25,000 U.S. Troops Headed To Gulf

NBC ^ | 5:08 p.m. EST December 27, 2002 | Tammy Kupperman

[The Real Deal]

In addition, additional Air Force aircraft including B1 bombers, F15E Strike Eagles, A10 Warthogs and F16 Falcons have been alerted to possible deployment as soon as sometime in January.

My guess is very early January. I can't remember for sure, but I think that 1/7/03 is my date in the pool. Go USA!!!!

[bkwells]

Two amphibious-ready groups. These are three-ship groups that carry more than 2,000 Marines. At least one of the groups of ships is based in San Diego -- the USS Tarawa Amphibious Ready Group. Within the next week or so, in preparation for possible deployment, these amphibious ships are likely to begin to load ammunition and make other preparations necessary for a long deployment.

That would be me. I'm on the USS TARAWA (LHA-1). We've been ready for a few weeks though!

[shrinkermd]

I think the Administration is trying to get ahead of one possibility. Recently, Hussein distributed three months of basic foodstuffs to his population. (People are so dependent on government there they get their food that way).

I imagine the Administration has some expert assessment of Saddam's personality. I hope that the person doing this knew his history. Salaam was born in the same small village as Saladin was. Saladin was a Kurd, but some of his many victories were preceded by long mutual truces followed by sudden, lightning attacks. That is how he took Jerusalem.

My bet--Saddam attacks first. Watch out Israel. Watch out aircraft carriers! He may have a an Exocet or two.

[Rokke]

Just a thought, but if military strategic planning were as simple as watching the lunar calendar, than we could all be military planners. In my opinion, there are two factors that aren't going to be THE most important in determining the initiation of "new" hostilities in Iraq...the lunar calender, and the temperature. In fact, with GPS guided munitions, the best weather is probably daylight with a low overcast deck. And frankly, the bomb doesn't care if its 25 degrees or 200 degrees. As far as ground troops are concerned...this ain't going to be the charge of the light brigade. There will be no ground operations until we've established the forward bases to support them. And what hurts us, hurts the bad guys. Except since they're working with no logistical support and no air support, their life is going to be considerably less comfortable.

My opinion only.

[Crusader21stCentury]

The State of the Union speech is January 28th.

[Timesink]

Interesting that Korea is causing trouble now, trying to create a diversion?

Yeah, but it won't work. They played their hand WAY too early. The entire US Pacific Command now has a good 2-3 months to come up with any number of ways to deal with these putzes, ways that I think will both surprise the living sh*t out of everyone (lots of way-new stuff like EMP-ing the entire pathetic nation before they can even turn on the lights in any missile silo) and also completely eliminate them as even the slightest threat within hours or days. When we're right in the middle of way with Iraq, you can be damn sure we're not going to play even slightly nice with anyone else who chooses that moment to be a problem.

[Timesink]

Does anyone know where I can get a list of what units were activated today or put on alert?

Right here: http://www.defenselink.mil/. You can even subscribe to mailing lists so you'll be the first to know whenever they call up anybody.

[MonroeDNA]

"Does anyone know where I can get a list of what units were activated today or put on alert?"

Yes.

Will you get it?

No.

[Momaw Nadon]

My guess is very early January. I can't remember for sure, but I think that 1/7/03 is my date in the pool. Go USA!!!!

Attack on Iraq Betting Pool

[Timesink]

My bet--Saddam attacks first. Watch out Israel. Watch out aircraft carriers! He may have a an Exocet or two.

If he does, then the war will be over before we even start up the tanks, courtesy of a few nukes from Israel exploding over every major city in Iraq. Saddam himself will probably be well-hidden already by that point, but hey, if he wants to lord over a piece of glass with no citizens while we block off all the oil facilites for ourselves, I say let him.

[MonroeDNA]

Great.

[MJY1288]

Thay's it in a nut shell, Dictators sticking together is all it is

[mystery-ak]

Thanks for the link....

[mitchbert]

My opinion only.

And an entirely plausible position. Thanks.

[The Real Deal]

bkwells, stay safe, and thank you for your roll in defending freedom. Myself and thousands of others will be praying for your safe return.

[mystery-ak]

I can get it from my hubby, but he won't go back to his office and link to the DOD.....my hubby is full time ILArmy National Guard(Aviation)...Im worried that my son is going to get activated(part time NG)....hubby said just wait for the call....Im a nervous wreck!

[An Old Man]

"We've been ready for a few weeks though"!

I thought you would. My one and only operation was to embark on the USS Alamo, bound for Beruit in the late 1950's. I sure wish I could go with you this time.

Semper Fi

[mitchbert]

Obviously just speculation on my part, but I'm betting one of the objectives of the American planners (and I'm sure Israel knows this) is to remove Saddam with minimal loss of Iraqi civilian life if possible. This allows the U.S. to blow off the charge that this is a war against Moslems, as after all, if it was, why just not exterminate them and be done with it?

I truly believe GWB is trying to set up a situation that any thinking person will see as a liberation of the Iraqi people. This is not only good PR (and the right thing to do, frankly) but also critical to pushing the Iran situation to a full boil, with the Iranian people taking care of the mullahs themselves.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Prayers most definitely going up for our military and their mission. Thanks, Linda.

[maquiladora]

God bless you and your fellow men.

I wish you well in the months to come.