-Caveat Lector- More evidence from "impeachable" sources that bombing attacks accomplish little but Clinton and Blair posturing flw Electronic Telegraph ISSUE 1305 Monday 21 December 1998 Pilots question value of raids By David Graves in Kuwait Healey leads attack on Gulf policy BRITISH pilots were openly sceptical yesterday about their achievements in bombing Iraq as it was disclosed that four Tornados were recalled from a raid against Republican Guard targets to enable President Clinton and Tony Blair to anounce the end of Operation Desert Fox. Four other Tornado crews were making final preparations for further strikes at Ali Al-Salem air base in Kuwait, 35 miles from Iraq. Group Capt Bob Burrough, Commanding Officer of the 400-strong RAF detachment at the base, had been warned two hours before the announcement was made at 11pm in London - 2am Kuwait time - that the President and Prime Minister would announce that they were confident the mission had been achieved. The Tornados already airborne were in a holding pattern over the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border at the time armed with 2,000lb Paveway III laser-guided bombs for attacks on the Republican Guard based at Al Koot, 60 miles south-east of Baghdad. After they were ordered to return, the Ministry of Defence in London opened a secure telephone line from the office of George Robertson, the Defence Secretary, to Ali al-Salem so he would know when they had landed and could tell Mr Blair. Some of the 24 crewmen were later uncertain about the decision to end the air strikes, because more raids had been planned for today. A pilot saidyesterday:"Have we really changed anything? A lot of the guys don't think that we have. A number of our targets did not seem to have much significance to us. While we may have dented Saddam Hussein, the general feeling is that we have not really changed anything." (SNIP) DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
