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May 7th: I don't know if Saddam is dead, but three weeks wasn't too
bad. The battle plan went well, faster than Gulf War I. The Navy lost 3
aircraft, an S-3B, an F/A-18C and an F-14.
March 6th: Within 3 weeks Saddam will be dead. Six US carrier
battlegroups are gathering in the region: In the Med: Truman and TR, In the
Gulf: Lincoln, Constellation, Kitty Hawk with Nimitz due within the week, Arc
Royal from Britain. Covering the Pacific is Vinson
February 24th: Countdown to War It is almost certain that Gulf War II will commence
before March is finished. The new moon, with the allied advantage in night
fighting is March 3rd. This is probably too early for an attack, but you never
know, the next new moon is April 1st. While this may not be a consideration with
the current state of Iraqi armed forces, why give them any chance to inflict
casualties? February 4th: Will Saddam Shoot First? If Saddam does not go into exile and realizes that the
US will attack, will he decide to cause as many casualties as possible? If he
catches the allied forces in their concentration areas with the WMD he
supposedly hasn't got he may just as well let everything he has go. Fire off all
the missiles and bio weapons causing as many casualties as he can, hoping that
it may be enough to save his bacon. If he is that crazy will the US be able to
detect any movement of his forces that will accomplish this? Probably. But you
never know, one throw of the dice and he may go for it.
December 29th: The Carriers Gather. GW will set sail for the Gulf
again after only just completing it's most recent deployment to the region on
December 21st. Joining her will probably be the Lincoln, currently in Perth or
the Kitty Hawk in Japan.
December 10th: CVN-77: George H W Bush.
June 3rd: The F/A-18E will deploy aboard Lincoln this month to SW
Asia. This will be the first operational deployment of the aircraft and is
expected to be sent immediately into combat.
June 3rd: 13 sailors aboard Nimitz were arrested last week for drug abuse.
March 3rd: An F-14 Tomcat fighter jet from the carrier John F. Kennedy
crashed into the Mediterranean Sea 50 miles south of Crete on Saturday, killing
its pilot and injuring its radar intercept officer. Both had ejected before it
hit the water.
The pilot was Lt. Cmdr. Christopher M. Blaschum, 33, of Virginia Beach Va.
was assigned to VF-143.
January 31st: With the State of the Union address Bush declares
"Let's Roll". And so the the U.S. will continue the war on terror even
without allies. As it should. No country or those it harbours should be immune
from retribution should it consider any action against the U.S.
October 30th: Lockheed won the $200 Bill. contract to build the Joint
Strike Fighter, now known as the F-35. This includes 609 aircraft for the
Marines, 480 for the U.S. Navy and 60 for the U.K. Navy. The first deliveries
are due in 2005. The Boeing X-32 was the rival in the contract. The Enterprise
has entered the Med and is due home at Norfolk in mid-November.
October 18th: OBL: Dead Man Walking The war rolls on, ever heavier raids are now also being
targeted on the Taliban forces. TR has apparently appeared on the line and Kitty
Hawk has been outfitted with special forces. The Nimitz has transited to it's
new homeport at Sandig with a reserve air wing (20) aboard.
For more news go to NewsBytes 2001
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