Posted on 12/22/2002 12:43:34 PM PST by Diogenesis
GOTTA SEE THIS - War for Enduring Freedom 12/23/02 - Al Faw, Al-Fidaa, Nahrwan, Salman Pak, Al-Tuwaitha, Duekoue, Tiebissou
BREAKING: Duekoue, Ivory Coast BREAKING: Nahrwan, El-Basil military research center inspection BREAKING: Tiebissou, Ivory Coast BREAKING: Al Faw inspection BREAKING: Al-Fidaa inspection BREAKING: Salman Pak, Al-Tuwaitha inspection
=========== Baghdad ===========
In Baghdad, Iraq, Amir al-Saadi, adviser to $addam,
said he would allow the CIA to come and identify (why not inspect and destroy?)
WMD sites.
In Baghdad, Iraq, at the UN headquarters, on the way to an inspection
Iraqi police follow behind UN inspectors and report. We know this.
They know we know. We know that they know we know.
They know that we know that they know.
In Baghdad, Iraq, the bored Iraqi officials await the arrival of the U.N. inspectors
after notification about the "secret" inspection.
========= Nahrwan =========
In Nahrwan, ~20 miles south-east of Baghdad,
at the El-Basil military research center.
In Baghdad, Iraq, at the Al-Fidaa company inspection.
The Iraqis watch.
In Baghdad, Iraq, at the Al Faw Engineering Designs Company inspection.
What a joke. They only thing left are the $addam statues.
In Baghdad, Iraq, back at the studio
which is still producing the ubiquitous $addam statues.
In Baghdad, Iraq, at the al-Tuwatha complex.
In Baghdad, Iraq, at the Um el Ma'arak (Mother of Battles) Mosque
hate is preached against the USA and its allies.
In Baghdad, Iraq, at the al Kadhemeiya mosque. Iranian women must beg for blessings.
They cannot enter because by $addam's rules, only 3000 Iranian Shiite each year are allowed
to visit the main three holy shrines
in Najaf, Kerabla and Kadhemeiya. The Iranians, leaving here, would have had more freedom if Israel
controlled the sites.
In Baghdad, Iraq, at the al Kadhemeiya mosque, some Iraqis appear to derive Iranian money
selling entrance to the mosque.
Why do the Iranians cotton to the Iraqis, anyway?
========= Salman Pak =========
In Salman Pak, ~20 miles east of Baghdad,
at the entrance of Tuweitha, Iraq's nuclear site.
========= Duekoue =========
In Duekoue, Ivory Coast, French forces prepare to fight.
They join the loyalists.
In Guehieble, 24 klicks north of Duekoue, the French Legion secures the area,
with weapons hot nearby.
In Duekoue, Ivory Coast, following the battle, seized weapons.
The French Legionnaire heroes stopped this rebel sweep into the commercial capital, Abidjan.
========= Tiebissou =========
In Tiebissou, Ivory Coast, with French military Operation Unicorn to monitor the ceasefire.
In Tiebissou, Ivory Coast, at the checkpoint.
========= Proplyds: Infant Solar Systems =========
The Proplyds: Infant Solar Systems - Only a few million years old. Incredible.
Not for commercial use. Solely to be used for the educational purposes of research and open discussion.
-----------------------
Please spend a few hours today helping for success in the War for Enduring Freedom,
or/and post your thought, missive, picture, thread, analysis, greetings to those serving overseas,
venting, update, correction, observation, or anything else of interest.
END OF TRANSMISSION 12/23/02 .......... K
| Fri Dec 20,11:23 AM ET |
|
United States Army Lieutenant Eric Hooper (R) of Albany, Georgia, sits in his Bradley armored vehicle while replying to Christmas cards as a full moon rises over the north Kuwaiti desert December 20, 2002. There are some 12,000 U.S. troops in Kuwait for training, many within just 5 kilometers of the Iraqi border. REUTERS/Chris Helgren |
Thank you for all your hard work this past year giving us a view of the world. Merry Christmas!
Nothing terribly wrong with carrying a bolt-action rifle like the GIAT FR-F2 into a possible fight- if you have the rest of a company of Legion paras around you for security.
The Clairon is not without its faults, though probably the best of the bullpup rifles now fielded anywhere in the world, but even it is now into its second-generation *F2* version. But the French wisely examined the Swiss and Israeli rifles of the time, contracted with Ruger to develop a militarized *GB* Mini-14 prototype with 3-shot burst capability...and then used the best features of each in the finalized GIAT design.
But in recent years the French have had little to be ashamed about regarding the field performance of their forces, particularly the Legion and Marsouins et Bigors, as in Desert Shield/Storm/Saber in 1991. And of course during the 2 REP's rescue of hostages, including Americans, in Zaire's Kolwezi province in May of 1978, while America's Rangers sat on their butts at Hunter Airfield waiting for orders from Jimmy Carter that never came.
Nice, but pricey, and the magazines are fragile. There's a point of view that of a paired team, one guy should carry the most precise long-distance rifle available, while his observer backs him up with a semi, which may also double as a night vision device-equipped rifle, particularly if fitted with a silencer. And some teams are going to a three-man configuration, providing a strong back for an extra patrol radio, or an antimaterial .50/.338/20mm rifle, particularly when a backtrail or river crossing can use a cover position. Similarly, airfield sniper teams working from towers work a little better with a third member on the ground for some extra security.
That PSG-1 is mighty heavy to hump for long distances in the bush....
-archy-/-
Oh, they won't mind. Not a bit.
archy-/-
I thought machine gunners were usually taller and bigger than me?
Yeah. A M82 .50 would also be a nice 'wish list' item.
Santa's NOT bringing me one.
The SAW, which I'm more fond of in L89 configuration than M249 is a pretty good ol' chainsaw, and an improvement on the LSW I last ran around in the woods with. Like their M60 or M249 big uncles though, the real weight comes when deciding how many belts to bring along for the ball.
As for the Barrett, if you had one, you'd just want to try it out and use it for something interesting. and that might get more interesting than you can imagine, per this FReeppost and response thread [gets interesting starting around #115]
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