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.

[Robert_Paulson2]

damn straight... it will be... awesum...

[Robert_Paulson2]

it is definitely looking like it.

[American in Israel]

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.

Perhaps we can borrow back the ones we sent to Egypt? Surely they had no plans for them in this war, right?

[/sarcasm]

[We Happy Few]

Why can't the armor unload in Israel and drive through Jordan when no one is looking? If Jordan and Israel are already committed to allowing U.S. flyovers for bombing runs, they are SCUD-bait right now. On the margin, tanks do not change the situation.

[We Happy Few]

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

No. Actually, it's "Denny's Orange."

[We Happy Few]

What comes after THREATCON BRAVO? CHARLIE? How does it differ from BRAVO?

[We Happy Few]

"The Turks will pay greatly for their treachery."

Can someone please remind me why we officially support an independent state of Palestine but not an independent state of Kurdistan?

And, while we are at it, can someone please explain why the completely arbitrary boundaries of Iraq, drawn up by Britain eight decades ago, are immutable in the face of subsequent regional instability and genocide?

[Lib-Lickers 2]

,,,,,,,,,pull my finger,,,,,,,,

[exnavy]

Actually that is exactly the direction that the military is headed. The new platform is called the Stryker, it is a wheeled vehicle.

I work for General Dynamics Land Sys., we have a few other prototypes in development as well.

[GraniteStateConservative]

We waited so long because we wanted a Turkish platform. The Turks wanted a new resolution. We'll now have to go it without a Turkish platform. Powell can't be blamed for that.

[GraniteStateConservative]

The only punishment we could implement is financial and that is out of Bush's hands completely. Congress is not a puppet of Bush.

[maestro]

?.......Does SH/Iraq......NOW have ANY kinds of missiles which could carry Black-Marketed-Nukes????

(Bottom line Questions)

[GraniteStateConservative]

We most definitely want overflight rights in Turkey for cruise missiles at a minimum. There could easily be targets in Northern Iraq that would be very difficult to reach after we move further South because of this diplomatic debacle.

[Jim Noble]

>>I don't worry until it goes to Rust<<

We may see Ochre, or even Burnt Sienna, before this is all over...

[dagtaggart]

"Amazing that those without self interest are actually with the USA and the UK and Spain in this little endevour."

This statement is absurd. The US and those with us are there because of self interest. You think we are doing this out of altruism? good grief! The question is not if any of the nations are acting out of self interest, but what those interests are. That is the meat of the issue.

[Green]

Do you have that text memorized or something?

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

Outstanding. Is it possible to see pictures of these new vehicles?

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

I think that would raise a BIG political problem with the Arab world.

[appalachian_dweller]

At this time, Turkey will not even allow the US to use it's airspace. Not much of an ally.

Turkey should be more willing to help us out. The US should be less than willing to help Turkey after this is over.

[a_Turk]

>> what's the deal with the tag line?

Ever heard of the Greatful Dead?

The band, and their lyrics fit the occasion:

Lookout, lookout, the candyman, here he comes, he's gone again..