No Anti-Aircraft fire left in Baghdad

PBS News Hour ^ | 3/27/2003 | John Byrnes

[Forgiven_Sinner]

Heard on News Hour that the last couple of bombing attacks have NOT had any anti-aircraft fire in Baghdad.

That means the Spectre and C-130's can fly. And if C-130 comes by, can a BLU82 be far behind?

John Byrnes is one of my favorite reporters in Baghdad.

[kesg]

It could mean instead that the latest attacks involved B-2 bombers, which along with video of B-52s taking off have to rank as among the warmiest and fuzziest images of the war.

[optik_b]

SPOOKY TIME! ok folks time to post some images of Spooky at work

[SamAdams76]

I wonder if the Iraqis are pretending to have run out, hoping to lure our aircraft in for an ambush.

Anyway, I hope it's true. Hell, they've got to run out sometime. They certainly aren't going to be getting any new supplies!

[Happy2BMe]

Time for one of these . .

A Free Ticket To Raghead Paradise

This is the cone of fire created by an AC-130 Spectre ship's laser guided, computer controlled cannon. It is visible because every fifth shell is a tracer round. An AC-130 gunship was requested by the U.S. military in Mogadishu, Somalia, along with Bradley armored personnel carriers, for use in the October 2, 1993, raid to capture lieutenants of Mohamed Farrah Aidid. The request was turned down by then Secretary of Defense Les Aspin and President Bill Clinton. The result was Blackhawk Down and the needless death of eighteen of America's finest.

[mondonico]

This is good news for the citizens of Baghdad, who seem to have suffered the most from the Baathist AA fire.

[BushMeister]

That's not possible. You can't take out every Iraqi AAA gun from the air. And they can always move some new ones in, and put them on top of apartment buildings, mosques, hospitals, etc.

I think the Iraqis have been degraded somewhat, but are just holding fire for some reason. Maybe the stealth planes have been used exclusively as of late.

[Enterprise]

That is part of Saddam's overall supply problem. We have captured numerous warehouses and they have used up a lot of ammunition. Of course, they may simply realize that they are wasting the ammo on planes and will direct it at our forces. Anyway, Saddam can hold out, (assuming he is still alive) but for how long is the question.

[SamAdams76]

I think it's the ammunition that the post is referring to. Not the guns themselves. At the rate that they were using ammunition, it's only a matter of time before they run out. Still, I would be cautious and not assume anything. Perhaps they are trying to lure us in for an ambush, like I said before. Capturing a few more pilots would do wonders for their propaganda campaign. Not to mention CNN

[zingzang]

can a BLU82 be far behind?

What is a BLU82??

[www.corvettewave.com]

Just saw AAA about ten minutes ago over Bagdad.

[mondonico]

"You can't take out every Iraqi AAA gun from the air."

True--but don't forget our Special Operations Forces in B'dad!

[uncbob]

They talking missles AA or both

[PoisedWoman]

pretending to have run out, hoping to lure our aircraft in for an ambush.

Send in the drones? With pigs painted on them?

[marvlus]

What is a BLU82??

I would say it is the closest thing to a nuclear bomb, without the radioactivity</p?

[anguish]

Argh! My eyes, my eyes! What have they done to the name of the Swedish hardware actually involved in the war on terrorism. It's "L60 40mm Bofors cannon"!

It's kinda neat though, arming an aircraft with a cannon developed for triple-A :)

Freeper@Sweden

[kesg]

SPOOKY TIME! ok folks time to post some images of Spooky at work. Yet another warm and fuzzy thought.

[CHICAGOFARMER]

The MOAB design delivery is the B2 bomber. The 130 was only used to test the bomb.

You watch.

Semper Fi

[js1138]

Once the stealth bombers start in on the Republican guard, they have about a week to live. I imagine the U2s are not worrying much about permission right now. The Republican guard is either dug in and immobile, or exposed and visible. One's as good as another.

[Fudd]

"What is a BLU82?? "

I don't exactly know, but I suspect that these were Saddam's last words.