LA Times: Michael Smith Explains the 'Real News' in the DS Memos

[stickdog]

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-smith23jun23,0,1838831.story

Put simply, U.S. aircraft patrolling the southern no-fly zone were dropping a lot more bombs in the hope of provoking a reaction that would give the allies an excuse to carry out a full-scale bombing campaign, an air war, the first stage of the conflict.

British government figures for the number of bombs dropped on southern Iraq in 2002 show that although virtually none were used in March and April, an average of 10 tons a month were dropped between May and August. But these initial "spikes of activity" didn't have the desired effect. The Iraqis didn't retaliate. They didn't provide the excuse Bush and Blair needed. So at the end of August, the allies dramatically intensified the bombing into what was effectively the initial air war.

The number of bombs dropped on southern Iraq by allied aircraft shot up to 54.6 tons in September alone, with the increased rates continuing into 2003. In other words, Bush and Blair began their war not in March 2003, as everyone believed, but at the end of August 2002, six weeks before Congress approved military action against Iraq.

The way in which the intelligence was "fixed" to justify war is old news. The real news is the shady April 2002 deal to go to war, the cynical use of the U.N. to provide an excuse, and the secret, illegal air war without the backing of Congress.

[BrainRants]

1. I agree with his conclusion that the real story is not the word "Fixed"

"The real news is the shady April 2002 deal to go to war, the cynical use of the U.N. to provide an excuse, and the secret, illegal air war without the backing of Congress."

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. Bu$h had only been in office for one month

when he ordered his first attack on Iraq. The order from the president was required because they wanted to attack around Baghdad which was outside of the no fly zone. It seems that Bu$h was already laying the ground work for the Iraq War as soon as he took or should I say stole office.

BTW: Why would radar all the way up in Baghdad be a problem for fighter jets patrolling the no-fly zone?



February 16, 2001

<snip>

'This was different'

Quigley was asked why U.S. President George W. Bush was required to sign off on this attack when previous U.S-led strikes in Iraq occurred without presidential approval.

"This was different," Quigley said. Because the targets of the attack were north of the 33rd parallel -- out of the no-fly zone -- the president's permission was needed to launch the strike, he said.

Military planners presented their attack proposal to the president on Thursday morning, after which Bush ordered the strike, White House sources told CNN Senior White House Correspondent John King.

The more sophisticated Iraqi radar stations were increasing Iraqi chances of shooting down U.S. or British aircraft which routinely patrol airspace in the region, Pentagon officials told CNN Correspondent Jamie McIntyre.

http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/02/16/pentagon.strike/

[DeepModem Mom]

3. kick