The Dogs of War

[Oligo 1]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Longinius @ April 03 2003,16:47)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Just look at how the Fins dealt with the invading russians. They were outmanned and outgunned, but definately not lacking in motivation and ingenuity.<span id='postcolor'>

Finns also had the great advantage of shitty terrain and weather. Finnish forests are a cold and miserable place to make war in. Nice for camping, though.

[CosmicCastaway 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (theavonlady @ April 03 2003,15:57)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Tough little cookie! <span id='postcolor'>

She's a woman, surely even the Iraqi's know not to piss them off.

[Blaegis 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (theavonlady @ April 03 2003,15:57)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Tough little cookie! <span id='postcolor'>

Hehe, somebody watched "Courage Under Fire" one too many times. Next thing you know she'll be getting a CMH.

[Necromancer- 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (CosmicCastaway @ April 03 2003,17:01)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (theavonlady @ April 03 2003,15:57)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Tough little cookie! <span id='postcolor'>

She's a woman, surely even the Iraqi's know not to piss them off.  <span id='postcolor'>

G.I. Jane

[bn880 5]

I don't think I have seen this on the forums yet:

Western journalists beaten, starved by Americans

[Guest]

From Jane's Defence Weekly:

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">

Why Iraq's air force won't fight

CRAIG HOYLE

Military analysts speaking before the start of Operation 'Iraqi Freedom' appeared highly sceptical that Iraq would launch its fighter aircraft in the face of a vastly stronger coalition force, but the total lack of local aircraft activity by late March has surprised even these sources.

Delivering a bullish appraisal of the coalition's progress up to 28 March, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Richard Myers said: "We have air supremacy over approximately 95% of Iraq." The US and UK militaries are now "flying freely over Baghdad", he said, while identifying the remaining risk to allied aircraft as coming from surface-to-air missile batteries positioned in and to the north of the Iraqi capital. Significantly, Gen Myers made no reference to the Iraqi Air Force's remaining fleet of fighters as posing a threat to patrolling aircraft: a situation highlighted earlier by UK Secretary of State for Defence Geoff Hoon. "We have not so far seen any Iraqi aircraft flying," Hoon told a press conference in London on 24 March.

The Iraqi Air Force had an estimated strength of fewer than 300 aircraft before the conflict opened on 20 March, with this number comprising around 130 combat aircraft, two combat helicopters, 11 transports and 130 trainers. Strike aircraft types were thought to include some 39 MiG-23, MiG-25 and MiG-29 interceptors, 50 MiG-21 and Mirage F1 air-defence aircraft and 35 Su-22, Su-24 and Su-25 ground-attack platforms.

The airborne capabilities of the Iraqi Army Air Corps is also uncertain, with Jane's World Air Forces estimating that it could muster no more than 65 combat, 30 observation, 10 transport and 125 utility helicopters. Officials at both the UK Ministry of Defence and US Central Command declined to provide Jane's Defence Weekly with their estimates on the current strengths of these Iraqi services.

Possessing no airborne early- warning or in-flight refuelling aircraft, the Iraqi Air Force would be restricted to launching short-range raids against allied land forces or aircraft, with its strike potential at best limited to a small number of short-range air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface bombs and anti-ship missiles. Despite this limited capability, Iraq recently hinted that it could mount some opposition to allied aircraft, with an as-yet unconfirmed report suggesting that a US Air Force (USAF) RQ-1 Predator unmanned air vehicle (UAV) lost before the war was shot down by an Iraqi MiG-25. If verified, this would represent the first such loss of a Predator to an airborne adversary.

A stronger pre-conflict fear was that Iraq could seek to deploy developmental UAVs, including a number of L-29 trainers modified for unmanned flight, to dispense chemical or biological warfare agents against allied troops or population centres (JDW 19 March). There is no evidence, however, that Baghdad has ordered any such use of its suspected delivery vehicles for weapons of mass destruction.

While resistance to allied movements on the ground has been stronger than expected from Iraqi land forces and irregular combatants, the Iraqi Air Force's reluctance to fight continues a trend from the previous Gulf War in 1990-91, where the cream of its assets were flown into exile in neighbouring Iran. Baghdad's former foe impounded these aircraft and has never returned them, possibly using them as a source for spare parts for its own ailing air force.

Rather than send its aircraft into permanent exile this time around, Iraq has instead opted to disperse its aircraft in unexpected locations, US Army Brig Gen Vincent Brooks, Deputy Operations Officer for US Central Command, said during a briefing at Camp Doha, Qatar, on 24 March. This claim was supported by video imagery of an air strike against an unidentified MiG fighter - possibly an obsolete MiG-19 - which had been dispersed from Al-Asad airbase and concealed in a revetted area. "We have found a number of these aircraft in a variety of places," said Gen Brooks, who cited as another example the discovery of a MiG-23 interceptor near a cemetery around 4,000ft outside the perimeter of Balad airbase north of Baghdad.

In a departure from the first Gulf War, the allied air forces have sought to limit bombing attacks against Iraqi airbases, with the seizure of these facilities viewed as a greater priority. Such sites will be used for the forward deployment of assets such as US Army AH-64 Apache and US Marine Corps AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters and USAF A-10 ground attack aircraft and RQ-1/MQ-1 Predator drones. They will also be useful in reducing resupply times by forward-locating transport aircraft.

Sites captured by allied special forces personnel in the opening days of the campaign included the H2 and H3 complexes in western Iraq and Tallil airbase and Basra international airport in the country's south. Later operations saw the seizure of a desert airstrip at an undisclosed location and the taking of a major airbase in Kurdish-held northern Iraq, both of which were captured by paratroops dropped from C-130 and C-17 transport aircraft.

Iraqi command-and-control facilities located at major airbases including Kirkuk have been heavily attacked, however; Hoon noted on 22 March that these could be used to co-ordinate the activities of Iraqi interceptor aircraft. US Navy F-14 fighters also dropped precision-guided weapons on hangars at the Al Taqqadum airfield west of Baghdad in the opening days of the war; a US defence source described the site as "the largest and most important fighter base the Iraqi Air Force has".

Ultimately, the ability of the USAF and the UK Royal Air Force to maintain persistent airborne reconnaissance of Iraq's airspace is the decisive factor in keeping the Iraqi Air Force on the ground, since any aircraft departing an Iraqi base would be rapidly tracked, engaged and destroyed by coalition fighters. Faced with such overwhelming odds, it is little wonder that Gen Myers could so confidently declare air supremacy across all but the Iraqi capital so early in the campaign.

<span id='postcolor'>

[Badgerboy 0]

When I heardabout the F/A-18 being shot down, I wondered if it was an Iraqi SAM after all. Now its looking like it was shot down by a Patriot.

Someone needs to sort their SOP's out. So far the US have shot down more of our own fixed wing aircraft than the Iraqis.

[Tovarish 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Badgerboy @ April 03 2003,18:29)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">When I heardabout the F/A-18 being shot down, I wondered if it was an Iraqi SAM after all. Now its looking like it was shot down by a Patriot.

Someone needs to sort their SOP's out. So far the US have shot down more of our own fixed wing aircraft than the Iraqis.<span id='postcolor'>

Gotta say, it's not good at all when you start claiming your kills as the enemy's.

[Maraudeur 0]

Anyone having access to the Washinghton Post archives please ?

I would need that article :

Vernon Loeb Washington Post Staff Writer  

March 27, 2003; Page A27

Section: A

Word Count: 851

Or first answer for " Coronet " search key word.

Thanks

[Badgerboy 0]

Looks like another friendly fire incident. 1 US soldier dead.

[Badgerboy 0]

Hmm, looks like a F15E attacked a US Artillery position. 1 confirmed dead, 2+ 'missing', quite a few injured.

[Schoeler 0]

I've heard it was a Patriot that got the F/A-18 as well. Sounds like some kind of a glitch in the IFF system. They better figure it out quick!

Washington Post is saying U.S. troops were honored with a victory parade by hundreds of jubilant Iraqis in An Najaf.

[Badgerboy 0]

Was that the victory parade that involved all those pissed off Iraqi's? I may have the wrong location, but US soldiers wanted to storm a mosque, and managed to upset the entire population. Looked like a very high tension moment.

[Guest]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Schoeler @ April 03 2003,18:54)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Washington Post is saying U.S. troops were honored with a victory parade by hundreds of jubilant Iraqis in An Najaf.<span id='postcolor'>

Umm. The mosque in Najaf was damaged by US mortars which led to riots at the outskirts of Najaf (the center is still in Iraqi control). How Washington Post managed to interpret it as a "victory parade" is beyond me.

-----------

Robert Fisk: Saddam's masters of concealment dig in, ready for battle - the independent

[PFC Mongoose 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Schoeler @ April 03 2003,18:54)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I've heard it was a Patriot that got the F/A-18 as well.  Sounds like some kind of a glitch in the IFF system.  They better figure it out quick!

Washington Post is saying U.S. troops were honored with a victory parade by hundreds of jubilant Iraqis in An Najaf.<span id='postcolor'>

I don't think I've heard of this F/A-18 going down.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Robert Fisk: Saddam's masters of concealment dig in,ready for battle - the independent <span id='postcolor'>

Well, if the Americans didn't know about this before, possible they do now...

[Balschoiw 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I don't think I've heard of this F/A-18 going down.<span id='postcolor'>

Well it has been confirmed by pentagon.

You can have alook at some interesting videos here:

Iraq rocket launchers in action.

[theavonlady 2]

Shi'ite cleric leader in Najaf says not to resist against coalition fighting against Iraq:

http://www.reuters.com/newsArt....2503412

(For whoever it was last week that wanted to point out to me that it's spelled "shi'a" and not "shi'ite", please take note).

[Guest]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (theavonlady @ April 03 2003,20:24)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Shi'ite cleric leader in Najaf says not to resist against coalition fighting against Iraq:

http://www.reuters.com/newsArt....2503412<span id='postcolor'>

That is indeed a significant development, especially since it is a split from the main Shia leader's position who last week urged the Shias to fight the coalition.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">You can have alook at some interesting videos here:

Iraq rocket launchers in action. <span id='postcolor'>

Interesting video. Want to take a guess what kind of rocket launch system it was?

[cam0flage 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (denoir @ April 03 2003,23:03)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">You can have alook at some interesting videos here:

Iraq rocket launchers in action. <span id='postcolor'>

Interesting video. Want to take a guess what kind of rocket launch system it was?<span id='postcolor'>

ASTROS

Could it be this? Well, I wouldn't be surprised if the Iraqis had some Russian BM-series rocket launchers in addition to these.

[Cloney 0]

Too bad those things won't be around too long after those Counter-Artillery Radars calculate their positions and 155mm's of love come raining down on them. Courtesy of the US Army.

[Cloney 0]

Also looks like the 3rd Infantry is capturing an Airport in Iraq and that special forces raided Saddam's Presidential Palace. This pretty much shows that the Coalition's Spec Ops are ass kickers.  

Allies Attack Baghdad Airport

Fox News - Look on the Right Bar to see footage of SAS/Delta Raiding the Palace.

[Guest]

1--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Cloney @ April 03 2003,221)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Too bad those things won't be around too long after those Counter-Artillery Radars calculate their positions and 155mm's of love come raining down on them. Courtesy of the US Army.<span id='postcolor'>

As they've done before, they will already have moved to another position. LOL, they havn't even been able to track down the people that keep firing missiles at Kuwait.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Also looks like the 3rd Infantry is capturing an Airport in Iraq and that special forces raided Saddam's Presidential Palace<span id='postcolor'>

The airport is the important thing, and the battle is raging right now. As for the palace, don't get too excited it was one of hundreds of presidential palaces. It was abandoned and in coalition controlled territory.

Edit:

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">2012: Unconfirmed reports say US troops have captured Baghdad airport with tanks and armoured units against almost no opposition from Iraqi forces. <span id='postcolor'>

At this point it's bloody difficult to say WTF the Iraqis are up to. Is this a sign that their defences are breaking down? Or are they withdrawing into urban areas? There have been some strange developments the last 48 hours. Two Iraqi RG divisions have disappeared. The "Medina" with 20,000 soldiers and the "Nebuchadnessar" with 10,000 soldiers. American forces are meeting little resistance up front. On the other hand there has been some heavy fighting south east of the front line where US supply lines have been hit again. Who hit them? That area was supposed to be void of Iraqi troops.

[cam0flage 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">There have been some strange developments the last 48 hours. Two Iraqi RG divisions have disappeared. The "Medina" with 20,000 soldiers and the "Nebuchadnessar" with 10,000 soldiers.<span id='postcolor'>

I think this is very strange, how can they lose track of two divisions just like that. I'm sure their wheeled/armored equipment would be quite easy to trace for US reconnaissance planes/satellites. Earlier today I was thinking about the possibility of existence of a tunnel system under Baghdad, which could be used to move troops, but surely that would be known for the coalition forces?

[interstat 0]

Check this out, pretty good going for the old Iraqi's,

Iraq army attack

at least us brits have got Basra to deal with, the US can have baghdad and all that goes with it. No more Uk troops going as well, lovely!!

US your on your own.

[Col. Kurtz 0]

According to my radio, an American Major on the ground was quoted as saying 'we control part of the airport' referring to Baghdad International.