U.S. Air Strike in the Middle East imminent?

[Zhade]

From Scottish CND, 03.11.2003 23:47

Since Saturday, people in the Highlands of Scotland have been witnessing large movements of US warplanes overhead. Experienced observers say the large numbers are reminiscent of those that preceded the bombing of Iraq in 1998 and military strikes on Libyai in the 1980’s as well as the first Gulf War.

At the weekend warplanes were flying over at a rate of roughly one every 15 minutes. As well as watching them from the ground the plane spotters have also been able to overhear pilots talking by listening to their radio frequencies.

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/scotland/2003/11/279864.html

[Algorem]

1. Oh no don't tell anyone or the people Bush is about to slaughter might

hear about it and have rocks and arrows and spears ready to throw up at our bomber jets.

[GCP]

2. I read the article - very short

I wonder if anybody was able to quote what the pilots had been saying to each other.

[truthisfreedom]

3. weird.

[Algorem]

4. "Publicising this military movement may prevent the air strikes":I wonder

if that's true.Seems worth try.Or let them start on the next nation on their list.Syria?

[IndianaGreen]

5. Could this LBN be related?: "U.S. warning on Iran nuke stance"

U.S. warning on Iran nuke stance
From CNN State Department Producer Elise Labott
Monday, November 3, 2003 Posted: 2340 GMT ( 7:40 AM HKT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. State Department says any decision by Iran to end cooperation on its nuclear program would be "gravely troubling" .

The comment follows remarks made by Iran's religious leader threatening that excessive demands by the international community could prompt Tehran to end its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

As a party to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, Iran "has an obligation to cooperate fully with the IAEA to ensure verification of compliance with Iran's safeguards agreement," State Department deputy spokesman J. Adam Ereli said Monday, adding that Iran must also meet additional requirements put forth by the IAEA in a September 12 resolution.

http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/11/03/iran.nuclear/index.html

[Zhade]

6. Don't know...need some confirmation on my initial posting.

We'll see what we learn in the next 24 hours...

[DUreader]

12. Could be related to another Election Theft if it starts today/tommorrow

Get everyone's eyes off the vote count

[hang a left]

13. WHoa your good. I hadn't even thought of that one.

And I don foil for everything.

[DUreader]

18. LOL, I don't know about 'good' , cynical and paranoid maybe

[hang a left]

7. Does this tie in with the "secret weapon" LBN topic?

Just remember folks, they started their movements on Saturday. The downing of the Chinook was Sunday.

[JM]

8. My gut call is...

we are sending a message. The immediate threat is one of retaliation by Syria for the strikes Israel made a few weeks ago. Not so much Iran. Keep in mind the talks in the ME went underground but are starting to show results.

Several things may be happening. By the Israelis and Palestinians holding talks underground, the militant factions have little to no info, thus reducing their ability to derail the process. Second, the attack on Syria highlighted Syria's involvement in derailing the process, even if it was tacit approval as simple as turning the other way regarding training camps. Now they have been put on notice publicly. By visibly increasing training, we can send amessage if they try to derail the process using their military, our planes are but a few hours off.

If my guess is correct, this may be the first correct move on the part of our government. Stay the hell out. Stay invisible. Send a message we are prepared. Better than parking two carriers off the coast.

The other possibility is we have a line on the Taliban leadership and OBL. Getting ready to hit them before the primaries?

Later,
JM

[Turley]

9. Could be a rotation

The only thing they'd launch tactically from up there is Stealth Bombers which are much more likely to be launched from Diego.

Also, it's not likely any civilians could listen to comms from warplanes since they are highly secure. They may be hearing chatter from ground-crews though.

[IndianaGreen]

10. On reporting "troop movements"

What if those had been German troops poised on the Polish border in 1939?

What moral choices do we have if we see a thug getting ready to attack someone that is defenseless? What moral choices do we have when we come across stories about "troop movements"?

What about troops being send to invade Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil (if you have been keeping with the news from that part of the world you will know what I mean), Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Philippines, etc., etc.

The question is, at what point in time do we become accomplices to imperialist aggression?

[truthisfreedom]

11. right about now

i suppose.

[frustrated_lefty]

14. In headlines at

Debka.com now....

[TNOE]

15. There are some good reads from posters

at this site re this article. Its good to get this out in the open just in case... one never knows anymore.


http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2003/11/274322.shtml

EDITED TO ADD: Gearing up the DRAFT boards is telling in my mind too.

[Minstrel Boy]

17. One factual error I see on that sight:

"These insane U.S. terrorists MUST BE STOPPED, before they trigger WWIII!"

Whoops - too late.

[TNOE]

16. Kicking

n/t