Update: Iraqi Units Reported Moving to Challenge U.S. Troops

Washington Post ^ | 3/26/03 | Thomas W. Lippman and William Branigin

[jimbo123]

...U.S. military officials said the convoy leaving Baghdad consisted of 1,000 vehicles that were believed to contain fighters hoping to reinforce Iraqi forces engaging U.S. troops near Najaf. The movement was detected about 4 p.m. (8 a.m. EST). "Something big and metal is moving," one radio operator reported.

About two hours later, U.S. jets began bombing the front of the convoy after receiving confirmation that the column carried militiamen. Eventually, B-52s flew over, dropping 500-pound bombs every 500 meters along the length of the convoy. The casualty total was not immediately known, but the attack appeared to add significantly to the Iraqi militia losses in recent days.

[jimbo123]

Another big setback for the U.S. coalition according to Katie, Peter and Paula...(sarcasm)

[jbstrick]

The BUFF Strikes again!!!

[Uncle Miltie]

"Eventually, B-52s flew over, dropping 500-pound bombs every 500 meters along the length of the convoy."

Excellent!

[dennis1x]

cant believe that these idiots dont know that there only hope for making this difficult is to bunker down in Baghdad??

heres hoping for column after column peaking out of their holes.

[denydenydeny]

the attack appeared to add significantly to the Iraqi militia losses in recent days.

I swear, most of the time it feels like it must kill the media to have to say this.

Eventually, B-52s flew over, dropping 500-pound bombs every 500 meters along the length of the convoy

God bless the B-52.

[RippleFire]

About two hours later, U.S. jets began bombing the front of the convoy after receiving confirmation that the column carried militiamen. Eventually, B-52s flew over, dropping 500-pound bombs every 500 meters along the length of the convoy.

And that's just the hor d'oeuvres

[TADSLOS]

"Something big and metal is moving,"

LOL!

[dennis1x]

dont you think when our pilots hear "column", they drool?

[denydenydeny]

500-pound bombs every 500 meters along the length of the convoy

Is that sufficient? What is the blast radius of a 500-pounder?

[mlbford2]

Dropp'n the hammer. Iraqi fertilizer will be good for this years crops.

[jporcus]

Yes, baby!

[Mark17]

Eventually, B-52s flew over, dropping 500-pound bombs every 500 meters along the length of the convoy.

A B-52 cell can ruin your whole day.

[vollmond]

Is that sufficient? What is the blast radius of a 500-pounder?

I think they want to preserve as much road as possible. We'll need that road when we get there.

[Constantine XIII]

Waxed and BUFF'd!

[Born to Conserve]

"Is that sufficient? What is the blast radius of a 500-pounder?"

More than 250 meters?

[tiki]

That's what I was thinking, move all the troops back south and just wait for the Iraqis to "Come and get some"

[BushMeister]

If you drop a 500-lb. bomb every 500 yards, the blasts will overlap at 250 yards. Not guaranteed lethal along the whole route, but lots of death and damage assured.

Someone posted recently that for safety, the 1 lb. of explosive per yard was the rule for friendly ground forces, so the Iraqis wouldn't have had that in ANY part of this convoy, given the stated attack.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Coming soon to a television screen near you:

Highway of Death Part II

[grimalkin]

B17-2 Bomb Damage Table

[Kay Soze]

Katie sports bra couric.