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| Axis of Evil |
| Iraq prepares missiles, aircraft, near Soddy border... |
| 2002-11-20 |
| Iraq has prepared medium-range missiles and aircraft in underground shelters near the Saudi border in what could mark preparations to launch a strike against Israel. U.S. intelligence sources said Iraq has moved several dozen military aircraft to the southwest near the Saudi border. They include the French-built Mirage F-1 fighter-jets and the Czech-origin L-29 light combat aircraft. The Iraqis have deployed the aircraft in underground shelters over a large area in the desert near Jal Al Batan, the sources said. They said several of the L-29s have been converted into unmanned air vehicles that could deliver weapons of mass destruction. I don't imagine the Israelis will let any of them get through — if called upon to do so. The U.S. and Brits should be well able to take care of them before it's necessary for the IDF to scramble. The sources said the Iraqis began moving their aircraft at the end of October. The newly-deployed military assets could be used against U.S. targets in the Gulf and Israel, they said. I'd guess that the area's getting a lot of satellite time right now, so somebody probably noticed and the facilities are just another database entry — something like "TARGET: 125A PRIORITY: HIGH ASSIGNED TO..." |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #3 I dont want to be a complete skeptic here,but isnt the saudi border well within the southern 'no fly zone'? How do you move aircraft next to the border if you can fly in that area? I thought the Iraqi Air Froce flew east to Iran, during the last big dust up? I can see them getting ahold of l-29 on the open market, but where did they come up with Mirage F-1's |
| Posted by: Frank Martin 2002-11-21 10:41:55 |
| #2 Jack, this would fall under a different area of intel. Their AF has little to do with hunting guerillas incountry, they keep a eye on exterior threats. I have read that Isreali special ops have been all over western Iraq hunting Scud sites and other targets. I'm sure that we share satellite photos as well. Hard to hide a airstrip and those underground shelters didn't help them in the last war. I expect the F-117s and B-2s will take these fixed positions out in the first minutes of the war. The IDF AF will handle anything that heads their way over Jordan. |
| Posted by: Steve 2002-11-21 07:45:20 |
| #1 I am suspicious of Israel's counter-intel and pre-emptive guerilla abilities these days. They are tied up all over - Gaza, West Bank, the coast, border areas up north - plus they can't seem to control the Paleos that well. I think it is asking a lot that we rely on them to somehow keep the scuds at bay. |
| Posted by: Jack 2002-11-21 05:44:04 |