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.

[myprecious]

I drive a school bus. If we are on red, I can stay up and FREEP, if not, I have to sleep. It is worse than waiting to see if school will be called for a snow day!

[stlnative]

Sirens Going off again in Iraq (all clear sirens)

[mrsalty]

For Ameicans, Not RED yet, Americans abroad only

[Dianna]

I drive a school bus. If we are on red, I can stay up and FREEP, if not, I have to sleep. It is worse than waiting to see if school will be called for a snow day!

If we got to red, schools are cancelled? Where are you? Is anyone else amused by the "real" beginning being constantly referred to as the "shock and awe" portion of the campaign? Strikes me as a little silly.

[nwrep]

An F-117 can carry two GBU-27s.

Per the FAS.org website:

Specifications
Primary Function	Fighter/attack
Contractor	Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Co.
Power Plant	Two General Electric F404 engines
Length	65 feet, 11 inches (20.3 meters)
Height	12 feet, 5 inches (3.8 meters)
Weight	52,500 pounds (23,625 kilograms)
Wingspan	43 feet, 4 inches (13.3 meters)
Speed	High subsonic
Range	Unlimited with air refueling
Armament	Internal weapons carriage Two each of: 2 MK84 2000-pound 2 GBU-10 Paveway II 2 GBU-12 Paveway II 2 GBU-27 Paveway III 2 BLU 109 2 WCMD 2 Mark 61
Unit Cost $FY98 [Total Program]	$122 million
Crew	One
Date Deployed	1982
Inventory	Active force, 54; ANG, 0; Reserve, 0
PMAI Primary Mission Aircraft Inventory Only combat-coded aircraft and not development/ test, attrition reserve, depot maintenance, or training aircraft.	36 aircraft

[photogirl]

I'm with ya, who needs to sleep, right?

[cactusSharp]

I'm not sure if my TV will last the night...thank goodness I'm wearing house shoes...soft fuzzy ones, manly...yes but TV safe......these pundits on NBC and CNn need to be hanged

[fatima]

Thanks brigette.

[Cultural Jihad]

F-117s may carry two differerent types of ordnance at the same time. GBU-10 with laser-guided head is in the background, with GBU-27 in the foreground.

[Jorge]

Sirens Going off again in Iraq (all clear sirens)

All clear.... and Saddam set to speak shortly...how anti-climatic. This is boring.

[whenigettime]

Yeah!!!

Let's hope and pray that the Evil Dictator is already a goner!

Success from the start.

Go get 'em Dubya!!

[myprecious]

Well good, that means we are not in great danger. But I have to pry the mouse out of my hand and go to bed.

Just one more Refresh......

No really. I can quit anytime.

[mrsalty]

GO TO FOXNEWS

[CyberCowboy777]

Get 'em Dubya

[Monitor]

Wouldn't it bust the Dems if we took him out before troops or planes were deployed??

Not to mention the useless U.N. security council, France, Germany, the peaceniks the world over... Talk about taking the wind out of their sails.

[cactusSharp]

I know , I know.....I ride motorcycles too....sigh....lol

[cactusSharp]

CNN is showing f-18's departing after Awacs planes have taken off......hmmmmmmmm

[Moose4]

I think they've got one of the prototype GBU-28s at Wright-Patterson AFB's USAF Museum. In any case I've seen pictures of the -28 slung under an F-15E Strike Eagle...no way a -117 could carry one. Heck, a Strike Eagle is a huge plane and the -28s looked ridiculously big even on it!

}:-)4

[jwalsh07]

Get some rest, we're at orange. Saddam is at red or dead.

[Moose4]

Y'know, actually, I wasn't even thinking Saddam. I figured that he and his boys had headed for the tall grass already. I figured we were targeting Tariq Aziz.

}:-)4