Posted on 08/22/2002 2:20:58 PM PDT by StopDemocratsDotCom
Senator InHofe (R-OK): Bush will order iraq attack 'fairly soon', attack is 'immenent'.
Because we already smoked Bin Laden?
I regards to the 'dark time', an attack could be planned for up to 4 days before the 'new moon' to expand on the number of 'dark' nights available. The new moon is the darkest night, but it is still pretty dark 3-4 days either side of it. It is most likely to attack before the new moon than after it to maximize on total number of 'dark' nights.
If the attack is staged and ready to go at a moments notice, it could be begun before the new moon especially if weather conditions indicate light cloud cover. If it doesn't happen in early September, then early October on or about the new moon is the next most likely target.
I agree that we are watching the staging of Iraqi's defenses and I suspect that if Iraq's radar defense has been sufficently degraded by the time of attack, we may see an attack against their troop concentrations first. Since we may have to face the Republican Guard anyway, if it is convenient to take them out early on at minimal risk, then that would be wise to do.
Bush senior refused permission to use 'bright light' (nukes), but that same restraint may not be present this time around. We don't have to worry about keeping any coalition together this time and since we were attacked on our homeland, the political considerations against using the nukes are also removed. I know that if Iraq attempts to use 'special' weapons, we WILL use ours without hesitation.
We are in a rush program to develop nuclear 'bunker buster' missles to penetrate caves and guarantee the destruction of deeply buried chemical and biological weapons and if we KNOW that Saddam has them deeply buried, we would feel justified to use Nuclear Bunker Busters. We could justify their use in that they are necessary to guarantee the destruction of Iraqs Chemical and Biological stockpiles to prevent the accidential spread of those agents into the atmosphere.
If we have major concentrations of his elite troops out in the open, I would expect a missle attack designed to take out as many as possible from a distance before we have to face them in enclosed surroundings face to face.
I wonder is some of our ICBM's could have been retrofitted with the Commando Vault 'Daisy cutter' bombs for assult against ground troops. It would require a pretty hefty missle to transport that weapon and I don't think our cruise missles are quite large enough for it.
We have converted some of our nuclear cruise missles to convential explosives due to Clintons depletion of them during his 'Monica' campaign so it might be plausible that we might have converted some of the older ICBMs that were slated for decommissioning already. We are flying B52's and B2's nonstop from the U.S. already, so it would make sense to take advantage of converted ICBMs if any are available.
The major disadvantage of using the ICBMs is their travel time and a major launch would be soon be recognized. In either case, Russia at least would have to be advised to prevent their misintrepretation of what was being launched and who their target is.
If so, I wonder if the Senator's words are a reference to this with some small bit of knowledge? Ya gotta admit, if this is what Dubya is doing, it would be- well- "Brilliant" is the only word that comes to mind. Building airstrips inside the country you mean to strike and then using them when no other country wants to let you stage from their borders? Whoowhee! That takes big brass ones- but it would work, if done properly. What would all the naysayers have to say about that?
Precisamente!
Have the men of good will who control the Iraqi National Congress...
...set up a Provisional Government in the North. That's what they've been talking about in Washington with Powell and Armitage. You do this about 24 hours after the "bases" have been secured by elements of the 82nd Airborne Division and the 75th Ranger Regiment. This would also be the signal for the Kurdish Peshmergah to come out and play with the Iraqi conscripts hanging around Mosul and Kirkuk.
Of course, at the same time, punishing airstrikes are occuring all over the Iraqi interior out to the Jordanian frontier.
It's probably too farfetched but then again there are a sizable amount of articles lately pointing to some meaningful logistical buildup in Turkey coupled with reports of SpecOps troops and Turkish troops coming down from the north to make this happen. Turkey has a key interest in all this. They want to make certain the Kurds don't get too much of an advantage in the region. It sounds crazy but it is plausible.
The Turks know what is on the up and up. They want to be there to make sure that their interests and the territorial integrity of the Anatolian homeland are secured by American diplomacy. Forgiveness of loans and help with getting into the EU are part of the bargain with Washington.
There's also something else. Turkey has historically been in a contest with Russia for influence in this area. The Turks don't want to see the Russians come in and pick up all the IOU's after the war is over. They're not concerned about the Americans. The Turks know that after Iraq is picked up, dusted off, and sent on its way as a federal republic, the Americans will want to leave as quickly as possible.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
Note that Islam's symbol is a crescent moon with star, and important religious dates are determined by the moon's cycle. Excerpt from above article:
"there is an international effort via CFCO (Committee For Crescent Observation), an active society since 1978, and the more recent ICOP (Islamic Crescent Observation Project), both of which include members from all over the world whose job it is to observe the crescent young moon not only for the months indicating the beginning Ramadan or its end, but all year long. This issue has been a bone of contention time and time again among Muslims. In this connection, it would be useful to highlight the words of noted fiqh scholar Dr. Taha Jabir al-Alwani from his book Ijtihad1 with respect to the sighting of the moon for the start and end of the holy month of Ramadan. Dr. al-Alwani in pointing out the necessity and significance of Ijtihad in relation to Time-Space factor uses the sighting of the moon as an example..."
Main Entry: em·i·nent
Pronunciation: 'e-m&-n&nt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin eminent-, eminens, present participle of eminEre to stand out, from e- + -minEre; akin to Latin mont-, mons mountain -- more at MOUNT
Date: 15th century
1 : standing out so as to be readily perceived or noted : CONSPICUOUS
2 : jutting out : PROJECTING
3 : exhibiting eminence especially in standing above others in some quality or position : PROMINENT
synonym see FAMOUS
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Main Entry: im·mi·nent
Pronunciation: 'i-m&-n&nt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin imminent-, imminens, present participle of imminEre to project, threaten, from in- + -minEre (akin to Latin mont-, mons mountain) -- more at MOUNT
Date: 1528
: ready to take place; especially : hanging threateningly over one's head <was in imminent danger of being run over>
- im·mi·nent·ly adverb
In addition to the Islamic circumstances, a full moon on sand is akin to a full moon on a snow field - i.e., you can see QUITE A LONG WAY at night. The light is almost as good as daylight, once your eyes become accustomed to it.
Conversely, under a new moon, you can't see a damn thing three feet in front of you. It minimizes the Iraqis seeing our folks until they're right on top of them. Their tech presumably is not as good as ours in terms of night-vision equipment.
Put down the bong and back away slowly.
I'm not going to get into a theological discussion with you, but needless to say, you're barking up the wrong tree.
My only complaint is that puts it before the beginning of the football season; we'll be stuck watching Dan Blather self-destruct and PJ gesticulate instead watching of all the hits, the bangs and the blocks...
'Cause it's Monday night and we're ready to rock, time to catch all the hits, the bangs and the blocks...
DC, NY and Atlanta...
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