How do I know that war is coming?

August 8, 2002 | ARCADIA

[ARCADIA]

I've been reading all the newspapers about the possible war with Iraq. I've noticed that many of the British pagers are constantly searching for clues to determine if "war is comming." They are always reporting this or that detail and saying it signifies military preparations.

For example, they claim that trucks Okhave recently received paint jobs in desert tan, that the US is making inquiries about the availability of tankers, that the US is building up it's strategic oil reserve, etc.

Many Freepers have knowledge of military matters. What signs should one look for? What should start happening and in what order?

I am just looking for general concepts -- not "loose lips" type stuff.

[El Gato]

Also these planes seemed larger than the commercial jets I usually see and also seemed to move faster across the sky. Perhaps they were U.S. Air Force cargo planes

Maybe, but USAF cargo planes aren't much, if any, larger than commercial jets, and are in general somewhat slower. C-5 is slighly larger than a 747, although the Boeing can lift more weight, while the Lockeed has more cargo volume. C-17 isn't as big as either. C-141s aren't very big at all by today's standards, and are in the process of being sent off to the boneyard anyway. B-52 is has a big wingspan but the body is much narrower relative to that wingspan than a typical passenger jet. They do have eight engines though, but that's not particularly noticible at contrail level, unless you look at them with binoculars or a telescope and then you might notice that each of the four contrails is really two contrails near the aircraft.

[El Gato]

an air attack could be easily achieved in about 30 days.

Hopefully starting on 9-11-02. :)

[El Gato]

huge tank battles against the Ruskies was that the Nazis were annihilated by the thousands.

So were the Russians, but they had many more thousands to be annihilated.

[El Gato]

I might even tend to agree, unless there is an air-tight reason why it has to be done now.

There is, the weather. You start as soon as it's good enough, or will be good enough by the time you get your ground forces in place. The military planners didn't allow quite enough time for the air campaign the last time, so they'll likely start earlier this time. Last time it was 100 days of bombing followed by 100 hours of ground campaign. Both sides are smaller now, so that might not be too far off the mark, but starting the air campaign a bit sooner, and with the ground campaign, with wider goals, lasting somewhat longer also.

[terilyn]

9-11-02 works for me! Although my realistic side says that GWB will wait until at least 9-12-02 and give the people in NYC and the families of the other victims a day of remembrance in peace.

[foreshadowed at waco]

Bush's key remark was "Everybody better remember -- I'm a very patient man." Think back to the Florida election debacle, and you have a perfect model for how Bush handles things, for what qualities of character he leverages in a difficult situation. No fireworks, no hysterics, just calm resolution and unwavering commitment to a rationally-calculated objective. Expect more of the same>>>

I like the way you phrased this..it reassures me during these nervous times that we have a solid, good man in charge...must admit though that your tag name spooked me...I never jest when it comes to the Dark One.

[XBob]

53- The Germans lost the war because of Hitler and Yugoslavia. Hitler insisted that his generals not bypass Yugoslavia, like they wanted to do, and leave it for later. As a result, it took 6 extra weeks for the German Army to take Yugoslavia, before marching on Stalingrad, and that 6 extra weeks was what the Russians needed to win the battle, because then their major ally, the Russian winter, marched in and beat the Germans.

If it hadn't been for that, the Germans would have taken Stalingrad, then taken the vast wheat fields and people of the ukraine, and then the Russian oil fields, and subsequently all of the Soviet Union, and we would most likely be speaking German today.

[RightWhale]

That's true, the Yugoslavia operation was forced and delayed the offensive to the east until it was a total gamble. Even so, Germany might have succeeded if the weather hadn't stopped them the first winter. Luck of the draw. As far as speaking German now, even worse they might still be using the old black letter alphabet.

[maestro]

How do I know that war is coming?

Answer:
Exactly the same way we knew the Berlin Wall was coming down!

:-(

[JamesWilson]

Interesting observation, Sam.

[Mark17]

War fever was present in London in 1983 just before Britain went to war with Argentina.

It was in 1982

Professional soldiers want a war - of course they do. The more dramatic the war, the better.

Wrong. I was in the military for 20 years, and never saw this. There may be one or two sick freaks like this, but they are in a very, very tiny minority.

[XBob]

56 - All I can say is wow!!

PERPETUAL WAR FOR PERPETUAL COMMERCE

ATTRIBUTION: Bob Djurdjevic heads up Annex Research (http://www.djurdjevic.com) which analyzes global economic and geopolitical affairs and Truth in Media (http://www.beograd.com/truth).

[timydnuc]

I agree. The war is going into the final, long, and bitter phase. This is a time that will require courage, strength, and commitment from the American people. It's there, and we have it, but we also have the demoralizing leftists, both in the congress and the media.

They have words, we have action. Which speaks louder?

Today is the first day in the liberation of our Republic, fight for it!

[ARCADIA]

Answer: Exactly the same way we knew the Berlin Wall was coming down

LOL

[ARCADIA]

You have FReepmail

Thanks again!

[ARCADIA]

When the NY Times starts talking about the coming bloodbath for American troops, the disastrous effects of the war on the economy, the horrific sense of international isolation, the anger of the French, the outrage of congress, and other assorted so-called tragedies, you'll know it's close.

Noted and, yes, that makes sense.

[1Old Pro]

We've already had enough "signs". The only question is the exact date and that's best left to the military.

[ARCADIA]

One has to look for "war fever". War fever was present in London in 1983 just before Britain went to war with Argentina. It is absolutely unmistakeable when it happens.

Good point, Moe. And, yes, as far as I can tell, it has not happened yet. But, as post #4 explained, we are in the prelude phase, where anti-war crowd is making a fuss.

[ARCADIA]

Don't forget the inevitable talk of a "quagmire".

LOL

[ARCADIA]

When Bush publicly fingers Saddam Hussein for 9-11.

Absolutely, that will be the begining.