by Simon 20 Replies latest social current
Well Simon, I find it kind of weird that you bring this up, since I know you see the same video that I do, of Iraqis driving about, relatively unafraid in the city of baghdad, because they have built up a certain level of confidence in the accuracy of the bombs.
So let's be honest, the accuracy of the bombs is, from any reasonable standpoint, amazing. Do they fail sometimes? Yes.
At least our stuff is more accurate with regards to avoiding civilian targets than Saddams chemical shells and his supported Palestinean suicide bombers. Unlike him, we don't try to maximise civilian casulties.
And his propaganda "information" minister has the balls to call us war criminals !
Apparently, the British are now firing heavy artilliary into the town of Basra. So much for the surgical strikes (unless artilliary shells now have GPS on them)
Sadly, That's what fake surrenders and dressing up as civilians will get you. As far as the missles though, barring malfunction which will always happen on occasion they are accurate enough to virtually choose what window of a building to enter. Pretty crazy stuff.
-Rick
I'm not a big fan of war myself .I agree with simon that the surgical bombing terminology was more propaganda to gain public support and comfort the faint of heart.I have watched some video of the gulf war that they used the laser guided stuff with cameras installed so you watch up to the point of impact . They try to be as convicing as possible that these things are almost fail safe .I guess we will find out the casualty rate after they are done. war is hell
The reason that the British forces are firing heavy artillery into Basra is because of the nascent uprising by the populace against Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi military are firing mortar bombs upon their own people. The British are firing radar guided artillery (extremely accurate) and taking out the Iraqi mortars. Who are the war criminals here, d'ya think?
Expatbrit
Good show I seen the other night about the Patriot missiles on the 1991 Gulf war. Seems that there was an exaggeration to how accurate they were. They gave Israel some of them to shot down the scuds. The claim was that out of 33 scuds fired at them 33 scuds taken down by the Patriot. Later studies showed that the Patriots didn't make one hit 0%... One Israeli official told old man Bush about how inaccurate they were but 2 weeks later Bush was up in front of the Patriot assembly plant saying that it was 100 % accurate. Not many people know this fact as it was kept quiet.
Will
I recall seeing somewhere that at some point, a patriot missile fired (maybe there was a british plane nearby or an F16?) and this then triggered others firing. An impressive barrage of missiles went up which protected them from some poor seagul or whatever that was overhead. No scud but it made good headlines.
Looks like our boys have actually found themselves a battle at last. They are engaging over 1000 Iraqi soldiers in Basra, anything under an oppostion number of 400 is rated as a skirmish.
They're on their own at present whilst the US push towards Baghdad.
Englishman.
Here's one of our Desert Rats having to deal with a common situation. Iraqi soldiers pretending to be civilians.
Englishman.
Pentagon looking seriously at report that seven U.S. soldiers in an ambushed convoy were killed by Iraqis on Sunday as they got out of their trucks with their hands up, surrendering, sources told CNN. Details to come.
More bad news......
I do hate the Iraqi government, but the above is the precise reason I don't want our boys over there. My childhood best friend is there, and if he dies.......
ash
