Sources: Pentagon to put troops on 'hair-trigger' alert

CNN ^ | 3/14/03 | From Jamie McIntyre

[Jewels1091]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sources say the Pentagon is ready to put U.S. troops massed around Iraq on "hair-trigger" alert -- essentially ready to begin a war if Saddam Hussein attacks U.S. troops, his neighbors or his people out of desperation.

[Jewels1091]

MOST IMPORTANT PART!!!

Meanwhile, the aircraft carriers USS Harry Truman and USS Theodore Roosevelt are likely to stay in the Mediterranean. Their combat aircraft would fly over Israel and Jordan in case of a war, which would shorten the distance to Baghdad, and require less support and fewer refueling missions.

While the United States is still pressing Turkey for overflight rights, there is no indication Turkey will agree. One fallout of Turkey's refusal is that some of the army's best equipment, including its newest M1A2 tanks, are stuck on ships floating off the Turkish coast and likely will not be available in a war.

THANKS ALOT NATO FRIEND!!!! And why the he** didn't Franks get those ships moved around?????????

[AntiGuv]

One fallout of Turkey's refusal is that some of the army's best equipment, including its newest M1A2 tanks, are stuck on ships floating off the Turkish coast and likely will not be available in a war.

Yep, this is the part which jumped out at me. I actually predicted such a potential development a couple weeks ago, for which I was harangued with about a dozen derisive responses...

[Maedhros]

Defcon _ ?

[Interesting Times]

Defcon _ ?

Sorry, we don't do DefCons any more...

However, the Threat Level has been raised from Avocado to Harvest Gold.

[CatOwner]

I know that we here on FR have been on edge about this war (or should I say the delay in its start), but think about the troops that have been stationed in the Middle East for the last several months. Amazing!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

As part of the final preparations, the United States is hastily building a desert airstrip in the United Arab Emirates to base more than 100 fighter planes that Turkey won't allow on its soil....While the United States is still pressing Turkey for overflight rights, there is no indication Turkey will agree. One fallout of Turkey's refusal is that some of the army's best equipment, including its newest M1A2 tanks, are stuck on ships floating off the Turkish coast and likely will not be available in a war.

Turkey and France: We WILL rember this treachery!

Germany, Russia, China: You're not looking to good either.

And, despite what the Traitor-In-Chief clinton said (and hoped), the USA WILL be a superior force in the world for a long, long time. And our enemies will be BEATEN AND DEFEATED.

[deport]

You can almost feel the clock ticking towards the time that this event begins to unfold in earnest.

[Conservababe]

Rush had an interesting caller today. He said that the longer troops can remain there, the better to aclimate to the weather.

[SamAdams76]

Oliver North reported on FoxNews tonight (Hannity & Colmes) from his "undisclosed location" in Kuwait. North says that the troops are only days and soon "hours" away from beginning their mission to remove the BREW DALL dictator. North says that he is determined to do his last broadcast on FoxNews (before heading home to the U.S.) in BAGHDAD!

Oliver North in a liberated Baghdad will be a beautiful sight.

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

I understand the importance of armor. However, I believe situations such as this indicate the need for viable alternatives to traditional armored assets. Alas this may represent the end of the line for the M1A2. More flexible platforms are needed for situations like this one. Platforms that can be more easily prepositioned. Just a thought.

[mhking]

Shields Up! I'm guessing we're going to "Dark Orange" Alert on either Monday or Tuesday.

It's gonna be a bumpy ride...

[Maedhros]

I thought it was fuschia. :-)

[Terp]

And why the he** didn't Franks get those ships moved around?????????

When did Franks become Commander and Chief? If this thing with Iraq goes wrong because of any delays the buck stops with Bush.

Terp

[PhiKapMom]

The military doesn't go by colors but by Threatcon . . .

THREATCON NORMAL exists when a general threat of possible terrorist activity exists but warrants only a routine security posture.

THREATCON ALPHA applies when there is a general threat of possible terrorist activity against personnel and facilities, the nature and extent of which are unpredictable, and circumstances do not justify full implementation of

THREATCON BRAVO measures. However, it may be necessary to implement certain measures from higher THREATCONs resulting from intelligence received or as a deterrent. The measures in this THREATCON must be capable of being maintained indefinitely.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

I know that we here on FR have been on edge about this war (or should I say the delay in its start), but think about the troops that have been stationed in the Middle East for the last several months. Amazing!

Prior to the start of "Desert Storm", many troops had been in place for almost five months. The significant diference is that the Desert Storm ground offensive commenced on February 24. We are waiting WAY too long this time. Thank you Colin Powell and our European "Allies". We WILL remeber this.

[Fractal Trader]

As part of the final preparations, the United States is hastily building a desert airstrip in the United Arab Emirates to base more than 100 fighter planes that Turkey won't allow on its soil.

Heard that Tommy Franks was in the UAE. Wonder is this was a coincidence? : - )

The Turks will pay greatly for their treachery. They had said all along that we could use their airbases, regardless. We may have needed the tanks for a margin of victory, but they were by no means vital to the overall victory.

Look to the post war collapse of Turkey.

[mikegi]

I know that we here on FR have been on edge about this war (or should I say the delay in its start), but think about the troops that have been stationed in the Middle East for the last several months. Amazing!

I wonder. I don't have any military experience and certainly no war experience. I have worked on a couple of high media attention (especially in the trade press but also in the regular media) software projects and wasn't the slightest bit on nervous while doing the development work. It was only in the time between going golden (ie. to manufacturing) and general release that butterflies started.

I can't help but think something similar is going on with our troops. They're busy getting their stuff together, training, going over plans, fighting off periods of boredom, etc. I imagine the butterflies will start fluttering bigtime between the time Bush gives the real Ultimatum(TM) and the war starts. That's when the "what did I forget" and "please don't let me f*** up" will start.

[John Jamieson]

I saw a claim from a Washington area poster on a small board, that B1 bombers were already hitting targets in the SNFZ just this afternoon. Anyone else seen anything indicating that the softening up process has started?


M1A1 can be flown in, in the north. One per plane.
Plenty already in the south.

[First_Salute]

Thank you for your vigilance.