***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 8 - LIVE THREAD***

Various | 3/27/2003 | Me

[Centurion2000]

Good Morning.

This is the Daily Thread of Operation Iraqi Freedom - LIVE THREAD.

It is designed for general conversation about the events of the day. In depth discussion of events should be left to individual threads - but links to the threads or other articles is highly encouraged. This allows us to stay abreast of the situation in general, while also providing a means of obtaining specific information.

Please have mercy on us dial up limited FReepers! Limit the big graphics, post links instead. A breif description of what the graphic is would help:

Special thanks to null and void for keeping these running over the weekend and Monday, to all of you for keeping these threads alive, the AdminMods for their tolerance, mhking for the video links, and, of course, Belly Girl...

[r9etb]

There is a certain risk of different problems arising, but, say - war is risky no matter what you do. The question is how to get it done the best way given what you know and even to dynamically change your tactics depending on the results.

The other question is, how do you get out of a jam once you're in it. Our answer to that is to have the means to blow the crap out of the bad guys when all else fails. (Sorta like the relief pitcher who saves his 200 mph fastball for when he's got the bases loaded, no outs, and 3-0 count.)

[section9]

Makes a lot of sense Chris. I hope waiting doesn't increase our vulnerability. Or decrease momentum, but I don't think it will.

At minimum though, we can expect MAJOR WHINING and even tantrums from the press and I believe the RATS will start joining in too because of delays. Their attention span is too short. So we will need to be ready with plenty of barf bags and a ton of patience and perserverance should your theory prove true.

So what if we wait a few weeks to go?

Our guys have to do what is right and militarily prudent so to do. It is wise for us to hold the RG's close to us, by the belt, as it were, and bleed them before they bleed us. Attriting the Guard at our leasure will lower their morale.

The only concern I have right now is for the supply line system. The Marines and the Infantry appear to have compensated by sending out hunter-killer teams to bag the Fedayeen and the other Ba'athist thugs. As long as the infantrymen take the offensive, the Ba'athists will have no chance.

Remember something: when it's guerrillas vs. trained infantry, always bet on the trained infantry.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Spunky]

"sirens in BG"

I haven't heard any sirens. I did hear some big booms a little while ago.

[AngryAmerican]

Why don't they just sound the initial siren at 12:01 AM and sound the all clear at 11:59 PM, then start all over again at 12:01?

[An.American.Expatriate]

Rules of Engagement: Making Up The Rules As You Go

Interesting thread with some alternative views to the current news. Can't agree with all of it, but ...

[Michael81Dus]

It will be difficult to take Baghdad without razing it.

But who can give me any hints that S&A was a success? After dropping thousands of bombs, the Iraqi military should have been in a state of shock, unable to strike back. Instead, they´re happy & alive, trying to kill as many soldiers as possible. Now it´s going to become a real war. The nice, quick war (some air strikes, surrendering enemies) is a fairy-tale, told by Germans who fought against France. ;-))

[ninenot]

Yes, Turkish Kurds = Turds

Neat pun.

But let's not jump to conclusions.

Remember that the Brits drew the boundaries following WWI or WWII (or both???) and effectively told the Kurds that they were no longer a nation--

Pardon me, but who the blazes made THAT decision?

[Nam Vet]

No humor then, just a question.

Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, 'I think I'll squeeze these dangly things here and drink whatever comes out'?

Nam Vet

[Carolina]

Sky split screen: Rummy at the Senate and Camp David.

[Spunky]

Now I am hearing them. How could you hear them before me?

[dogbyte12]

Ya know... David Copperfield may make the statue of Liberty vanish from view, but Tommy Franks has made the 11,000 member II marine Expeditionary Force dissapear somewhere where nobody is looking. I think this is quite a neat trick. I just wish I could see the Iraqi faces when they decide to end the illusion.

[r9etb]

Pardon me, but who the blazes made THAT decision?

The very same folks who invented Yugoslavia -- and that worked out swell, too.

[Timeout]

Those poodle-brained reporters at CENTCOM are just mad because they got snookered. It's obvious now that CENTCOM is not going to make news during this war. They're letting the embeds' reports and interviews make the headlines. CENTCOM briefings are being used to clarify previously reported news...and to show the gunship videos. (Funny how those were sooooo dramatic 12 years ago.)

As for reporters like that NY Mag woosie, they made the mistake of judging by Gulf War I standards. In GW-I, Stormin' Norman hugged the spotlight and made all the news.

Remember this dude? I think he now does a drive-time radio in St. Louis.

CENTCOM reporters are afraid they'll just go the way of Charles Jaco.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Ahhh..Rummy. Thanks!

[null and void]

What's with all the pulled threads???

Play nice guys!

The thread looks like Swiss Cheese - no offense An.American.Expatrate...

[prairiebreeze]

Good observations from both of you

Prairie

[r9etb]

Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, 'I think I'll squeeze these dangly things here and drink whatever comes out'?

Well, whoever it was, I'm eternally greatful that they picked a girl cow.

[turbocat]

Humor side bar:

On the Drudge home page - does the soldier on the right look like Jessica Parker (sex in the city) on a bad day - or is it just me? (the guy looks fine, by the way)

[RJayneJ]

Thanks for the nomination! };^D )

[Air Force Born]

Touched me hard. My father was USN 1941-1947, USAF 1954-1971. Though I hope it is yet decades off, he is getting near that last tribute from his country. He did not like war, but understood that peace at any cost is too expensive, and served with quiet pride.
He saw buddies ripped apart in combat in the South Pacific, saw bullet holes in walls in Korea placed there by North Korean murderers through US airmen.
He refueled B-52's in Maine during the Cuban missle crisis, with his family in housing on the same base, realizing suddenly WE were the front line.
When he is gone, he will have that salute, his casket will bear that flag. But until then he will be loved and treasured for my father fought to secure my freedom, and thought the potential cost negligible,