Freepers: Post opinion on war starting (esp. ex-military freepers, please participate)

3/15/03 | ARCADIA

[ARCADIA]

Without revealing any confidential information, but simply by reviewing published sources and making gut-feel prediction, when do you think the war will start? Do you even think it will start?

[Balata]

Maybe there's good BBQ there.......

Well, there's great wine there. We use to stop there to pick up a case of Matuse(sp) every chance we got.

Probably the main reason is, theres no chance of anti war protesters to muck up the meeting.

[Delta 21]

I hope that every single one of saddams "palaces" gets a laser guided bomb in the court house square.

[Jhoffa_]

Exactly..

Jhoffa_: the hungry, smarmy and mean spirited terror pixie.

coming soon to a picnic near you...

[cmsgop]

Ping!

[cmsgop]

LMAO!!! Maybe I should get some Beer. This could be a Fun Night!

[TADSLOS]

Combat Air Patrols over the No Fly Zones have increased dramatically and Air Defense Artillery sites have been pre-emptively targeted and destroyed.

[AgentEcho]

1. There's a US base there so security is tight.

2. Closest secure "halfway" point between US, Great Britain, and Spain. Though not nearly half way, it's close enough.

3. PERSONAL OPINION - As it is a longer flight for President Bush, it's a psychological ploy to Blair and Anzar of sorts. When your boss goes above and beyond to support you don't you see them in a different light.

The formar SSgt AgentEcho, USAF

Æ

[Nam Vet]

They can be pretty sure there won't be screaming crowds of socialists claiming they are anti-war protesters.

Nam Vet

[ARCADIA]

And dear Lord look over my nephew, deployed in the theater of operations, and over all of our brave men and women confronting evil, that the American People, and the US Constitution, may survive.

Your nephew will be in my prayers.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

There is absolutely no chance of Saddam going into exile (one reason that is being offered). Amongst Arab-type tribes, this is the greatest humiliation of all for a leader -- it makes them an anti-martyr. Saddam and his entire family would become a laughing-stock in the Arab world, they would become a legendary example of what it meant to be a coward.

In the west, we think millions of millions of dollars and a Club Med Villa with babes is a damn nice retirement. To Saddam it would be the greatest humiliation possible.

It's never going to happen, and that's why it's been dangled out there to him by us all this time -- not because it would avoid the necessity of war, but because if he took it, it'd ruin his "legacy" for future Arab terrorist generations in the biggest possible way. We'd actually be defeating him worse by having him go into exile than if we kill him in a war.

[TADSLOS]

Significant because it means Shaping Operations are underway, in other words, General Franks is doing what's necessary to accomodate his war plan once executed.

[cmsgop]

Terror Pixie

[ARCADIA]

Quietly going on since 3/13/03; General Franks gave the order.

What order?

[Scott from the Left Coast]

No, my entire wackily-constructed theory was based on OUR weekends, not theirs. I didn't consider traffic jams in Baghdad...only those in Seattle.

[dennisw]

March 27 will be the first day of "shock and awe". Because of the new moon of April 1st.

[Jhoffa_]

Something like that, except I would probably show up with a fork..

[FlyingA]

As we have reported in our most recent article, NEWS1784, the war against Iraq began quietly and without formal announcement on March 13, 2003. On 3/14, DEBKAfile reported in an email to its subscribers that US General Tommy Franks ordered US and UK air forces and special forces to start action against Iraq. Aerial campaign was launched against key Iraqi radar facilities and theater missiles, while special forces attacked the southern oil fields.

President Bush ordered the campaign to begin quietly and without formal announcement for several reasons:

1. To protect Turkey and other formal Arab countries -- a quiet campaign beginning masquerades the cooperation that Turkish generals and the Jordanian president are giving US forces in this early part of the campaign. Right now, American forces are pouring through Turkish bases, but their numbers are limited because of public opposition. Also, US forces are pouring into Western Jordanian bases preparing for a launch against Iraq. In this early, critical stage, it is imperative that the militant public in these nations be kept in the dark until we have finished with these critical preparations.

2. To continue the charade of seeking peace, of going the "extra mile" for peace -- We have stated many times before that, once a national leader makes the decision for war, his diplomatic corps simply becomes the propaganda tool to convince his people that he sought peace, that he went the extra mile for peace, and only went to war after extensive peace efforts have failed.

3. To continue the attempt to confuse the Iraqi military. Stories have appeared regularly recently stating that Saddam has given certain units orders to carry out certain acts of terror and sabotage once the air campaign has begun. By beginning the air campaign quietly, as an extension of the continuous bombing we have been carrying out in enforcing the "No Fly Zone", we seek to mask the fact that our bombardment has begun.

[Kay]

Some Arab leaders have been sent into exile. It has been done respectfully and peacefully in the not too distant past. Sometimes done out of alligence to a family oath. I doubt that Saddam would last long in exile and bet that he is well aware of it.

[ARCADIA]

Shaping Operations are underway

Okay, what are shaping operations. Please clarify for the uninitiated.

I think you are saying they are doing "pre-war" missions. Things to make sure everything goes smoothly once the main event starts.

[Balata]

There is absolutely no chance of Saddam going into exile

Interesting, but... Did you see the recent reports Saddam was putting a lot of his money in diamonds so it would be easier to take his wealth abroad? Plus the reports from Desert Storm that said he had several planes gased and ready to go if our troups reached within 50 miles of Baghdad.