Apache operation a lesson in defeat

Washington Times ^ | Tuesday, April 22, 2003 | By Rowan Scarborough

[JohnHuang2]

It was America's only battlefield retreat in a land blitzkrieg that toppled Saddam Hussein's regime in 27 days.

On the night of March 24, U.S. Army commanders sent 34 of the Army's most advanced attack helicopters against the Medina Division of the Republican Guard near Karbala, 50 miles south of Baghdad.

[JohnHuang2]

Tuesday, April 22, 2003

Quote of the Day by Texas Eagle

[Hugin]

The Apache Longbows are the ultimate attack helecopter, but ultimately they exist because the Army isn't allowed fixed wing aircraft. A10s do the same job better. They are a technical solution to a political problem.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Build more A-10's!

[Gnarly]

Unfortunately, the Air Force doesn't really want A-10s. The jet jocks would rather be flying F-15s or F-22s.

DoD should give the A-10s to the Army, to be operated like the Marines use their attack aircraft.

[green team 1999]

now this is a close air support!
can use mavericks,laser guided bombs and cannon!

[American in Israel]

The days of the calvary charge into the teeth of the enemy went out with Custer. Seems we needed a reminder.

[Irishguy]

first of all -- good find, John.

now a little rant. Speaking entirely as a 5 star armchair general (and as we all know that is worth, {me counting}, oh, nothing!) but it never ceases to amaze me how people take one example out of a war and go -- LOOK a DISASTER!!!

first of all, the reason the military won this war is because it is totally integrated. noone goes alone, you go in a structure that guarantees the following 'feel free to fire back at me, Mr Iraq, but keep in mind within 15 minutes you may well have landing on your crotch a 5000 lb bunker buster, or a 21000 lb moab...'. now you take the best infantry and drop them in on their own and you are guaranteed deaths. the question that should be asked is why put the helos in alone? that was crazy, IMHO. now by all means test and fix (but not with lives) but i dont agree with the analysis of the report. Unless (and this is the armchair part) the longbow is bought entirely as a stand alone product, if that is the case then someone needs a bit of a talking too back in development. Does anyone here know what was the plan for the Longbow?

also the A-10 is also not invunerable...if we had a product that was..you would not need anything else..
I also agree with -- give the guys the a-10s...i dont care for a rule that says these guys should get shot up because some paper pusher says that they cant have fixed wings...if he or she feels that way , send them to the front

/endrant

[gilor]

OFF TOPIC:

Isn't the A-10 scheduled to be shelved soon?