It's on.
In ground forces have started their work. Planes are being readied. The war has started. Good luck boys, I hope to see you back home safely and soon.
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It's on.
In ground forces have started their work. Planes are being readied. The war has started. Good luck boys, I hope to see you back home safely and soon.
Damn. I can only repeat what Jimmy said- good luck, boys. Be safe.
How long do you think it will take?
Personally? Days. Maybe a couple weeks. Troops are already giving up.
Well, Since there is no stopping now, let the US forces have a fast and less bloody victory.
have the actual attacks started yet?
Click on the link I posted initially.
It says
"Sorry...
the page you have requested is currently unavailable. Please try again"
Jeez. They must be getting traffic raped by Drudge. Lemme see if I can find the info.
EDIT: Okay, This Is London has been traffic raped. So, to summarize:
US/British troops engaged in fighting near Basra.
Troops have massed into the demilitarized zone between Kuwait and Iraq.
Planes are being loaded with live bombs to engage within hours.
In short: The war has started, not with bombs, but ground skirmishes.
EDITO 2: It is back up again, but for how long I do not know. I'm going to post the text here, just in case.
Quote:
British and American troops were involved in fierce fighting near Iraq's main port today as the war to topple Saddam Hussein began.
The firefight broke out near Basra as men of the Special Boat Service targeted the strategically vital city and the oilfields in southern Iraq.
At the same time allied troops were flooding into the demilitarised zone on the Iraqi border with Kuwait 40 miles away to take up positions for an all-out invasion.
Cruise missiles were also loaded onto B52 bombers at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, a clear sign that the bombardment of Baghdad could be only hours away.
British troops taking up "forward battle positions" were ordered to switch off satellite phones and allied warplanes bombed targets in Iraq after coming under fire in the no-fly zone.
By lunchtime, allied forces were in position to strike from the moment the 48-hour deadline set by President Bush for Saddam to quit Iraq expires at 1am British time tomorrow. But the White House had refused to rule out a strike before that.
The fighting reported at Basra was believed to involve British special forces and US marines in an operation to prepare landing sites for amphibious craft during an invasion.
Other special units were deep inside Iraq on secret operations to prepare landing strips in the desert for airborne troops.
Basra, Iraq's only seaport, lies on the Shatt al Arab waterway where the Tigris and the Euphrates open into the northern Gulf.
Surrounded by treacherous sandbanks and marshes it is difficult to approach from the sea.
Artillery, infantry and the tanks of the 7th Armoured Brigade had already moved into Forming Up Positions, and some were already on the start line.
An attack could target Basra and proceed up alongside the Euphrates towards the strategic cities of Nasariya, Najaf and Karbala.
Tony Blair said he believed all MPs, irrespective of their views on the war, now wished British troops well.
"I know everyone in this House wishes our Armed Forces well," he said in the Commons.
A sandstorm whipped across northern Kuwait as the pace of preparations suddenly quickened Kuwaiti security sources disclosed that allied troops move into the demilitarised zone, which straddles the Iraq-Kuwait border, at around 11am local time, 8am UK time.
The source, working in the Umm Qasr area in the east of the zone, said: "American convoys are still driving towards Umm Qasr."
A US military spokesman said he could not confirm or deny that troops were inside the zone.
A British Army spokesman said only that soldiers had taken up " forward battle positions".
At Fairford, 14 giant American B52 bombers which will lead the fight against Saddam were loaded up with cruise missiles this morning.
The first flight of B52s were expected to take off two hours before sunset to give them enough flying time to identify their targets and drop their first devastating payload before heading for home.
The missiles were driven to the aircraft in five articulated lorries escorted by police at 10.30am.
Troops meticulously loaded the weapons - each costing around £1million - into the bomb bays by forklift truck.
With an estimated flight time of only six hours to Iraq the bombers are expected to play a huge part in the initial air bombardment. A single B52 can deliver a payload of more than 70,000lb at a range of 8,800 miles without being refuelled. They are likely to take up positions over the Mediterranean or the Red Sea to unleash cruise missiles or satelliteguided smart bombs. RAF Tornados, Harriers and Jaguars are also likely to be involved in the opening 48-hour offensive.
The Tornados will be given the specific task of taking out air defences and barracks round small missile batteries and air strips in the Iraqi desert.
This will enable the enemy positions to be quickly seized by airborne forces and turned into bases for the advancing allied armies.
The Harrier force of up to 20 planes has the job of supporting special forces, the SAS and Special Boat Service and American Rangers in the hunt for Scud missile sites and any artillery shells with chemical warheads. Intelligence suggests Saddam has given his generals personal authority to unleash the deadly weapons as a last desperate measure to hold the Allies off from attacking Baghdad.
The mainstay of the bombing attack will be the 750 American and British fighter bombers from Gulf bases and the six American aircraft carriers now at battle stations in the Mediterranean and the Arabian Sea.
The aircraft, including RAF Tornados and Harriers, F16s, F15s and F18 Hornets will work on a "taxi rank" basis, forming ranks in the air before being sent in on targets. Along with the B52s from Fairford, other longrange bombers include the almost mythical B2 Spirit bat-wing supersonic aircraft which will fly from bases on Diego Garcia. Also spearheading the attack will be B1B Lancer and F117 Stealth bombers.
Action began in the air today as warplanes from the USS Abraham Lincoln bombed Iraqi positions after coalition aircraft - including two RAF Harrier jets - were fired on by Iraqi forces.
"There were, yesterday, four firings against our aircraft flying in the southern no-fly zone," Rear Admiral John Kelly told reporters on board the Lincoln. He said US forces had responded by bombing "a series of targets" he described as "command and control" positions.
It sounds as though the Iraqis may have advanced against the allied forces. Bush and Blair certainly haven't called for attack yet, but if the Iraqis come at them, they have little choice.
Some comments I found at CNN:
Quote:
• Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Wednesday that Iraq was fully responsible for the current crisis in the Middle East, according to the Kuwait News Agency. In a statement aired by Egyptian TV, Mubarak cited Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait and Iraqi leaders not seriously taking the dismantling of weapons of mass destruction.
So the UN weapons inspector believes that Iraq can use chemical/biological weapons. This implies that the UN weapons inspector believes that Iraq has chemical/biological weapons. I thought Iraq was disarming, and that they didnt have these weapons? I thought that we were American aggressor imperialists going in without cause? Hans Blix is NOT a tool of the USA, if he thinks that they have these weapons... I think he is to be trusted.Quote:
• Chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix has said he believes it is a "theoretical possibility" Iraq could use chemical or biological weapons in the event of a U.S.-led war, but he believes such a scenario is "unlikely." Meanwhile U.S. military officials tell CNN that Iraqi Republican Guard military units south of Baghdad may now have chemical munitions filled with a form of VX nerve agent as well as mustard gas.
And Egypt says it is Iraq's fault that Iraq is in this mess. So there you go. And they are right, in any case - Iraq has NEVER taken the UN seriously, they have arsed around with them for over a decade.
Here's a shot of our forces over there, ready to kick ass:
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com...raq_lon104.jpg
I wish them good luck.
And a speedy surrender.
(Damn it sucks to be at school when all the shits happening on TV, and I can't get to a pub or something...)
This was quick
Quote:
Fox News - KUWAIT CITY — Fifteen Iraqis surrendered to American forces at the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border on Wednesday, a U.S. Army officer said.
I'm still convinced at least one nuke will be fired within the next few months -- by who, nobody knows. Now, where's my lead vest... :o
Id be pissing my pants now if I was Saddam.Quote:
Originally posted by Dolemite
Here's a shot of our forces over there, ready to kick ass:
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com...raq_lon104.jpg
Heh.Quote:
Originally posted by diffusionx
Id be pissing my pants now if I was Saddam.
I have this very weird feeling that Saddam might have one little nuke, and as the allied troops approach his palace he'll set it off and take eveyone with him, thus making him a martyr to his people and giving all the nations in Saudi Arabia something to jack off to for years. Just a feeling. I hope it doesn't happen... :whoa:Quote:
Originally posted by cka
I'm still convinced at least one nuke will be fired within the next few months -- by who, nobody knows. Now, where's my lead vest... :o
I think he's going to fight to the death. This is how I see it:
Massive bombing and missles, along with SF's in Iraq cut off communication and supply lines on day 1.
Cue more bombing, and mass surrendering of regular Iraqi Soldiers. (reportedly already started, the surrendering, I mean).
Mechanized divisions head north, and go easy, until they get close to the capital.
That's when things go to shit. NBC's used, if he has them, dug in fighting, house to house, the US surrounds them and things get bloody.
Either way, his days are numbered, and it's not more than 10.
I don't know why (especially, cuz I live in Canada- but close to the Pickering Nuclear Power Plant which <used to- it's complicated> power most of the greater NY area), but I have this feeling that one of these days, I'll be sitting in the CPU lab (like now right)sitting in a pub, or chilling at home, and all of a sudden, I'll hear a "BOOM," and feel a rumble. I can't shake this feeling.
That's a scary feeling to have, Brisco. I can understand it only too well- after all, I used to be able to see the World Trade Center waaay in the distance from the top floor of the building where I work...and on Sept. 11th the twin plumes of smoke were clearly visible from there.
Plus, I had this surreal dream about walking through a decimated Toronto. Like, Toronto was messed, seriously. And the PM was there, too, surveying the damage and freaking out. You could see the "we're fucked now" expression on his face.
Bush was there too, but that's another story altogether...
In the dream I was one of the lucky few who were able to get down a building before it collapsed...
Looks like something out of Episode II. I guess this is the Gulf Wars. Lucas is gonna sue someone.Quote:
Originally posted by Dolemite
Here's a shot of our forces over there, ready to kick ass:
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com...raq_lon104.jpg
SC
Found elsewhere....
:lol: Especially Green Chaney. :lol:
And Sadam with beer belly :lol:
Dammit! Someone always has the ideas before me. That's pretty funny though. :lol:
SC
"The Bush administration in association with the other Bush administration"
:lol:
-Kevin
Hm, wasn't expecting this.. There's still 5 hours left to the deadline!!! We're supposed to time our wars perfectly, as well as leak battleplans for the world to see ahead of time...
Anyways, obviously we hope it ends quickly with minimal loss of life. Time will tell if this was the right decision.
I hope we all get to see Saddam break his spine due to inhalling his own VX nerve agent, all on tv. Ahh, that would be good. :)
There has never been any serious question that Iraq had them in some amount. I mean crap, Rumsfeld brokered the deal for half of them! Of course he knows what they've got.Quote:
Originally posted by diffusionx
So the UN weapons inspector believes that Iraq can use chemical/biological weapons. This implies that the UN weapons inspector believes that Iraq has chemical/biological weapons. I thought Iraq was disarming, and that they didnt have these weapons? I thought that we were American aggressor imperialists going in without cause? Hans Blix is NOT a tool of the USA, if he thinks that they have these weapons... I think he is to be trusted.
The question has always been exactly what level of threat they represent (it's unclear if they're even effective in most situations), and whether a 3rd world country decimated by 10 years of starvation with 1st world war weapons presents enough of a danger to justify civilian deaths.
At this point I'd like to interject that the Egyptian government has been a major backer of several fundamentalist and extremist Islamic groups for at least the last decade; before that it was the main backer of the pan-arab movement. You can expect much hypocritical ass-kissing to avoid axis of evil membership, but I wouldn't take Mubarrak's comments seriously.Quote:
And Egypt says it is Iraq's fault that Iraq is in this mess. So there you go. And they are right, in any case - Iraq has NEVER taken the UN seriously, they have arsed around with them for over a decade.
Btw - the US is currently in violation of the UN as well (whether Annan is dumb enough to condemn America is a different story), so be careful what justification you use.
I'll say...Quote:
Originally posted by spacecowboy
Looks like something out of Episode II. I guess this is the Gulf Wars. Lucas is gonna sue someone.
Cripes. We can't even drop politics for one freakin' thread. This thread was simply a notice that the war started and a prayer that our boys come home safe. And instead, some people feel the need to get political. Even when people's lives are at stake.
How nice.
:lol: :lol: :lol:Quote:
Originally posted by Dolemite
I'll say...
SC
Well the war OFFICIALLY starts in less than 30 minutes now -- I'm watching the news now and I cant believe there are still American reporters there --- are they fcking stupid -- I dont think the press could pay me enough to stay in Bagdhad when the U.S. Juggernaut comes a rollin through,,,... :noob:
At this point JC, if you're still shocked and dismayed that your war threads are turning into political debates, you need to stop starting war threads.Quote:
Originally posted by Jimmy Carter
Cripes. We can't even drop politics for one freakin' thread. This thread was simply a notice that the war started and a prayer that our boys come home safe. And instead, some people feel the need to get political. Even when people's lives are at stake.
How nice.
I'm not gonna give my opinion on this war in this thread, but unless they've already killed Saddam, I doubt they will get him. They would have to carpet bomb all of Bagdad to get him since he will do the same thing he did during Desert Storm by staying in civilian areas/homes.
After he can no longer stay within the city, he will disguse himself and go into hiding like Osama Bin Laden. He could already be out of Iraq by now giving orders by phone.
I don't think anybody will get him unless they didn't warn him. And in this particular case, he had lots of warning. Just like Bin Laden. Both will survive and die of natural causes in the laps of luxury, sadly enough.
It'll be easy enough for him to disguise himelf. Wearing traditional islamic garb is something he never did, and doing so will completely change his appearance. Also shaving off his trademark moustache and letting his hair turn white instead of dying it like he does now will make him look completely different.
If the U.S. couldn't find Osama in scattered caves with just a few thousand soldiers backing him, how does the U.S. expect to find one man in a giant city of 6 million people? I say Saddam will melt in with the general populace and not be caught or killed any time soon.
Not really, US ground forces were not in Bagdad in the 1st one, and this time they will be. It will be precision bombing, massive armored divisions/brigades and house to house fighting.Quote:
Originally posted by ginaman
I'm not gonna give my opinion on this war in this thread, but unless they've already killed Saddam, I doubt they will get him. They would have to carpet bomb all of Bagdad to get him since he will do the same thing he did during Desert Storm by staying in civilian areas/homes.
He's done.
Agreed.Quote:
Originally posted by Despair
Well, Since there is no stopping now, let the US forces have a fast and less bloody victory.
No offense, but in that case, titling your thread "Game Day" is really inappropriate.Quote:
Originally posted by Jimmy Carter
Cripes. We can't even drop politics for one freakin' thread. This thread was simply a notice that the war started and a prayer that our boys come home safe. And instead, some people feel the need to get political. Even when people's lives are at stake.
How nice.
Good point.Quote:
Originally posted by burgundy
No offense, but in that case, titling your thread "Game Day" is really inappropriate.
You meant me offense, but don't worry, I won't take it; not worth it. In any case, I was just echoing what Drudge had posted on his site.Quote:
Originally posted by burgundy
No offense, but in that case, titling your thread "Game Day" is really inappropriate.
Politics is how Vietnam turned into a quagmire. I'd prefer another Vietnam not to happen on my watch, thank you. But I'm sure that since you feel our armed service-people are cowards that you really wouldn't care if they were slaughtered.Quote:
Originally posted by sleeveboy
At this point JC, if you're still shocked and dismayed that your war threads are turning into political debates, you need to stop starting war threads.
No offense, but I thought the US being woe-fully unprepared to fight a war in the desert is why it turned into a quagmire (among other reasons).
Nothing against the states, but during my research, I found that they couldn't end it quickly enough because the Soviet supplied Vietcong army was more adept at fighting 'la petite guerre' than the American.
Or is there something I'm forgetting.
No offense, but, I'm really offended by posts started with "no offense".
Turn to CNN, right now.
Baghdad= raped.
Fo shizzle.