Ralph Rowe
HAS THE WAR ON IRAQ ALREADY STARTED?
Fri Sep 6 03:36:02 2002
68.98.68.169

100 jets join attack on Iraq
By Michael Smith,
Defence Correspondent About 100 American and
British aircraft took part in an attack
on Iraq's major western air defence
installation yesterday in the biggest
single operation over the country for
four years.

100 jets join attack on Iraq
By Michael Smith, Defence Correspondent
(Filed: 06/09/2002)

About 100 American and British aircraft took part in an
attack on Iraq's major western air defence installation
yesterday in the biggest single operation over the country
for four years.

The raid appeared to be a prelude to the
type of special forces operations that would
have to begin weeks before a possible
American-led war. It was launched two
days before a war summit between
President George W Bush and Tony Blair in
America.

The Prime Minister promised that Britain would be
alongside the Americans "when the shooting starts".

The raid seemed designed to destroy air defences to
allow easy access for special forces helicopters to fly into
Iraq via Jordan or Saudi Arabia to hunt down Scud
missiles before a possible war within the next few months.

Although only 12 aircraft dropped precision-guided bombs
on to the H3 airfield, 240 miles west of Baghdad and close
to Jordan, many support aircraft took part.

The strikes were carried out by nine American F15 Strike
Eagles and three RAF Tornado GR4 ground attack aircraft
flying from Kuwait.

At least seven types of aircraft took part. Fighter cover
was provided by US F-16 Fighting Falcons and RAF
Tornado F3s from Saudi Arabia. RAF VC10 tanker aircraft
flying from Bahrain were among the support aircraft.

These also included EA6b Prowlers, which send out signals
to confuse enemy radar, and E3a Awacs aircraft that
co-ordinate operations and carry out reconnaissance of
any response.

RAF Tornados also took part in the reconnaissance.
American central command refused to go into detail about
the number of aircraft involved in the raid.

It said: "Coalition strikes in the no-fly zones are executed
as a self-defence measure in response to Iraqi hostile
threats and acts against coalition forces and their
aircraft."

The Pentagon said that the raid was launched in
"response to recent Iraqi hostile acts against coalition
aircraft monitoring the southern no-fly zone".

Iraq had made 130 attempts to shoot down coalition
aircraft this year.

The Ministry of Defence in London refused to confirm that
RAF aircraft had taken part, but defence sources said that
Tornado ground attack and reconnaissance aircraft played
a key role. The attack on what the American central
command described as an "air defence command and
control facility" was the first time that a target in western
Iraq had been attacked during the patrols of the southern
no-fly zone.

Until yesterday, all strikes had been against air defence
sites in the south, around Basra, Amara, Nassairya and
Baghdad.

Central command said it was still assessing the damage
caused by the attack. If the air defence installation was
not destroyed, a second raid is expected.

As well as blinding Iraqi radar to any special forces
helicopters, the loss of the H3 installation would allow
allied aircraft mounting major raids on Iraq a trouble-free
route into the country.

In a further sign that America was preparing for war, a
Pentagon official confirmed that heavy armour,
ammunition and other equipment had been moved to
Kuwait from huge stores in Qatar.

Thomas White, the army secretary, said: "We have done
a lot with pre-positioned stocks in the Gulf, making sure
that they are in the right spot to support whatever the
president wants to do."

Any war on Iraq is likely to begin with a gradual
intensification of attacks on air defences. But yesterday's
raid appears more likely to be related to the special
forces Scud hunts.

It was the SAS which specialised in the attempts to hunt
down the Scuds during the Gulf war. Although the raids
were largely unsuccessful, they spawned a series of rival
books by former members of the regiment.

Mr Bush, speaking in Louisville, Kentucky, said that,
besides having talks with Mr Blair, he would be meeting
the leaders of France, Russia, China and Canada over the
next few days. He would tell them that "history has called
us into action" to oust Saddam Hussein, the president of
Iraq.

He said he was looking forward to the talks, but
suggested that the US could do the job on its own if need
be.

"I am a patient man," he said. "I've got tools; we've got
tools at our disposal. We cannot let the world's worst
leaders blackmail, threaten, hold freedom-loving nations
hostage with the world's worst weapons."


5 September 2002: Bush steers clear course towards war

5 September 2002: Bush faces long wait to build up enough
forces against Baghdad

4 September 2002: Bush speeds up preparations for war on Iraq

3 September 2002: PM home to take up cudgels over Iraq

2 September 2002: Powell backs British line over Saddam

27 August 2002: Cheney call to arms against Saddam

6 August 2002: 'Heavy' invasion is best option

12 July 2002: Sophistication gives US supremacy in the air

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ATTACK ON IRAQ

• IF US & IRAQ GO TO WAR, THERE CAN ON BE ONE WINNER! MAYBE? — The Guardian, Fri Sep 6 22:29
• Part 2 - WAR GAMES... — Anonymous, Fri Sep 6 22:33
• Darren on: The attack of Iraq — Darren, Fri Sep 6 16:29
• RE: Darren on: The attack of Iraq — Darren, Fri Sep 6 22:19
• Re: Darren on: The attack of Iraq — Mike Green, Fri Sep 6 22:20