Oceania Iraq attacked ?

Ok, I have no official source for this, but apparently there have been newsflashes announcing that the US and UK have just started bombing / attacking Iraq...

I've looked online (CNN etc) and there is nothing, but if it is breaking news, they may not be up to speed yet.

Has anyone else heard anything?


Edit: ok, I found SOMETHING on CNN about Allied attacks on Iraq on 6/9, but nothing more recent.

A communication problem, maybe?

 

Okay, it might be old news - I found this on CNN - but maybe not. Who knows.


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Coalition aircraft attacked targets on an Iraqi air base Thursday southwest of Baghdad, the U.S. Central Command said.

The coalition response came after Iraqi forces fired anti-aircraft artillery at coalition jets patrolling the southern no-fly zone of that country, a Pentagon official said.

The official said that in two different strikes, 12 coalition aircraft -- four U.S. Air Force F-15s, four British fighter jets and four U.S. Navy F-18s from the USS George Washington -- were used to drop more than 20 precision-guided bombs on a military airfield known as Rutvah, about 240 miles west of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad

 

Great

Damn the labour parliament

 

10 years too late

 

I can imagine this country being a lot of fun because there been lots of polls if people agree with attacking them, the public didn't want this to happen.

Tony Blair better start to worry about being voted in again next time coz the people aren't going to be happy.

 

This just sounds like one of those periodic engagements that is the inevitable product of a no-fly zone.

No major offensives will begin without considerable prior warning. While Blair maybe of the wrong diplomatic persuasion he is not fundamentally stupid.

 

The talks about it are "suppose" to be happening this weekend

 

This is nothing special, as Sai Mea Saa pointed out.

They attack them all the time, we just dont hear about each little offensive every time.

 

It was just a one off hit. Earlier in the week the Iraqis were being vocal about shooting at some US planes, this strike took out that base, by the sounds of it at least.

This sort of thing does happen fairly often over there. I think that this one has made people take notice because of the fact the UK were part of it.

But more than likely they're being pro-active in the lead up to September 11 and a day after the Kasir assination attempt.

 

Blair wants us to be involved just so we can have a good relationship with the Americans.

 

My dad was in the Gulf War last time, missed my bday

 

Hi.

I live in New York City.

I find it disturbing that all of you have been more informed on this than we have.

 

It's on CNN, Crwn. It's not exactly a secret.

Actually, just heard that Bush plans to address the UN about his intentions in Iraq on Sep 12.


PALPATINE : I feel confident ... our "situation" will create a strong sympaphy vote for us...

 

Forget religion, terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, etc....

this is all about economics........

 

Thank you, Karl Marx

 

actually I'm a member of a liberal club, so I'm not left wing I just have a knack to search for the logic behind it all........

 

LOL! What did America gain economically from invading Iraq 10 years ago? By putting restrictions on their Oil exporting, that actually put the price up on it.

Those big bad Yankies.

 

I'm not going to debate - but the fact is that america is very influenced by the chicago school style of economic rationalism, and since america is limited in it's future economic growth, it needs to find other ways to sustain itself and keep it's world share of gdp.

 

Translation:

I can't think of anything to counter that very simple (and correct) rebuttle.

 

I'm a member of a liberal club, so I'm not left wing I just have a knack to search for the logic behind it all

Yet, not long ago you said this:

Australia needs to see where it's priorities lie, and have a left-wing socialist society for everyone to enjoy

Well, comrade, it seems you do have a knack..... for hypocrisy

 

I think, that while some Americans motivation may be oil (see Carter Doctrine) I think that bringing justice to Saddam should be the real reason behind attacking Saddam.

And I really beleive that we should go to war in a collective attack. Bush would be a fool to attackwithout at least endorsement from other members of the International Community, especially Europe, on this. Plus, if it is a global effort, it would look far more legitimate than unilateral action, which would probably only serve to alienate the IC.

Anyway the reason we should go to war is simple: Saddam is a dangerous man and can't be trusted with chemical, biological and (God forbid) nuclear weapons. The sooner he is removed, the sooner that Iraq's neighbours and all civilised nations can sleep in peace.

And you want proof that Ira has these weapons? It is hardly a secret. Just ask the Kurdish people in north Iraq, who are the victims of Saddam's genocidal megalomania. And another thing: I saw a repor by a journolist who had a tour of a chemical plant in iraq. he asked some of the workers what they produced there, and most of them answered 'chemical weapons' apparently.

Carter Doctrine: A policy by US President Jimmy Carter which says that the US would protect its foreign oil interests at all costs.

 

Doesn't anybody find it a bit disconcerting that Iraq is being attacked in the first place? What we are seeing is an offensive move by the US, it is premeditated, yet has very little in the way of justification. So far all we have been given by the US as reasoning is that Saddam is a Bad man!!!
Seriously, can't we think of better things to do than waste our time and resources on Iraq? The US has tried for over 10 years to get rid of Saddam... and failed. What makes this attempt any different? Rather than war, we should simply try to get along with Saddam (sounds crazy, but it's working with Castro in Cuba). The more media attention this gets, the more likely Saddam is to attack. This is supposed to be a *cough* War on Terror. The rhetoric we are hearing is that "terror" needs to be stamped out. Like the terrorising of Iraqi citizens with war planes?

Terrorism by definition is "the use of force to oust a government". America needs to look at its political tactics before continuing on the path of its current propaganda. It's just not worth the loss of life.

*Edit: for a Marxist viewpoint (and good argumentative measure), the war on Saddam will have VERY careful economic planning such that the US doesn't get burnt by it... just a thought

 

It's a sign

 

Yeah, a sign that America hasn't changed their thinking in 10 years. This is nothing new, the US and Iraq have thrown punches at each other since the Gulf War. When the US clears every single anti-air emplacement this side of Baghdad and starts landing double the amount of troops there, THEN something significant is actually happening.

 

"The more media attention this gets, the more likely Saddam is to attack."

You mean this time around? Why did he launch any other offensives over the last 20+ years? He gets media attention for a reason, he's a dangerous person.

"Terrorism by definition is "the use of force to oust a government". America needs to look at its political tactics before continuing on the path of its current propaganda. It's just not worth the loss of life."

I'll set aside your definition of terrorism for now, but why are you so worried about America getting involved that will cost lives when if they stay out of it Hussien will continue to be a threat to not only everyone around Iraq but his own population as well.

Anyway, Castro isn't a worry these days because he hasn't got the resources. Even the Cuban Missile Crises wouldn't have been an incident if the Soviets didn't contribute their missiles. Coincidently, the Russians are against striking on Iraq. It's also little wonder that Iraq is armed with SCUD missiles, MIG jets and AK47 rifles to name a few things, all of which are Russian originals. Surely they haven't contributed anything else to Iraq's cause.

Oh, and Hawk's right. There wasn't too much to this incident last night at all.