Sources: Pentagon to put troops on 'hair-trigger' alert

CNN ^ | 3/14/03 | From Jamie McIntyre

[Jewels1091]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sources say the Pentagon is ready to put U.S. troops massed around Iraq on "hair-trigger" alert -- essentially ready to begin a war if Saddam Hussein attacks U.S. troops, his neighbors or his people out of desperation.

[exnavy]

A google search for General Dynamics Stryker yeilds some articles and pics.

[a_Turk]

>> I think that there will be a Northern front that Saddam is not expecting.

I have a feeling that the US DoS and Turkey may not be seeing eye to eye.. I don't want to speculate any more.

Good luck to all of us..

[We Happy Few]

Bigger than our current problem?

[a_Turk]

>> the decision to not allow overfly rights was not a parlimentary one.

The statement had been that overflight rights must per the constitution be granted by the parliament.

>> Amazing that those without self interest are actually with the USA and the UK and Spain in this little endevour.

London has been the victim of the IRA. Madrid of ETA. The USA of Al-Qaeda. Turkey of the PKK. These would have been natural allies, except that the USA relies on Kurdish help and has moved to train and arm these, who harbor the PKK, who sport maps of greater Kurdestan which cover 15 or 16 Turkish cities.. That puts Turkey in a precarious position. Does she allow the troops and tanks of a power which supports groups that harbor terrorists who threaten her to perhaps reinforce them? Or does she keep those troops and tanks out of the area long enough to pick out the terrorist element? The decision is difficult.

[a_Turk]

>> At this time, Turkey will not even allow the US to use it's airspace.

Our constitution states that such permission must be given by a vote in parliament. No minister, prime or otherwise, has the authority to do so.

Turkey has provided basing and overflight rights for operation nothern watch and provide comfort for he last decade. Turkey has also provided these rights for the war against Taliban and AlQaeda. You will for get that, however..

[Thunder 6]

Be nice to have that first SBCT operational right about now...

[appalachian_dweller]

The cooperation in northern watch is appreciated but it seems to me that Turkey could be more cooperative in ousting SH. I don't understand where the resistance is coming from. Could you shed some light?

[exnavy]

I'll second that!

[widgysoft]

Bert is evil!

[a_Turk]

>> I don't understand where the resistance is coming from. Could you shed some light?

I just did here..

[maestro]

?.......Does SH/Iraq......NOW have ANY kinds of missiles which could carry Black-Marketed-Nukes????

(Bottom line Questions)

[GirlShortstop]

(Bottom line Questions)

Can I piggy-back?   SH's military capabilities on the whole:   Do the Good Guys need more than what is already amassed, i.e., are *more* tanks needed?   

I have heard talk from ex-mil, speculating that the conflict will last 7 days; that gives me the impression that our firepower is really quite adequate.  Any links to outline the "threat from Iraq" from legitimate, conventional (read as non-WMD) capabilities??

[MizSterious]

Good points--and I also wonder if some disinfo is being handed out as part of the psy-ops campaign?

[easonc52]

If you don't have the link for info and pics on Stryker, go here http://www.army-technology.com/projects/stryker/

[Grampa Dave]

Meanwhile, 10 U.S. warships and two submarines have been repositioned in the Red Sea.

The cruisers, destroyers and submarines can all fire satellite-guided Tomahawk land attack missiles, or "TLAMS," precision weapons with a range of about 1,000 miles [1,600 kilometers]. Those warships were moved from the Mediterranean because Turkey has refused to grant access to its airspace.

In position, the cruise missiles are aimed, cocked and ready to launch! Make our Day Soddomite! Do something really stupid!

[maestro]

Right!

?.......Does SH/Iraq......NOW have ANY kinds of land-mines which could utilize Black-Marketed-Nukes????

(Bottom line Questions)

[alethia]

My understanding is that tons and tons (literally) of equipment has already been unloaded and driven through Turkey to Iraq. Isn't it possible the only thing missing is the troops? And how long would it take to get them in position?

[PhiKapMom]

When Bravo goes into effect the number of SP's carrying M-16's increased here, every badge is checked, and escorts are required into some areas of a base even if you have a base ID and decal on your car. That's when traffic gets way backed up as some bases funnel all their people through a few gates instead of having them all open in the morning and evening.

Normal conditions you can drive directly on the base with a base decal and random checks.

After 9/11, the Air Force put up barriers you have to drive around to go in the base under Charlie, you show your badge by holding it up, and they wave you on in with the decals. One SP has been there with an M-16.

To my knowledge we haven't been back to Normal since 9/11 at least here where I go on the base, but then we have some high priority areas so security has always been tighter than say Lackland where you can drive on with little or no problem.

[sonrise57]

Not a pleasant thought--Turkey could well loose its secular government and become another islamist state if it implodes.

[sonrise57]

Not a pleasant thought--Turkey could well loose its secular government and become another islamist state if it implodes.