No sign of Americans in Baghdad
BAGHDAD (AFP) - There was no sign of a US military presence in Baghdad despite American officials' claim that coalition troops were in town to stay, AFP correspondents reported.
46 minutes later Agence France-Presse (AFP) files this report:
US troops take to Baghdad streets; 1,000 Iraqis reported killed
Okay. Let's listen in on the conversation between AFP and their correspondent in Bagdad.
The setting: Al-Rashid Hotel rooftop bar...the AFP satellite phone rings:
AFP Correspondent Pierre Dumont answers: "Hello, Jacques, Dumont here. What? Non. The situation is normal here, we are enjoying an aperitif while observing the skyline and as per my earlier report, see no evidence of the much touted American 'invasion'."
AFP Baghdad Desk: "Are you sure Pierre? MSNBC and FOX are broadcasting from their embeds and it looks like Baghdad to me...also appears things are not going well for the regime."
Dumont: "Phah! Liars!, Propagandists! Saddam's Minister of Information himself, with whom I had lunch just yesterday, assures me it is not so. I can see with my own eyes that Baghdad is as peaceful as the French countryside."
CAH-BOOM!!!! BAM!! RAT-TAT-TAT! CRASH!
AFP Desk: "Pierre are you there? What is happening? Pierre? Hello?! Mon Dieu!"
Dead air for many minutes
Dumont: "Hello, Jacques, it is Dumont again. It appears I may be mistaken about the Americans, it seems a Marine Colonel would like to buy me a drink and discuss my last report."
A hat tip to E.Nough via The Command Post