War in Iraq already under way

February 13, 2003 10:28 AM

War in Iraq already under way. The Washington Post reports that US troops are already operating in Iraq. All debates about inspections, links to Al-Qaida, the role of the UN, NATO, etc. are pointless. The war started already, unless having US troops in Iraq somehow doesn't count. Somebody tell the TV networks.
posted by miguelbar (13 comments total)

If they shoot anyone, prior to UN approval, it's a war crime.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 10:37 AM on February 13, 2003

If a ruthless dictator doesn't make any noise about sovereignty when special forces hit the ground, it is really a war? They've been there for weeks.
posted by machaus at 10:38 AM on February 13, 2003

NEWS FLASH: British and American fighter jets have been bombing Iraqi targets for 12 years.
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 10:41 AM on February 13, 2003

Let's not get too overheated here...haven't there sporadically been troops on the ground in small numbers for years now? The article says these guys have been there over month, pamphleting, scouting landing sites, and so forth.

Not to say it's OK, not to say it shouldn't be given more coverage. Just to say, you know, we never officially called Vietnam a more, and that was considerably more involved than this is thus far.

And as far as war crimes go, P_G, how is this different from people we may have blown up shooting missiles from planes over the last few years?

O.P.: Whatever it may look like, let me state categorically that I am not coming down on the same side of an issue as our Distinguished Representative from Linwood. Nope. Un uh.
posted by freebird at 10:45 AM on February 13, 2003

P_G: Isn't a War Crime usually defined as a violation of Geneva protocols to an egregious degree? Like torturing POW's, not respecting surrender flags, mass murder, the like.

I don't think the stance of other countries on the war has anything to do with a war crime. The number of UN "approved" wars since it was created are really, really limited.
posted by Kevs at 10:59 AM on February 13, 2003

Forget to close the sarcasm tag P_G or is that an alley-oop?
posted by Dick Paris at 10:59 AM on February 13, 2003

Distinguished, eh?

Let me make three points:

1. No matter your take on the issue, anyone who thinks we are not going to war has not been paying attention. The UN can do what it wants, but we are going to war.

2. This is not really breaking news. The Christian Science Monitor has had reporters on the ground in northern Iraq with the Kurds for months now and has been reporting this.

3. For all practical purposes northern Iraq under the No-Fly Zone is no longer under the control of Saddam, but under the weak control of the Kurds (PUK) currently battling Ansar al-Islam, an off shoot of al-Qaida. The Kurds have been protected by American and British aircraft since the last Gulf War. This is where the special forces are. So yes they are technically in Iraq, but not in Ba'ath controlled areas.
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 11:04 AM on February 13, 2003

Pundit noted that when you have a zillion troops and machinery in an area, you become a hammer. At that point everything looks like a nail.
posted by Postroad at 11:05 AM on February 13, 2003

If we discuss the validity of this article will we putting some lives in harms way. Loose lips sink ships, and I think we have either forgotten or have not prepared properly like in the past.
posted by thomcatspike at 11:08 AM on February 13, 2003

Loose lips sink ships
agreed. dubyah's huge flappers are sinking the entire world.
posted by quonsar at 11:17 AM on February 13, 2003

Naahhh. At least where we live, we know most of the scoop-or at least know what we don't know.
posted by konolia at 11:20 AM on February 13, 2003

This war is going to be a cake walk. My prediction within 3 weeks Saddam killed by his own troops in self defense. Arabians don't fight wars like we do in the west it won't be man to man in the streets. As soon as the leaders fall the rest will surrender. It's how Alexander of Macedonia won battle after battle against forces 10 times as large by aiming for the leader. The Near East mindset is no diffrent today as could be seen in the Gulf War with mass surrender they don't operate on an individualistic basis. Take out command and controll and it's over.
posted by stbalbach at 11:27 AM on February 13, 2003

cake walk
posted by muckster at 11:31 AM on February 13, 2003