USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ General Tommy Franks ~ April 10 2003

various news photos | CENTCOM

[tomkow6]

Hi, Dew! Wanna buy a burka?

[Bethbg79]

LOL! That's why I chose brushed leather!

It will go with anything!

[beachn4fun]

psssttt, beware of the burka man......I don't know when the last time that burka was washed

[TaxRelief]

Does anyone have a link to asite that discussed the relative merits of the Abrahms vs the Brit's Challenger battle tank?

Funny you should ask, Military week has just been discussing this:

"If reports are accurate that U.S. armored forces spearheaded by American Marines will lead the charge to capture Baghdad, a potential debacle is looming if the Marines encounter Mogadishu-style urban resistance. The 70-ton M- 1A1 Abrams main-battle tank that equips all American armored formations is ill-suited to support troops engaged in street combat. Conceived during the Cold War to fight Soviet tank hordes running the Fulda Gap, the Abrams has a gas turbine engine that generates a blast of heat from its rear exhaust that would fry infantrymen crouching behind the tank for shelter. The British Challenger 2 tank has a diesel powered engine—with much cooler exhaust—that might be better suited for infantry support in an urban warfare scenario.

But if the Times article is accurate, it appears that British forces may be ordered to remain behind in Southern Iraq near Basra. One consequence of a protracted bombing campaign in Iraq's urban areas slated for future ground assault, is the amount of ruble and debris clogging streets that armored units supporting troops must use. The damage caused by the bombing campaign may render these urban arteries impassable to M-1A1 Abrams tanks, M2/M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Marine LAV-25s. Above all, what military planners do not want is to create a level playing field for Iraqi defenders to confront advancing American ground forces on more equal terms. (Please see 'Road to War'.)

[beachn4fun]

Good come back...... you are a natural....be sure to stop in tomorrow... tomkow is running the Canteen/Camp-Run-A-Muck.

[Kathy in Alaska]

I don't know, Tom, your burka sales seem to be kinda slow lately. But your jokes for our troops are going great guns.

Maybe these burkas would sell better.

God bless our troops, and the difficult job they do.

[beachn4fun]

Oh really! 8-> Didn't know that. I will have to think about that idea! Hmmm, do you think taxrelief will have a pair to go with radu's poodle skirt? Might have to help her pick out a pair. LOL

[ken5050]

Thanks for the info..great point about the exhaust...if I recall, the other armored vehicles, LAVs and Bradleys, cannot stand up to the RPGs especially the new Soviet job that's already disabled a few American tanks....

The Challenger has that new reactive armor, doesn't it?...that's also a detriment in urban warfare, becvuase when it goes off, to destroy the inpacting incoming round, the shrapnel would injure any dismounts....

Seems to me, as we look ahead to continuous operation of this type, we have to designate ONE divison for urban combat, train and equip them for it, and bring them up after the other troops have surrounded the city, let them do the close-in work....it's really hard for guys who have been rolling all-out in an armored spearhead for weks to start going brick-by-brick..

[Bethbg79]

Good morning Ms Kathy!!

[Bethbg79]

150

[beachn4fun]

Oh yeah! put your hands up burka man.......... june wants the teddy bear, not the burka.......hand over that teddy bear.....don't make her get rough with you..... Whoops, forgot.... burka man gets excited when he sees whips and stuff.....

[TaxRelief]

Boot sales are good though. Here's Snippy's order, now.

[TaxRelief]

Good shot! ***150***

[Bethbg79]

LOL! I got lucky!

Nobody else was payin attention!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hmmmmmmmmmm......got anything in a red, white, and blue theme?

[tomkow6]

I'm thinkin' up a marketing plan, where I can sell alot of my burkas............like maybe having burkas manditory for "Camp Run-A-Muck"?

[tomkow6]

Sticks & stones may break my bones

But whips & chains EXCITE me!

[Bethbg79]

Crackin me up man!

[tomkow6]

Hmmmmmmmmmm......got anything in a red, white, and blue theme?

[Bethbg79]

Any chance we could wash em first?