| Submit your comments on this article |
| Axis of Evil |
| Modern airport pops up in Iraqi Kurdistan for no apparent reason |
| 2003-01-29 |
| HARIR, Iraq (AP) - In a fertile plain in Kurdish northern Iraq, a black, paved air strip runs between a patchwork of fields dotted by dozens of new, white tents. The bustle at this remote airfield - controlled by people without any planes - has convinced many residents that U.S. forces are preparing to use it for a war against Saddam Hussein. Once again we see a reporter not doing his homework. Everyone knows that the Kurdish air force has been operating out there in a variety of aircraft, including F-15E's, F-16's, and AC-130's. At the Pentagon on Wednesday, Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was asked whether U.S. ground forces had entered Kurdish areas of northern Iraq. Myers said he did not want to discuss the disposition of U.S. forces, but then added, "There are not significant numbers of military forces in northern Iraq right now." You Over the past weeks, residents here have reported a sudden increase of movements, such as late-night convoys of trucks and Humvees, a vehicle preferred by the U.S. military. Humvees are also preferred by the Kurdish army; they've been buying them by the hundreds over the last coupla years. Officials of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, which runs the northwestern section of the autonomous Kurdish zone, denied knowledge of any U.S. military presence and say the Harir airstrip might be used for humanitarian flights. The Kurdish air force is planning a major humanitarian effort. Sources private to Rantburg's Chicago intel apparatus report that the Kurds will have a variety of C-130's and C-5's involved flying in wheat from Abdul Vahid Kheder, a local official of the Kurdish Democratic Party, said reports of new activity were overblown. "It's an international roadway," he said. "Trucks are free to come from Iran, Syria, Turkey. It's no big deal." "Hell, it's a giant truck stop. We got truckers from Louisana, North Carolina, Georgia, even sum from Nevada. Wanna hear my CB? "Everyone is waiting for the Americans to come," says Abdul Samad Ismail, a customer at the Shirwan restaurant in Harir. "We know they're coming." "And they better bring their wallets, 'cause we got extra slot machines just arrived from the Ho Chunk casino!" The reopening of the air base at Harir - less than 100 miles from the Iranian border - and other signs of military activity in the Kurdish region have already caused concern in Iran, whose state-controlled Arabic-language satellite television reports such operations with alarm. Iran, which President Bush designated a member of an "axis of evil," fears its territory could become the target of an American military assault following a possible attack on Iraq. "Nonsense," replied Abdul Samad Ismail. "We got a big order for Barbie dolls and some Levis 501 jeans that are being brought by |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 "What are all those Americans doing here with their M-16s?" "It's rabbit season . . . er, duck season." |
| Posted by: Mike 2003-01-30 05:39:04 |