All this surfing the web for the latest in news is starting to tire me out. I will start summarizing a lot more and probably reduce the size of my posts. This means they will probably be easier to read, but less informative.

I received two e-mails from peace activist groups today. It looks like they will be focusing on the post-war situation as well. Both messages ask me to send a letter opposing President Bush's plan to administer Iraq without UN cooperation or legitimacy. I guess it depends on whether you want a multinational United Nations administration with the support of France, Germany and Russia or a neoconservative regime put up by Paul Wolfowitz, Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney that ignores international public opinion.

April 7 - Monday
In Baghdad
3rd Infantry Division's 1st brigade is on highway 10 and the Airport to the west of Baghdad, 2nd Brigade is on highway 8 to the south and in the center of the city and the 3rd brigade is on Highway 1 to the north. 1st Marine Division is fighting on highway 6 on a tributary of the Tigris on the southeast edge of the city and on highway 5 to the northeast. U.S. troops do not control the city's entire perimeter. "It is not an impenetrable cordon."
US Marines from 1st Marine Division enter Baghdad from Southeast at a bridge over the Tigris. At least 2 are killed from 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines.
American forces have destroyed an Iraqi column of tanks, other armoured vehicles and artillery to the north-west of Baghdad, preventing the reinforcement of the city
On the western outskirts, an armored battalion from the Third Division's First Brigade captured the old presidential palace near the airport. This is probably the 7th Infantry Regiment
3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment of the Second Brigade circled tanks in the heart of Baghdad and pulled down monuments of Mr. Hussein, surrounding the main presidential compound, the Rashid Hotel and the information ministry near the Tigris River. The raid into Baghdad seemed to purposefully cross in front of the Palestine Hotel, where many foreign journalists are staying.

Outside Baghdad
At least two soldiers and two journalists killed and 15 others wounded in an Iraqi rocket attack on the tactical operations center of the 3rd Infantry division's Second Brigade south of Baghdad. Indications suggested that the missile had been fired from Hillah, which is encircled by American forces but still under control of Iraqis.
Two Polish journalists captured by Iraqis outside Hillah.
US claims to have found nerve gas chemicals near Karbala. V Corps chemical officer said that a preliminary test by a military chemical unit at the scene indicated the presence of nerve gas and mustard gas. He would await final judgment until a squad of the 51st Chemical Company. [Pictures show very old 50 gallon drums. - Ed]
A firefight erupts in Nasiriyah between Iraqi opposition and Fedayeen. Ahmed Chalabi, a leading opposition figure close to members of the Bush administration might be involved.
1st Marine Expeditionary Force raided a site that may have been a training camp for non-Iraqi fighters near Salman Pak

Basra and Southern Iraq
British are sure they killed Chemical Ali
British claim to control Basra