The major air attack begins.

Anarchist Bunny · Post by **Anarchist Bunny** » 2003-03-20 01:03pm

*is watching TV* At about 9:30 PM Iraqi time anti-air craft has filled the sky, the US says that this is the begining on the unparalleled air strike against Iraq, on the TV they are having live footage of the anti-aircraft fire. Its really creepy.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2003-03-20 01:05pm

And they are reporting that the ground element is on the move.

Crazy_Vasey · Post by **Crazy_Vasey** » 2003-03-20 01:06pm

Well, here it goes. Lets hope it's quick and easy with as few casualties as possible.

Unfortunately I seriously think Saddam has something nasty up his sleeve. The newspaper reports about the utter lack of preparation and fortification in Baghdad just give me a bad feeling.

Anarchist Bunny · Post by **Anarchist Bunny** » 2003-03-20 01:06pm

"Shock and Awe" is the name, from what I heard power to the city hasn't been taken out, two buildings in downtown have been destroyed and the lights in Bagdad have not been turned off.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-03-20 01:07pm

I don't know. Only three places are burning in Baghdad and the air defenses are now silent.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2003-03-20 01:08pm

Skynews is reporting that a cruise missile has hit on or close too, the Ministry of Information along with other targets in Bahgdad.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-03-20 01:12pm

Never mind, the gunfire has started up again it seems. If the reports of ground forces moving are true, then this likely is the first wave of the main attack.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-03-20 03:53pm

I've been listening to the news, and embedded reporters are saying that they've seen no 'shock and awe', but of course their information is subject to censorship.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-03-20 04:08pm

HemlockGrey wrote:I've been listening to the news, and embedded reporters are saying that they've seen no 'shock and awe', but of course their information is subject to censorship.

Not really. Anyway, there's no reason in hell to conceal such attacks. And they couldn't be anyway, since the main target would be Baghdad and the republican guard around it.

Cpt_Frank · Post by **Cpt_Frank** » 2003-03-20 04:09pm

Already over, no large-scale bombardments.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-03-20 04:56pm

Shrubby's silly named Shock and Awe tactic seems very unshocking and aweless.

When they storm into and take Iraq in 9 days like Germany did to Poland THEN they'll have achieved shock and awe and a true Blitzkrieg will have been conducted.

Until then, until this war rivals Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland there, will be no "Shock and Awe".

Warspite · Post by **Warspite** » 2003-03-20 05:04pm

The militaries are saying today's attacks are preparatory, maybe the "Shock & Awe" is still to come, then again, it may all be psychological warfare.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-03-20 05:09pm

Heard unconfirmed reports that something like 20% of the Republican Guard is willing to throw down their arms and surrender to the US, and a lot of speculation from retired generals and reporters and anchors, all agreeing that 'shock and awe' has not yet commenced.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-03-20 05:09pm

they are testing the defenses. CNN is reporting that the Iraqi armed forces seem to be in disarray (more so than usual). the thinking behind this is hit them lightly a few times and see, if indeed saddam is dead, if they might give in.

Straha · Post by **Straha** » 2003-03-20 06:59pm

I personally think what the U.S. is doing is psychological warfare, shouting about shock and awe and how millions of tons of explosives are going to be dropped, and then dropping a few bombs here and there to see how high the Iraqis jump, and to make them even more afraid.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2003-03-20 07:27pm

Straha wrote:I personally think what the U.S. is doing is psychological warfare, shouting about shock and awe and how millions of tons of explosives are going to be dropped, and then dropping a few bombs here and there to see how high the Iraqis jump, and to make them even more afraid.

The US, of course, can really achieve "shock and awe" if it wanted to, but I think they're trying to not have to go that far to avoid civillian casualties.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-03-20 08:45pm

HemlockGrey wrote:Heard unconfirmed reports that something like 20% of the Republican Guard is willing to throw down their arms and surrender to the US, and a lot of speculation from retired generals and reporters and anchors, all agreeing that 'shock and awe' has not yet commenced.

Pitiful that they need to say or agree on anything to determine that. As the US government has repeatedly stated that it hasn't yet started. But then that doesnt fill time very well.

Enlightenment · Post by **Enlightenment** » 2003-03-20 10:11pm

Remember that Rumpsfelt originally wanted to invade Iraq with 50,000 troops? What we're seeing now might be a test case to see how well 'transformationa' tactics work in the general case. Specifically, the US could be probing to determine how well Afghanistan-style microforce invasions work in the general case. If and only if the microinvasion fails will the conventional ("shock and awe") invasion be brought out to finish the job.