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Iraq
U.S. intelligence: Iraq moves Scud launchers
2003-02-11
Sammy, just a-waitin' for us...U.S. intelligence sources tell CNN that they have detected recent Iraqi military moves that include placement of Scud missile launch equipment next to mosques and the shipment of explosives into southern Iraq, possible intended for oil fields.
Gee, I didn't think they were supposed to have any Scuds?
U.S. intelligence tells CNN:

• Iraq has moved equipment used for launching Scud missiles next to mosques and historic sites. The move by the Iraqis is viewed as an effort to preserve their launchers from U.S. attack, and is another indicator that Iraq still has Scud missiles. The officials decline to specify the locations of the launch equipment, citing extreme sensitivity, but say the equipment would be a prime target for a U.S. attack.
You put them next to a historic site and you lose protection for that site.
• Large amounts of conventional explosives have been shipped into southern Iraq. Intelligence reports indicate that it's being positioned possibly for detonation of Iraqi oil fields, although officials say they cannot confirm that this is Iraq's intent. When asked to describe the amount of explosives involved, one official quantifies it as "railroad cars" full of material.
Hope we've got a plan for this.
• There are now two layers of Republican Guard defenses around the Baghdad area. One has been publicly discussed: a Republican Guard unit in place around the outskirts of the city. But U.S. officials are now confirming there is a second layer of Republican Guard defenses "some kilometers" outside the city. That deployment has not been widely acknowledged. It includes new bunkers protecting Iraq military equipment and new firing positions.
Fixed positions are nothing but stationary targets.
• Military aircraft are now defensively dispersed, no longer parked near each other on runways.
Doesn't matter. Any Iraqi pilot who goes wheels up will have to fly his way through a cloud of Air Force and Navy pilots fighting to see who gets the most promotion points, er, kills.
• Syria is withdrawing students of Iraqi military academies in advance of any U.S. action. U.S. officials say they believe this will be demoralizing to the Iraqi military.
Syria sends students to Iraqi military academies? What, they couldn't get any seats for the class on White Flag 101 at the French military academy?
Posted by:Steve

#8  Scud missile next to mosques? Sounds like a job for HPM TLAMs!
Posted by: -----------<<<<-   2003-02-12 07:24:13  

#7  I've been amused that the inpsectors haven't bothered to inspect the forward deployed tactical units for chem/bio weapons. Hasn't is occurred to any of those dim career UN bureaucrats that the field would be the logical place for WMD at this point in the game? Once the war has started, I'm sure that the UN types can find jobs in the DEA or INS or any one of many other US agencies that do anything but their assigned mission. Their qualifications would be perfect.
Posted by: 11A5S   2003-02-11 22:31:23  

#6  Correct Paul, God Forbid though that a cruise missile causes two teaspoons of oil to reach the gulf....the paroxysms of outrage will dwarf the UNSC/US/Fermany debate. It's about the OOOiiillll
Posted by: Frank G   2003-02-11 16:58:53  

#5  Yeah, Dishman. The reason is they might actually find something and force the UN to DO SOMETHING!!!
And we can't have the UN being forced into actually supporting us crazy imperialist oil-hungry war mongering infidel yankee dog cowboy bastards. God forbid, Kofi Anan should actually have to take a position on something. It might screw up his dinner plans.
Posted by: tu3031   2003-02-11 16:25:18  

#4  In regards to the "fixed positions" inside the cities. I saw a document on the White House site that had pictures of some of these positions. That one, at least, is built next to a school.
Posted by: Robert Crawford   2003-02-11 16:05:08  

#3  I must've missed the reason that weapons inspectors never head for these sites. They don't head for the sites the Kurds say have chemwar, either.

Did I miss the reason for this?
Posted by: Dishman   2003-02-11 15:38:48  

#2  Anyone want to give odds on how many of those launchers will still exist on March 1? What a dope!
Posted by: Tom   2003-02-11 15:16:53  

#1  Screw the mosques and the holy sites. It's not as if Sammy actually gives a crap about any of that - as the dead-in-a-mosque ex-citizens of Al Basrah could tell you, if they weren't, well, dead.

They put a weapon on or around it, it ain't a mosque anymore, it's a freakin' target.
Posted by: mojo   2003-02-11 15:09:30  

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