I hadn't seen the Standard, but http://www.Debka.com a partisan Israeli news/muckraking site, posted headlines hours ago, citing reports from their sources that some ground fighting had begun.

Quote:
"The invasion has begun with the advance of US Marines and British 1st Armored Division into Iraq in the direction of southern key naval port of of Umm Qasr. A second column of US 3rd Infantry Division troops crossed into the demilitarized zone on Iraqi border with Kuwait, with thousands of tanks, combat vehicles and fuel trucks"

"IST 15:10

Invasion begins

US war commanders grabbed the element of surprise after all. While most analysts and forecasters predicted a mighty aerial-missile blitz over Baghdad as the war's opener, the campaign began Wednesday, March 19 with a lighting advance by Marine forces into southern Iraq along the Shatt el Arb River towards the big naval base and town of Umm Qasr. Fighting alongside the Americans are two brigades of the British 1st Armored Division and naval vessels landing Marine units south of Basra. The first clash of the war occurred shortly after in the mouth of the Khawr al-Zubayr river, a few miles south of Umm Qasr.

The US-UK column is heading at top speed for the oil fields of southern Iraq which have been surrounded by American and British special forces since earlier this month. DEBKAfile's military experts view this first major military move in the war as a bold tactic to prevent the sabotage of the oil fields, with the largest field in southern Iraq, Rumailah, at highest risk.

A second column of US 3rd Infantry Division troops crossed into the demilitarized zone on the Iraqi border with Kuwait accompanied by thousands of tanks, combat vehicles and fuel trucks."



Also there were a lot of rumours flying about the whereabouts of Tariq Aziz, who was hiding in Kurdistan, dead, or being interrogated by the U.S. military. All false, cause he just gave a press conference in Baghdad.   

Another source--I forget which--reported that troops had at least crossed into the DMZ between Kuwait and Iraq.

Personally I think it's entirely credible that ground operations have begun without the media reporting them. There's this sandstorm giving great cover, and most of the "front-line" journalists are under military control as to when they can file. Embedded is the right word for it IMHO.

W-O