NBC: Saddam was having a meeting with his Generals; Bunker Buster bomb was dropped... [Drudge]

MSNBC via Drudge ^ | 03/19/03 | Alex Johnson and Kari Huus

[xm177e2]

A senior U.S. official said the raids in and around Baghdad had been intended as “extensive prepping of the battlefield” in the no-fly zone in the south of the country. But the attack was ramped up after U.S. intelligence spotted what was termed a “target of opportunity,” described as a “senior or very senior member of the Iraqi regime.”

U.S. officials told Miklaszewski that the target was Saddam himself. They would not say whether the attack, in which F-117s dropped mammoth GBU-27 “bunker buster” bombs, was successful.

[Lancey Howard]

Fox is certainly not emphasising this angle, if it is true.

[anymouse]

You are correct the F-117 cannot carry a daisy cutter, but it can still drop some nasty goodies to ruin Saddam day. y guess is that it was a B-2 instead. Or possibly a special ops C-130, which can carry a daisy cutter was dispatched to dispatch Saddam and his inter circle.

[Salvation]

Let's hope they got him.

Now UBL!

[Kryptonite]

F15E maybe? I think they carried the GBU28 in '99. This bomb was 2000lbs., though, not the 5000lb. GBU28.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Why do you think something big must have gone down? Would you want to be slaughtered for Saddam?

[Lancey Howard]

The world-wide terror alert is mainly a warning for Americans abroad.

[myprecious]

World Wide Terror Alert

Please give more information for those of us without Fox. Are we at RED?

[Rockiesrider]

Bunker busters are not daisy cutters or the MOABs. They are 2000 lbs deep penitration delayed exploding bombs.

[Jorge]

Let's hope they got him.

They just reported that Saddam is about to address Iraqis, so I guess they didn't get him.

[InterceptPoint]

Fox reporting that Saddam will be on TV within 2 minutes.

[xm177e2]

Saddam is at Code Red, that's for sure.

[MinuteGal]

This could be a pre-recorded tape.

Leni

[ARCADIA]

CNN reported that Iraqi TV said that Saddam would be appearing on TV within minutes. Missed him or body double or stalling tactic?

I've been thinking "The attack was around 9:30; Bush went on TV around 10:15. Why isn't Saddam on TV?"

Let's hope CNN is wrong?

[xm177e2]

They just reported that Saddam is about to address Iraqis, so I guess they didn't get him.

Bah, he's gotta have some of this stuff recorded in advance.

[fatima]

Yes if we hit,Father we know you are with us.

[xm177e2]

Why isn't Saddam on TV?

Because he's deathly afraid of giving away his position? (if he's still alive)

[lawnguy]

Too much, if the Mother Of All Bombs takes out the Mother Of All Assholes, it will be incredible.

Even if Saddam survived this, he has to wonder who the traitor is that sold him out. (Pardon my tinfoil hat moment, but maybe the Aziz appearance today included a hint)? It could be a very ugly scene in his rapidly shrinking inner circle. I'm reminded of the Hitler bunker stories.

[rwfromkansas]

The reporter was acting like mass confusion seemed to be erupting from teh strike and this was part of it.

That is why I made the statement, based on his analysis. However, I do not think this MEANS something big happened. Just that it is possible...possible.

[whadizit]

I am so freaking mad at all these reporters giving Baghdad so much warning.

[Cultural Jihad]

This one?

The GBU-27 is a 2,200 pound laser-guided bomb designed specifically for use by the F-117 Stealth Fighter. It is a highly accurate, hard-structure munition compatible with the F-117's advanced target acquisition/designator system. The GBU-27 uses a BLU-109 improved performance 2,000 pound bomb developed in 1985 under the project name HAVE VOID. The BLU-109 was designed for use against hardened structures and features a high-strength forged steel case and a new delayed-action tail fuze. It carries 550 pounds of high explosives and can penetrate more than six feet of reinforced concrete before exploding.

The GRU-27 uses a modified Paveway II guidance control unit which provides "terminal trajectory shaping" for optimum impact angle against various target structures. For example, it will hit an aircraft shelter with a vertical impact, but make a horizontal approach to a bridge support. A Paveway II tail assembly with folding wings completes the bomb.

The F-117 can carry two GBU-27s in two weapons bays and is reportedly capable of hitting a one square meter target from an altitude of 25,000 feet. The GBU-27 was used extensively during Desert Storm, with a claimed hit probability of over 95 percent. The weapon on display was received from the F-117 System Program Office at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, in September 1991.

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/arm/arm4.htm