by British troops from three sides while the Iraqi forces still hold the centre of the city. The British tanks blocked off a major road junction to stop Iraqi troops breaking out of a Basra suburb.
There have been reports of widespread discontentment in Basra and revolt from the common people against Mr Saddam Hussein but these people have been forcibly subjugated by militias loyal to Mr Hussein.
