A large number of US and UK planes have taken part in an attack on a major Iraqi defence facility in the west of the country.
The operation, which targeted the main air defence command centre for western Iraq, is part of the enforcement of the air-exclusion zones over the country, allied military sources said.
There have been about 30 allied attacks against Iraqi installations this year. However, BBC defence correspondent Andrew Gilligan says Thursday’s seems to have been much larger than normal.
The raid comes as President George W Bush steps up his campaign to oust Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
He is reported to have spoken by phone on Friday with French President Jacques Chirac, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Reuters news agency reports, to persuade them that military action against Iraq is essential.
France, Russia and China are known to be sceptical of the need for military action.
The UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has told the BBC that Britain must be prepared to pay a “blood price” to secure its special relationship with the US.
And, Arab foreign ministers warned on Thursday that military action to topple Saddam Hussein would “open the gates of hell” and that no Arab countries would join it.
could this be a pre run of bigger bombing campaign to come most likely!
Well, air defense is a military target, so it does not qualify as anything near terrorism. The US has never termed the Iran/Iraq War, Kuwait or Desert Storm. Iraq is/was a very strong military force and batlle is/was enjoined. War crimes are well detailed by US policy and by your religion. That should be kept straight or you do your people great diservice!
As of until January of last year, 144 Iraqi civilians had died and 446 wounded, due to these US/UK airstrikes in what are supposed to be “safe” zones for Iraqi civilians. Some of those dead include shepherd families and their children.
144 civilians dead, in “no-fly” zones that are supposed to be “secure” - zones that were unilaterally created by the UK/US and have no UN authorization whatsoever. 13 year old Omran Jawair was one of the shepherd children killed, two years ago, by US/UK airstrikes. That’s terrorism.
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*Originally posted by TOMASSO: *
Well, air defense is a military target, so it does not qualify as anything near terrorism.
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You're right Tomasso... Killing civilians is terrorism but if america or any of your allies do it, it isn't terrorism... Back in Gulf war, millions of muslims were dead but that "does not quality as anything near terrorist" since its done by US and its allies warplanes...
Wake up from your dream world kid... its time to face the facts...
You're either too smart or too stupid to realize the facts, however I doubt you're too smart...
Iraq reported civilians were targetted when american/british warplanes targetted the "air defense"... its virtually impossible for CNN or any american media to report the civilians that were injured/dead....
Again, you’re right Tomasso, killing half a million children “does not qualify as anything near terrorism”… Why? Its done by your warplanes, you are the peace maker…
Dont forget these words are out of your Secetary of state… but then the funniest part is, you guys talk about making peace? Stop with the hypocricy already… you’re crossing the line, but again… its ok since its america… why? Look in the mirror and ask yourselve…
The death of Iraqis from sanctions would be a different catagory, altogether. This, if done, was not accompolished with bombs, but policy, made so by Mr. Hussein, himself. That is, if the 500,000 figure is correct. Medicine and food were factored in to the equation at some point, in regards to the sanction regime.
Usman, the quality of your posts improves somewhat after my own contribution. However, the ascertation that millions were killed in the Gulf War sounds a wee bit large. 1.5 Muslims were have to been killed in the 10 year Mujahadin war in Afganistan in the '80's. This was over a 10 year period of time. The coalition forces did not carpet bomb Iraq in Desert Storm and the majority of the battle occured away from cities. This claim rings of bad propaganda.
Why are innocent civilians at a major air defense site? If there were civialians there, they were under contract to the Iraqi military. Therefore, they are not innocent in their work. They have a right to defend their country, but perform a supportive role and are legitimate casualties.
What are you on tomasso are you that blind that you provide better propoganda than donald rumsfield you saying the american don’t bomb civilian areas and cities.
maybe you will only accept western media or organisation reports fine HRW: Needless Deaths in the Gulf War
The american bombed sewage plants, schools, electricity plants water treatment plants, animals, humans and anything that moved.
So save your pro imperialistic american propoganda for the average american voter because they will probably be the only ones that will buy it.
Usman, the extent to which I have tried to look at all these subjects is in excess of the general US citizen. Sec. Albright's statement was calous, at the least. There is no doubt that the Afgans have been through a very horrific experience. I have seen a young boy, whose nerves were completely shattered by his trauma. He shook uncontrolably. Was this shell schock or chemical weapons? I would guess shell schock without further proof.
I understand your position of thinking an American might think he were always right, but you have the wrong Yankee here, man! I did not even use the word Mullah, BTW. The US does not use chem or bio weapons on a field of battle like Iraq or Afganistan. Does not. It simply cannot and will not!
Ask Nadia, who has gone straight to the region to offer her assistance, what is propaganda and what is not. The Taliban were not anywhere near an ideal Islamic philosophy, even in the context of the Northern Alliance opposing them. Their crimes approach those of their fellow Muslims from the Panshir.