Dreaded heat, wind sweep into Gulf area

Newsday via Seattle Times ^ | March 13, 2003 | Thomas Frank

[sarcasm]

CAMP UDAIRI, Kuwait — The withering desert heat that U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf area have been hoping to avoid arrived abruptly yesterday, prompting military commanders to warn soldiers about heat exhaustion and soldiers to contemplate fighting Iraq in triple-digit temperatures while wearing heavy biochemical protective suits.

A penetrating sun pushed the temperature into the low 80s, making it the hottest day in Kuwait since the estimated 120,000 U.S. troops began arriving in January. That's nothing compared to the 120-degree sizzlers that can occur in July and August, but still hot enough to turn the inside of a tank or a Bradley Fighting Vehicle into an oven.

U.S. officials had hoped that fighting would start in cool winter weather and finish before temperatures climbed into triple digits.

[Jeff Chandler]

What we need is a few more UN resolutions </sarcasm>

[friendly]

The democrat traitors in the US and the socialist euro-scum have succeeded in their plan to increase US mortality.

[Steven W.]

sure, after all, ChIRAQ and his wart faced girly type ambassador said they just want to look out for our "boys"

[The Great Satan]

Here we go...

[The Great Satan]

The withering desert heat that U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf area have been hoping to avoid arrived abruptly yesterday, prompting military commanders to warn soldiers about heat exhaustion and soldiers to contemplate fighting Iraq in triple-digit temperatures while wearing heavy biochemical protective suits.

Tsk, tsk, we can't have that happen, can we?

[eburke]

We should demand restitution from France for every G.I. who dies of heat exposure.

[Nita Nuprez]

You're still thinking it'll be a no-go until much later?

[rmmcdaniell]

The democrat traitors in the US and the socialist euro-scum have succeeded in their plan to increase US mortality.

Democrats? I'm sorry but it was Bush's idea to go to the UN. Your incorrect unless you want to classify Bush as a democrat which he practically is anyway.

[The Great Satan]

You're still thinking it'll be a no-go until much later?

Of course. Everything is working out as I predicted.

[friendly]

Weather forcast Kuwait City with chance of precipitation. Can't wait much longer guys!
Today:
71°/53° 0 %
Fri
Mar 14 Sunny 74°/55° 0 %
Sat
Mar 15 Sunny 76°/52° 10 %
Sun
Mar 16 Sunny 81°/54° 10 %
Mon
Mar 17 Mostly Sunny 83°/58° 10 %
Tue
Mar 18 Partly Cloudy 77°/57° 10 %
Wed
Mar 19 Partly Cloudy 76°/54° 10 %
Thu
Mar 20 Partly Cloudy 78°/54° 10 %
Fri
Mar 21 Partly Cloudy 77°/54° 0 %
Sat
Mar 22 Partly Cloudy 75°/54° 0 %
Last Updated Thursday, March 13, 2003, at 9:03 AM Local

[Nita Nuprez]

Well, as long as we're in the prediction mode... What Democrat do you think will be elected in '04 after Bush decides to run scared with his tail between his legs?

[sarcasm]

Intensifying heat, worsening weather becomes issue in showdown with Iraq

Ellen Knickmeyer, Associated Press
Published March 13, 2003	SUMM13

KUWAIT CITY -- Fierce winds swept across desert camps near the Iraqi border Wednesday, enveloping soldiers in blinding clouds of sand and forcing some Marines to don their gas masks just to breathe.

And weatherwise, the worst is yet to come.

U.S. and British soldiers massed in desert camps at the gates of Iraq are entering the danger zone their commanders had long feared: a summer of stifling heat and choking sandstorms.

As the debate over war continues among U.N. members, commanders are already preparing troops for full-heat desert battle.

Although the truly scorching heat won't begin for another six weeks, temperatures in the Persian Gulf region are already creeping toward the 90s.

That's nothing compared to the 120-degree sizzlers that can occur in July and August, but still hot enough to turn the inside of a tank or a Bradley Fighting Vehicle into an oven.

"When it's hot outside, it's real hot inside, maybe 10 degrees hotter," said Spc. Timothy Hodgson of Penacook, N.H.

Troops are already looking at rigging tarps over armored vehicles during the day to shield them from the sun. But that won't help when they have to move: Soldiers carry packs weighing as much 100 pounds and also face the sweaty prospect of fighting in charcoal-lined chemical suits.

Aircraft maintenance crews on airstrips will move to work-and-rest cycles set by medical teams based on the heat -- allowing so much time at work, and so much time at rest, U.S. Air Force spokeswoman Lt. Col. Jennifer Cassidy said.

The heat will take a toll on helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, which have less lift in the hotter, thinner air, limiting the weight they can carry.

U.S. and British forces have already begun to battle the weather. Fierce sandstorms swept the region last week, with gale force winds that limited visibility at times to a few dozen yards.

"It's like flying over a brown ocean. It's like Nevada without Vegas," Capt. Frank Laemmle of the Third Marine Aircraft Wing said of flights during sandstorms in the Gulf region.

More sandstorms swept army camps in Kuwait on Wednesday, blowing down a mess tent at one camp and forcing soldiers to fill sandbags and pile them around to stop their tents from blowing away.

Caught by the sand and pelting pebbles during a practice missile launch, a 20-vehicle convoy from the Third Battalion Seventh Marine Regiment took nearly two hours to find its way back to camp, just a few miles away. Marines had to use satellite tracking and compasses for the trip.

[The Great Satan]

Bush will win in 2004 by a landslide, irrespective of whether Saddam is still in power or not. The Dems may as well sit that one out. Tony Blair is also completely safe. They hold all the cards, since they know what's really going on, and have total control over how much of it the public understands. You have to be really dumb not to be able to figure this whole situation out, but I've noticed that there are a lot of really dumb people around. Sometimes I feel like I'm a visitor in a mental hospital, watching a bunch of retards try to put a jigsaw puzzle together. It's truly amazing just how thick the average punter is. Even more amazing is that that comment applies to almost the entire chattering class, too. I mean, sheesh, these are supposed to be educated people!

[xm177e2]

Another advantage to the deteriorating conditions is that the U.S.-led forces are better-equipped than the Iraqis to handle darkness — largely due to night-vision glasses.

"The darker it is, the better it is," said Col. Karl Hurst of the 82nd Airborne's 2nd Brigade. Paratroopers actually like nights with little or no moon.

"Full moon in the desert is like daylight," said Hurst, who is from Wenatchee. "Sand reflects the light."

Something tells me, when we do fight this war, it will be mostly at night. We just might be using defecting Iraqi soldiers in conjunction with air power to wipe out the Republican Guard units... keeping our boys and girls safe. They might be in the region primarily to put pressure on Saddam, and encourage such defections. That's my hope, at least.

[rmmcdaniell]

Bush will win in 2004 by a landslide, irrespective of whether Saddam is still in power or not.

Spoken like a true bushbot.

[birdwoman]

There is one problem with your theory on this one, IMO. The economy has got to do a very big turnaround or people are gunna start getting very disenchanted with Bush, regardless of the Iraq & terrorism situation.

When you can't pay your bills or buy basic necessary items, these global issues start to become secondary issues and more and more people are finding themselves in this situation.

I think people are starting to remember that the orginal response to 9-11 was "go about your daily lives" and then "go out and SPEND MONEY". Now the bills are due and people don't have the money and the economy is getting worse, not better. Bush & co. need a fix for this and sooner, not later. Any thoughts?

[dawn53]

Sounds to me like the "we aren't prepared to fight in the winter in Afghanistan" anti-war propoganda.

[Sacajaweau]

People know that 9-11 changed the world, that the economy fluctuates, that the Repubs have tried to get things done, only to be obstructed at every turn by the Dems. Somehow we will climb out of this difficult time.

Just the fact that we "keep going" shows the determination of the People.

After watching the Dems "demoralize" the good people of the US, I do not believe the People think the "grass is greener" on the other side.

The Dems are still dependent on the womens vote but I believe that the "goodness" of the Bush Team which includes the anti-abortion item, will prevail in 2004. I think that women who jumped on the pro-choice team will begin to realize that it is construed as pro-abortion and will separate themselves and "make a stand".