B52's Leaving Fairford United Kingdom

Stratfor ^ | March 18, 2003 | Staff

[richardtavor]

http://www.stratfor.com/promo/?site=usiraq =================================================================

At 1808 GMT (1:08 p.m. EST, 9:08 p.m. Baghdad) B-52 bombers were reported taking off from RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom. Flying time to Iraq is about six hours. Earlier today, they were reportedly loaded with cruise missiles. The British press has also reported that skirmishing has commenced between Iraqi troops and U.S. and British special operations forces near Basra. Coalition aircraft also have attacked 10 Iraqi artillery pieces in the southern no-fly zone, and Israelis have been ordered to open and fit their gas masks, keeping them nearby at all times.

War has not yet commenced, but this is a war alert. More information will be forthcoming as it is available.

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[PhiKapMom]

I am now on MSNBC! Thanks for the info!

[richardtavor]

Bush is trying to explain to the world what the definition of "is" is....Clinton never could.

[jayef]

The cool thing is, if B52s are going in, air superiority is already established. As if that was ever in doubt. Uhhh . . . buh bye Saddam!

[PhiKapMom]

I wonder if they have the French embassy in Baghdad targeted like Reagan did in Libya -- one of the OOPs!

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

I live in the flight path of macdill afb here in tampa and ther e have been kc135's taking off and landing all day I wonder if they are fueling any bombers leaving america

[glock rocks]

of course not.

but they do have to rely on those nasty old cia maps for that part of baghdad

wink wink nod nod

[PhiKapMom]

Heard on MSNBC that the Stealth F-117 was used in the strikes a short time ago in Iraq along with a lot of other Navy/AF planes. Took out six targets might endanger ground troops or planes. They are after radar site and fiber optics sites and surface to air site in Basra! Just released!

[Constitution Day]

I wonder if they have the French embassy in Baghdad targeted like Reagan did in Libya -- one of the OOPs!

I remember that. What a beautiful thing that was.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Hmmmm. We don't have air permission over Turkey approved yet. Possibly they could go over Israel and Jordan, or a Saudi approach.

DG while I have no clue about where the B52's are, the two aircraft carriers in the eastern Med will in fact send their planes over Israel and Jordan unless the %&$%(*# turks do something ASAP.

Bring those 3 cases of beer you owe me over here tonight and we can watch this play out.

[scubadan]

Are you accessing those sights online? If so, where?

[richardtavor]

BTW, they changed the acronym "MOAB" to "BFB". That stands for Big F**king Bomb.

[PhiKapMom]

Those old maps are all when can get! LOL!!!

Lester Holt, MSNBC, just announced Stormin Norman will be on his show at 6:00 est -- speaks volumes if you ask me.

Sand storm has ended and nice day forecast for tomorrow on the ground!

2:57:18 and counting

Cameras trained on the night skies in Baghdad on MSNBC.

[PhiKapMom]

That has always been one of my all time favorite moments! French Embassy blown up!

[richardtavor]

accidentally, of course. OOPS!

[theriotcat]

What in the h--ll could the slimey frogs do to stop us from overflying their cesspool ?

[colette_g]

I live in the UK, so I'm watching them on digital satellite, but I was watching BBC News 24 on-line earlier at http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsa/n5ctrl/live/now3.ram

Sky News just went live there, and the B52s still appear to be there, with the suggestion that they may be leaving soon.

[PhiKapMom]

Back when we bombed Libya, they would have met our F-111's with their Mirages so rather then take on the French, we flew around France. It was dangerous for out pilots as they had to be in the air for so long!

[Constitution Day]

The late Sam Kinison had a great bit on it too.

He said something like "maybe our aim would have been better if we'd had a little more SLEEP!"

[Air Force Born]

I still wouldn't be shocked that a few took off earlier, with the rest just sitting and waiting. Of course the first report could have been from someone who didn't know a B-52 from an AB300.

[PhiKapMom]

I had forgotten about that statement! All I could remember thinking was OOPS!