The Full Moon War?

US Navy ^ | US Navy

[error99]

Here is what I get when I try it:
(cobbled together from several websites)
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Phase of the Moon on 17 March:
waxing gibbous w/99% illumination.
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Information for Wash., D.C. (long W77.0, lat N38.9):
Monday 17 March 2003 Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5)
Moon sets at 6:11 a.m. (rose at 4:17 p.m. preceding day)
Sun rises at 6:17 a.m.
Moon rises at 5:32 p.m. (sets at 6:31 a.m. following day)
Sun sets at 6:17 p.m.

Baghdad (UTC+3) is 8 hours "ahead" of Wash., D.C.(UTC-5)

[Jennifer in Florida]

The air war could begin as early as wednesday, 3-12-2003...after the UN vote.

That's what I'm thinking. Isn't it this new resolution that determines 3/17 as Saddam's deadline? If the resolution is vetoed by the French, isn't the deadline null and void?

[TamiPie]

Is Planet Mars visible to the naked eye these days?

[Travis McGee]

Only UNamericans put

the UN before America!

Anybody know how to make a "sideways" document in large print using a full sheet of paper, for taping inside rear car windows?

When we bust the UN, the libs are going to scream bloody murder. We need an instant bumper sticker campaign to get the above messeage out as an immediate counter to their howls of outrage.

[Republic of Texas]

Only the US is stupid enough to go to war, during a full moon, after giving the enemy 10 days notice to prepare, just to placate a bunch of socialists who hate us and want to destroy us anyway.

[Red6]

Also known as "blooming".

Red6

[ken5050]

Alternative theory..there isn't going to be a war.....Saddam will be deposed by several of his generals, who will then invite the US forces into the country...

[LibKill]

I was expecting our guys to go in on March 3, the dark of the new moon. Now I'm confused.

I hope the enemy is equally confused.

I do have a lot of faith in our armed forces. In Afghanistan they pacified the country in 2 months, something the full might of the Soviet Union couldn't do in 10 years.

[Atlas Sneezed]

"Remember, the phase of the moon is irrelevant if it is up during daytime hours."

A full moon is by astronomical law is up only during night-time hours. Phases slightly offset from full afford moonless skies for a time before sunrise, or after sunset.

If we wait until March 25 for the 3rd quarter moon, be aware that there is darkness only until midnight. (Conversely, a first quarter moon sets at midnight.)

[Red6]

A lot of US equipment operates on the Thermal spectrum, so visibility can be (0) as long as the target has contrast with its surroundings. Many weapons operate via GPS, which cares (0) about % illum. INS systems care (0) about illum. Even a Bradley or Abrams operate in the Thermal part of the spectrum. Illumination is not necessary.

I would not doubt that the US starts rolling during daylight. Why not? Complete air superiority in the south from the get go. Easier to keep formations, use CAS, prevent fratricide and navigate. Enemy air defenses should be weak in the south and we have stand off distance with our weapon systems (we can kill them from further away), which gets maximized during the day. I don’t think the philosophy of “we rule the night” needs always used.

[u-89]

USA should not subject it's troops to biological and chemical warfare until it bombs the heck out of Iraq.

A long bombardment before invasion is not in the cards. Troops will be in country and very active before bombardment begins. Advance forces need to secure bridges needed for the main ground force. They need to secure the oil wells so they can't be blown and to take out any missles in western Iraq within range of hitting Iarael. The first bomb to hit Iraq is a signal that the war is underway and Iraq countermeasures go into effect. We have to act before they know to implement their plans. There will be a massive bombardment before the heavy ground troops move for sure but the fighting will start before that.

[TADSLOS]

The CENTCOM Commander decides H-hour. It could be day/night/moon/no moon. There's a wide variety of factors to consider and numerous courses of action to take. His staff briefs him several times daily on all aspects of the operation. Whatever decision he makes will be tempered by the the best course of action that meets his intent, ensures success and mitigates risk against the enemy's most probable course of action against our forces. The staff process to get to a decision is analytical and painstaking making his decision problematic in nature.

The short answer: They will go when they go. We'll read about the whys after the fact.

[blam]

"If the resolution is vetoed by the French, isn't the deadline null and void?"

That's my understanding. We'll go without the UN's blessing. (ahem)

[Former Proud Canadian]

Taking it a step further. If the un passes the resolution, the war starts sometime after Mar 17. If it doesn't pass (as seems likely) the war starts anytime.

[Russian Sage]

Phase of the Moon on 17 March:...

Please do not post this information!  This is sensitive data that
could help the Iraqis!

[razbinn]

The way I see it,with all the ordnance that is going in when it actually starts,it will look like high noon in Arizona.Full moon or not,the sand ####ers are going to need welders' shields..................

[Russian Sage]

That's some crazy daylight saving time they have!

That could be a big problem.  It would force us to make our night attacks in broad daylight.

[error99]

"...USA should not subject it's troops to biological and chemical warfare until it bombs the heck out of Iraq...USA has no business taking unnecessary and foolish risks..."
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Gee, did you read this on a sign somewhere or did you make it up?
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So you mean it is OK to subject our troops to biological and chemical warfare AFTER we have bombed the heck out of Iraq?
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The USA has PLENTY of business taking risks.
What is it you see as being "unnecessary and/or foolish?
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You do everythng you can to mitigate risks during planning.
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There are plans, contingency plans, and contingency contingency plans.
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But there aare always "risks".
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Always.
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The liberation of Iraq, when it finally comes, will be one hell of a coordinated attack. The operative word here is "coordinated". Just pray that everybody sets their watches correctly.
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Most of the "good stuff" will be over with before we know it ever even got started. It will be the mother of all fireworks-shows grand-finales.

[blam]

"If it doesn't pass (as seems likely) the war starts anytime."

Yup. I figure the air campaign could start as soon as 12-13th.

[brydic1]

You are absolutely correct. The leftist influence in our State Dept will probably mean unnecessary US casualties. I also note that the late winter and early spring sandstorms have already started in the desert areas and the temperature is already at 85F during the day and will start rising dramatically as March and April continue. We have subjected our troops to adverse conditions because of the desire to placate the anti-americans in and outside the US.