Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : The Bomb Saddam Contest -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: GROUND ZERO™ who wrote (191)	2/20/2003 11:48:51 PM
From: J.T.	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 261

Talk of push back to March 14 is the cobra working its magic to mesmerize the snake in sadaam. Let's Roll March 2nd or 3rd: dailyrecord.co.uk YANKS READY NEXT WEEK WEEKS Feb 21 2003 Bush piles on pressure Ian Smith AMERICA last night stepped up pressure on the UN to back a March attack on Iraq. It came as the Pentagon confirmed US forces would be in place and ready to begin a new Gulf War in just seven days. But diplomatic efforts will continue - and Iraq will be given another two weeks to comply with UN weapons inspectors or face a full scale assault. Britain and America confirmed they will present a new resolution to the UN Security Council early next week seeking authorisation for military action. They will not push for a vote on the resolution until after February 28, when chief weapons inspector Hans Blix makes his next report. If, as expected, Blix reports that Saddam is still failing to fully co-operate with inspections, Britain and America will demand the new resolution be passed, giving the green light to war. President Bush will have the resources in place to begin an attack that date. US forces, comprising 150,000 troops, will be at full strength when the USS Kitty Hawk steams into the Gulf next week. The five carrier battle groups, plus two British submarines in the area, will give the coalition more than 30 ships capable of firing hundreds of Tomahawk cruise missiles into the heart of Iraq. Last night, it became clear that Britain and America would not be willing to delay a vote until March 14, the date proposed by France for another Blix report. Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Bush agreed the strategy in a lengthy telephone call late on Wednesday night. Their draft resolution is expected to be simple and say Iraq is in "further material breach" of UN Security Council resolution 1441, paving the way to war. Diplomats have not yet ruled out including an ultimatum, setting a final deadline for Saddam to give up any weapons of mass destruction. The strength of the wording will depend on the support Britain and the US believe they have in the 15- member Security Council. At the moment, the Security Council remains bitterly divided, with France, Russia and China demanding more time for the UN weapons inspectors. But last night, Bush made it clear he believed military action was close at hand. He said: "The day of freedom is drawing near. "If war is forced upon us, we will liberate the people of Iraq from a cruel and violent dictator. "If military force becomes necessary, this nation, joined by others, will act decisively in a just cause and we will prevail. "America and our allies are called on once again to defend the peace against the aggressive tyrant - and we accept the responsibility." In a speech to the Royal Institute for International Affairs today, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw will demand the Security Council stand by their commitment to disarm Saddam. He said: "If co-operation is denied, the UN Security Council has already decreed that force must be used." UN officials in Iraq gave the first signs yesterday that Saddam had failed to meet commitments he gave earlier this week to co- operate with inspections. One said: "They are feeling, `The world opinion is with us. We can resist further pressure. We have time. We can play with the US and UK'. "This is very dangerous. We have not seen any positive moves on the part of Iraq." But Russian foreign minister Igor Ivanov complained that weapons inspectors were coming under pressure to declare Iraq had breached the resolution. 1. AIR FORCE The RAF will have 100 fixed-wing aircraft and 27 support helicopters backed by 7000 personnel flying from bases in Kuwait, Cyprus and possibly Turkey. 2. THE GULF The Naval Task Force 2003 includes 4000 servicemen on 18 vessels, including two submarines. HMS Ocean will be used for marine landings. 3. JORDAN The SAS is likely to be deployed in the western desert. They will take out troublesome Iraqi sites including airports. 4. KUWAIT 4000 Royal Marine Commandos are expected to spearhead an amphibious attack on Basra. The 7th Armoured Brigade - the Desert Rats - will secure the city while others will follow up the US attack on Baghdad. US STRENGTH The number of US forces in the area is 150,000 with 70,000 ground forces in Kuwait. The total also includes five aircraft carriers, such as the Kitty Hawk, right, with around 5000 personnel and 75 warplanes. 50,000 army personnel will be assigned to special mission such as seizing airfields while 20,000 marines will lead the attack from the south. UK FORCES GATHERING FOR WAR ARMY IN GULF 8000 troops En route 18000 RAF IN GULF 2000 (37 aircraft) Enroute 6000 (90 aircraft) ROYAL NAVY 8000 (30 ships) Enroute None Operation Telic is the codename for deployment of UK forces in the Gulf. Comprising all three branches of the military, it involves 42,000 service men and women.