-Caveat Lector- DefenseWatch "The Voice of the Grunt"
03-12-2003 >From the Editor: Impending War Brings Changes to SFTT http://www.sftt.org/cgi-bin/csNews/csNews.cgi?database=DefenseWatch% 2edb&command=viewone&op=t&id=8&rnd=644.561767578125 By Ed Offley Within a week or two, it appears inevitable that a U.S.-British military force numbering over 250,000 strong will breach the sand berms and airspace of Iraq in the long- anticipated showdown with Iraq. The operation may succeed in a matter of days or weeks, or could bog down for months. The invasion may be a decisive strike that quickly shocks the Iraqi military into paralysis and collapse, or it could suddenly grind to a halt in a lethal cloud of chemical and biological agents. The attack could realign the politics of the Middle East toward a new climate of freedom and individual liberty never before experienced, or it could trigger a new wave of terrorism and anti-American hatred. No one can predict with any degree of strong confidence how events will unfold. What we can be certain of is that “Operation Desert Spring” (or whatever the Pentagon finally names this mission) is going to be the most-covered war in history. We at SFTT.org and DefenseWatch magazine are also preparing for war, and we hope that you, our readers and supporters, will be well served by our efforts. Already, more than 500 American and foreign journalists have been “embedded” with the U.S. military units deploying to Iraq, and hundreds more are covering the rush of events in Washington, D.C., from the capitals of Europe, and from Doha to Baghdad. Thanks to the digital computer revolution since Gulf War I, we can anticipate news reports from the front within hours of the events they document taking place. Because of new, miniaturized video cameras and videophones, we are already getting a bird’s- eye view from military aircraft ranging from F-16 fighters to U-2 reconnaissance aircraft. All Americans should brace themselves for a Mount Everest-scale avalanche of text, video and digital graphics as the war news comes hurtling out of the Middle East via cyberspace. We at SFTT.org are reorganizing our operation to help you keep up with the pace of events. Over the past few weeks we have been redesigning our internet website to accommodate the torrent of information that will be generated at the outset of battle. Our top priority mission will be to help you sift through the raw data and quickly achieve a balanced and informed understanding of the events that are unfolding. Some of our changes include: DefenseWatch magazine at SFTT.org this week will change from a weekly online magazine to a 24/7 web-base publication that will be updated on a daily basis with new columns from Col. David Hackworth and our contributing editors. Our cadre of dedicated, volunteer contributors will apply their military and professional experiences to provide you with informed analysis and commentary to better grasp the significance of events. Our daily SFTT News site will be significantly expanded to accommodate the scores – if not more – key news stories that appear in the U.S. and international news media each day. We have created subsites at SFTT.org that will give you ready access to specific news and information you may seek, including: * A Battlefield Reports site from embedded journalists that are displayed in a directory of the major military units involved. * A Briefing Room site where the latest briefing, speech and press conference transcripts and other key documents will be posted. * A special From the Troops site where we will publish first-hand accounts of war from those directly involved in the fighting. * A Gunsight Video site where you will be able to find the latest video imagery from the battlefield. * A Commentary section providing access to a full cross-section of editorials, columnists and news analyses from the mainstream news media. * A section for Other Military News of importance. We will also continue to publish news, analysis and feedback of the critical issue of nuclear, chemical and biological defenses on our Poisoned Battlefield site. Our other standing features, including Insider Notes from the Pentagon, Paul’s Corner and special reports, will continue to appear as well. And finally, we will continue to welcome your comments and responses in our SFTT Feedback section. We hope that at this critical moment in our nation’s history, you will continue to use our website and online news operation as your window on the U.S. military. We encourage you to tell your friends and colleagues about SFTT.org and DefenseWatch magazine. We are truly grateful for your donations that have allowed a small, nonprofit organization to grow over the past 18 months into a valuable link between the American people and those beloved men and women in uniform who have sworn to protect us all. Ed Offley is Editor of DefenseWatch. He can be reached at [EMAIL PROTECTED] – Your Support is Important! – Feedback Wanted – Article Submission Procedures/Subject Editors Sought – Glossary of Military Acronyms – Hack Book Sales Forwarded for your information. The text and intent of the article have to stand on their own merits. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many genera- tions. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of teachers, elders or wise men. 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