Caption These - First Photos of War in Iraq - Day 1

[Republican_Strategist]

Thursday: The first Tomahawk missile to be fired into Iraq is launched from USS Bunker Hill.

Thursday: A U.S. Marine, wearing a nuclear biological and chemical protection suit, waits in a bunker in Kuwait.

[mattdono]

Did anyone else notice last night the not-so-subtle talons holding the arrows (above his left shoulder)?

Just a little symoblism that is completely appropriate.

[Redcloak]

Call me biased, but I prefer my version of dawn breaking over Baghdad...

Qapla!

[Republican_Strategist]

CaptionThis Bump List

[Republicus2001]

I did notice they were pointing to the Left

[k2blader]

Thanks--nice photos!

[mattdono]

I noticed this last night when I was watching and I wouldn't doubt that one of my astute FRiends noted the same, I add the comment here because of the image brought it back to my mind.

Symbolic, but important.

[Alberta's Child]

That's not just "symbolic."

Whenever the U.S. seal is normally displayed, the eagle is shown holding an olive branch in its claws. When the U.S. is at war, the olive branch is replaced by a bunch of arrows.

As far as I know, the seal has had the arrows in it every time it's been displayed since 9/11.

[McGruff]

Smoke billows from the planning ministry in Baghdad after it was hit by a missile.

Baghdad urban renewal courtesy of US Military.

[Alberta's Child]

Actually, I think I'm wrong about that.

The eagle holds BOTH an olive branch and the arrows, but I believe the direction the head of the eagle faces is determined by whether the U.S. is at war or not.

I'm not sure which direction the head is facing, but I'm sure it's toward the arrows.

[jae471]

Take a closer look. The eagle always has both the olive branch and the arrows -- check a $1 bill.

Now note that the head of the eagle in the picture is still looking at the olive branch. We are not officially at war, otherwise the eagle would be looking at the arrows.

OTOH, the draping of the flag to show the arrows is intentional and deliberate.

[Alberta's Child]

I'm sure Brown & Root already has the plans drawn up for the building that will stand in its place.

[Sid Rich]

Not so. The eagle in the Great Seal of the United States has an olive branch in one talon, arrows in the other. It isn't changed just because we're at war.

http://www.greatseal.com/

[jae471]

Beat me... You corrected yourself. Sorry.

[Alberta's Child]

I see -- thanks for the correction. I knew I had it mixed up.

Why aren't we "at war?"

[Redcloak]

The seal has both arrows and an olive branch. Traditionally, the eagle's head turns toward the arrows in time of war.

[Sid Rich]

I don't believe the eagle in the Great Seal of the United States is changed in any way just because we're at war.

[Alberta's Child]

LOL. I got confused because I've got an image in my mind of what might be a different U.S. emblem. Is there an emblem of a U.S. cabinet-level department that has a similar eagle, but holding a long olive branch that extends from one claw to the other and curls up on either side of the eagle?

Maybe I'm just going nuts -- I must be thinking of a Dutch emblem with a dove holding marijuana leaves.

[Sid Rich]

The idea that the seal changes during wartime is an urban legend. Go to www.snopes.com and search on "Great Seal."

[mattdono]

Yes, you are correct about this.

Right.

I know. That was the whole point of my post. As I said it was "not-so-subtle".