[U S Army EOD]

Saddam are you listening??? Thanks for the secret keeping BBC.

[knighthawk]

It is not supposed to be a secret. Knowing that the B-52's are coming will break the moral more than having a F-117 sneaking in.

[Tommyjo]

You can't keep that a secret. It's impossible. Even if the news reporters don't broadcast it there will always be individuals who pass on such info. The Iraqi's, or those with allegiance (including war protesters) to Iraq, would be monitoring the base and simply reporting back quickly in this world of instant communications. The same went for Allied Force (Yugoslavia) with live broadcasts, from all news outlets of aircraft, taking off from both UK and Italy. There is also nothing being covered up at Fairford. In full view of the public you can witness JDAM's, ALCM'S and dumb munitions being loaded. It's as much of a psy ops broadcast to the Iraqi leadership that the Allies can send heavy bombers into Iraqi airspace with impunity. The planners take this into consideration when they launch heavy bombers from Fairford.