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It's hammer time...

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Sax

02:23 / 20.03.03

Already discussed on the late shift: the ninth gate thread, but, to quote the lovely Nena, "this is what we've waited for, this is it, boys, this is war".

2.45am GMT the bombers went into Baghdad.

More from the Barbelith newsroom as we get it.

Saint Keggers

02:52 / 20.03.03

You know, when I heard that guy on TV (Im presumming he was from the millitary as I was just listenning from the other room)say "Its hammer time!" I immeadiatly pictured Saddam in parachute pants singing "You cant touch this!
I dont like war but i hope the first few shots got him if for no other reason than to spare the innocents from the effects of a long war.

Baz Auckland

03:02 / 20.03.03

Especially the reports yesterday of thousands of soldiers surrendering... it looks like they turned out to be "14" or "17", but it would be the best I guess..

...but of course there's the evil side that secretly wants at least Ari Fleisher to bite it, if not more govt. figures... bad thoughts I know, but God....

telyn

03:11 / 20.03.03

Saddam in parachute pants. Now that really is a mental image to treasure.

It seems odd to me that after making a real effort to involve Blair in the war, get his support, that Bush is prepared to act without consulting him first. The time of the airstrike was moved forward, and Blair was informed after the decision had been made, and with only a few hours to go (here). I suppose it's not really surpising, since the Americans were preparing to go it alone anyway, but this first opening strike is the first real gesture of war. To me it just seems wrong not to closely involve your allies in something so important.

Baz Auckland

03:11 / 20.03.03

CNN says they launched 40 cruise missles to, among other things, get Saddam right off the bat.

They won't say if they got him or not... I think of course the answer is 'who can tell?' but maybe their surveillance is better than I think.

telyn

03:14 / 20.03.03

It's when you hear that the American and British air forces were flyering Southern Iraq with leaflets detailing how to surrender that the "thousands deserting" headlines begin to look really sketchy.

Baz Auckland

03:21 / 20.03.03

Terry Jones had a good column in The Observer this Sunday saying Blair got taken for a sucker by the USA.

"But I bet Tony feels terribly slighted - after all he's gone through to prove his devotion to the ideals of extremist Republican militarism. He's practically split his party, put his own leadership in jeopardy and made himself look thoroughly ill in the process. And what has he got out of it? A few pats on the back and nice Christmas card from the White House, I expect"

Baz Auckland

03:52 / 20.03.03

More Strikes in Bagdhad

Several new explosions were heard on the outskirts of Baghdad on Thursday, minutes after air raid sirens sounded in the Iraqi capital, Reuters correspondents in the city reported.

They said the blasts followed the resumption of air raid warnings 11 minutes after an earlier all-clear signal.

An Iraqi official told Reuters that the first wave of U.S. attacks had targeted "military positions and facilities." He declined to give any further information.

A first wave of explosions rocked Baghdad at dawn and sporadic blasts continued to be heard in the outskirts of the city over the next 100 minutes.

Bill Posters

03:53 / 20.03.03

And friendly fire incidents, Gulf War Syndrome (new and improved?), an increased risk of terror attax on the home front etc etc.

Baz Auckland

03:55 / 20.03.03

Saddam was just on TV, so he's still there.... unless it was taped.

President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) accused the United States of commiting a "shameful crime" by attacking Iraq (news - web sites), urging his people in a nationally televised address Thursday to "go draw your sword" against the enemy.

About two hours after U.S. cruise missiles hit targets in and around Baghdad, Saddam appeared on television, wearing a military uniform and vowing that "Iraq will be victorious" against the U.S.-led campaign.

in an alternate reality, that image would be kind of pretty.

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

05:27 / 20.03.03

Saddam mentioned on TV the actual time of the attack- meaning it must have been recorded afterwards. Course, it could be one of his legendary "doubles".

So... is everyone making their way to their town centres this evening?

Baz Auckland

06:06 / 20.03.03

Yep. I was talking to a friend in class who said 'don't worry about it, you can't do anything'. To which my response was 'but if I go shout at the American Embassy I'll at least feel better.'

Sorry. It's 3:04am and I may be a little incoherent.

China is calling for an immediate end to the war, and Iraq has made a formal complaint to the UN

Baz Auckland

06:11 / 20.03.03

A Suitable Quote from a Californian Editorial

"If the war goes badly -- and I certainly hope it doesn't -- then the Bush doctrine will be discredited and those who argued that we needed to work through the United Nations will have their hand strengthened," Bacevich said. "But if the war goes well, then the Bush administration comes away from it emboldened to continue to disregard the Security Council. So, there could be permanent damage."

Jack Denfeld

06:50 / 20.03.03

Look, Sadaam's an evil fuck and all, but still. After the initial bombing he was on TV in his military uniform? That's just great tv! That's a really cool scene. Just imagine if when 9-11 happened the president went on tv wearing a Green Beret's uniform. That's kinda cool.

Baz Auckland

07:00 / 20.03.03

He looked more like someone's grandfather than a dictator. Maybe that was the point. It was hard to see him and think "evil!!"

Jub

07:56 / 20.03.03

Hasn't Saddam got about 3 doubles anyway? Does anyone really think he's going to be anywhere near a potential target? He'll be holed up in the burbs somewhere I reckon.

Cherry Bomb

08:29 / 20.03.03

Been trying to think of something to say all morning, but simply can't. Speechless and sad. Hoping for the safety of everyone who's involved in this thing.

bjacques

09:24 / 20.03.03

He looks like a toad. Bush's intelligence in the Middle East is crap, and Iraq is too secure for Israel to provide anything. Looks like another purge in Saddam's inner circle after this.

I do want him gone, of course, but Bush could have handled it all differently. Even the Kuwait minister interviewed on TV last night said as much. These neo-Kissingerites are living in the past. You can't sneer at your friends and expect them to fall into line later.

Had great Kurdish food last night. The restaurant owner wanted a quick war too, but I hope the Kurds don't wait for Bush to sort them out but grab what they can.

rizla mission

13:06 / 20.03.03

Watching TV last night, smug field commanders drooling on about their bombing strategies and 'two-pronged attacks', contrasted with a night-sight image of a section of Baghdad, protected by three guys with AK-47s behind a line of sandbags.

fucking ... can't think of much more to say

Saint Keggers

13:16 / 20.03.03

One reporter on the news this morning was saying that the US was trainning for the urban warfare portion with siege ladders, grappling hooks and even battle axes...sigh...I guess Dungeons and Dragons was a bad influence on those kids after all.

invisible_al

13:27 / 20.03.03

Apparently they're for taking doors down in Firefighter style, to be honest I'd prefer them doing that sort of thing with Battle-Axes than with grenades and breaching charges, lot less random death with axes. Of course I could just be showing my biases here.

rizla mission

13:34 / 20.03.03

Sounds like somebody's been taking the 'crusade' metaphor a little too far.

sleazenation

13:34 / 20.03.03

its heating up again - reports of increased bombardment of southern iraq ...

Regrettable Juvenilia

13:51 / 20.03.03

Maybe this is the right thread for more flippant responses - I think it's good we have at least one Conversation thread about the attack on Iraq - and I couldn't believe my eyes or ears when I saw the footage of that army general guy (piece of filth doesn't deserve a name) - he comes onstage to Queen's 'We Will Rock You', raises his hands to cheers, then says:

"When the President says go, make no mistake: it's hammertime. It is hammertime."

The people in charge of this attack have the brains of eight year old boys. Eight year old boys with shit music taste.

Am I the only person who thinks the anti-war movement's new slogan should be STOP: HAMMERTIME?

rizla mission

14:07 / 20.03.03

That's provoked about the first good laugh I've had all day.

Baz Auckland

14:09 / 20.03.03

Iraq denies claims of oil well fires near Basra

Kuwait said oil wells were on fire.
Iran said the wells were bombed by USA/UK
Iraq said they're not on fire

Is this what the news will be like the whole time?

Smoothly

14:21 / 20.03.03

Rumsfeld is talking about how individual Iraqis will be held personally responsible for their actions. He said "It's not excuse that you were 'Just following orders'". Of course, that defence has historically been laughed out of every war-crimes court. it got me thinking.
On the news a few nights ago, an allied military commander was asked about whether all his troops thought it was a morally just war. He replied that there was a naturally diverse range of opinions but that soldiering was their job and that if they were sent into battle by their superiors then they would of course do so without question.
It seems that just following orders is a respectable way of going about things, as long as you're on 'our' side.

Babooshka

14:23 / 20.03.03

Am I the only person who thinks the anti-war movement's new slogan should be
STOP: HAMMERTIME? – Flyboy

Aw man...don't make me book a ticket to London for your birthday, Fly.

That is fucking brilliant. I'm making a sign RIGHT NOW.

Jack Denfeld

14:29 / 20.03.03

"I saw the footage of that army general guy (piece of filth doesn't deserve a name) - he comes onstage to Queen's 'We Will Rock You', raises his hands to cheers, then says:

"When the President says go, make no mistake: it's hammertime. It is hammertime." " - Flyboy

He did this? Where and when did he make this speech? Fucking brilliant! To Queen's 'We Will Rock You' ? Classic! This war is shaping up to have some great tv moments. Saddam's call to arms, and breaking out the old military uniform, and the General's (Tommy Franks?) Patton speech complete with Queen background music! I must have the DVD of this war when it comes out.

Quantum

14:31 / 20.03.03

Can I have a copy of the banner? Will it include a pic of Saddam in pantaloons?

Bear

14:32 / 20.03.03

Details of the DVD here Jack -

http://www.theonion.com/onion3910/gulf_war_2.html

I may have misheard this due to lack of sleep over the last few days, but at about 4 or so this morning I thought I heard the UK military commander was named William Wallace. If that's true, it's priceless. He'll be riding in front of troops yelling "FREEDOM!" or some such nonesense next...

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