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Iraq
Lethal AC-130 aircraft return to Iraq
2006-03-04
The US Air Force has begun moving heavily armed AC-130 aircraft - the lethal "flying gunships" of the Vietnam War - to a base in Iraq as commanders search for new tools to counter the Iraqi resistance, The Associated Press has learned. An AP reporter saw the first of the turboprop-driven aircraft after it landed at the airfield this week. Four are expected.
I'm surprised the reporter recognized it. I'm not surprised he promptly reported it.
The Iraq-based Special Forces command controlling the AC-130s, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force, said it would have no comment on the deployment. But the plan's general outline was confirmed by other Air Force officers. Military officials warned that disclosing the location of the aircraft's new base would violate security provisions of rules governing media access to US installations.

The four-engine gunships, whose home base is Hurlburt Field in Florida, have operated over Iraq before, flying from airfields elsewhere in the region. In November 2004, air-to-ground fire from AC-130s supported the US attack on Falluja. Basing the planes inside Iraq will cut hours off their transit time to reach suspected targets.
Posted by:Fred

#22  Ah yes, nothing says lovin' like a Spitting Witch.
Posted by: xbalanke   2006-03-04 19:50  

#21  
Posted by: .com   2006-03-04 18:16  

#20  Nothing to see here, just a small riot-control capability the next time cartoons of Mohammed are released.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2006-03-04 18:08  

#19  LOL Steve! I didn't see the Quagmire(!) possibility. Good eye
Posted by: Frank G   2006-03-04 14:28  

#18  Next thing we know, the USS Reagan turns up in the Straits of Hormuz and the AP see a swiftboat.
Posted by: Jake-the-Peg   2006-03-04 14:13  

#17  On a good day, if the light is right Steve. LOL
Posted by: lotp   2006-03-04 14:03  

#16  VietNam era weaponry deployed in Iraq? Oh, dearie me! It's the sign of a quagmire, for sure. Next thing you know, they'll be giving our troops M-16s. Oh, wait. Never mind.

As for the AP reporter, they may all be lying, weaselous buffoons, but I give him credit for being able to identify the object in question as a fixed wing aircraft.
Posted by: SteveS   2006-03-04 13:44  

#15  Doc8404, if that is your real name: I was being sarcastic, dummy. My point was that Iraq is a far less useful application for such aircraft than their next door neighbors. While AC-130s could no doubt be used in Iraq, they could do incredible hurt in a more conventional conflict. A conflict that just happens to be a strong possibility right now, if you hadn't noticed.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2006-03-04 13:40  

#14   But the plan's general outline was confirmed by other Air Force officers. Military officials warned that disclosing the location of the aircraft's new base would violate security provisions of rules governing media access to US installations.

I vote for leak with braggadoccio added to impress editor. Now the MM and Pencilneck can worry about which side of Iraq these air-trucks are parked on. And how long it will take to move them to the other side. Note that four are expected. This is telegraphing the punch.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-03-04 13:22  

#13  EC-130J

Yeah, I see what you mean, Mike.
Posted by: lotp   2006-03-04 13:14  

#12  Some AC-130s were recently upgraded with battle lasers instead of a big gun.

This lets one selectively hit individuals.

I wonder if they have been moved to a warzone for testing.

It could be interesting in a riot or something to just take out the ringleaders and leave the rest alone. (kind of ruins the event.)
Posted by: 3dc   2006-03-04 12:20  

#11  Hopefully, the Spectres will be staged near Iran - along with their FAARP's.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrpppppp.......!!!!!!!!

Heh, heh. Ancient memories of OP-5 demos at Ft. Bragg.
Posted by: Lone Ranger   2006-03-04 12:12  

#10  It would be pretty odd to see AC-130 at low enough level in daylight to identify. It is also unlikely that they would be based in Iraq.
Posted by: 6   2006-03-04 12:11  

#9  ..Ya know, was just thinking. We're relying on an AP reporter's word that he saw ACs. Now, quite frankly, I wouldn't trust one of these guys to identify the sky as being blue, but a -130 of any kind is pretty easy to ID.
I'm thinking tho, he didn't see an AC. I'm thinking he might have seen an EC-130J or EC-130H instead - they look a lot like the gunships from the distance he would have been at(admittedly the -130H less so). Look it up and draw you own conclusions.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski   2006-03-04 12:01  

#8  Could be for Tater's tots?
Posted by: Captain America   2006-03-04 11:27  

#7  Are you sure that q in the headline shouldn't be an n?
Posted by: Gliling Snatch8342   2006-03-04 10:24  

#6  Well moose, I suppose you could bore them to death with your drivel. If you want to argue here, get yourself a bigger box of crayons. Your box of eight ain't cutting it.
Posted by: Doc8404   2006-03-04 10:18  

#5  Oh yes, nothing like an AC-130 sledgehammer to nail those nasty Iraqi mosquitos. With spring coming and all, there will be hundreds of 'em, so you can't be too prepared. We'll probably need some stealth bombers too, for like horseflies and shit.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2006-03-04 08:36  

#4  Ding! Dong!

Avon Allah Calling!
Posted by: CrazyFool   2006-03-04 05:46  

#3  These big nasties would look good hovering over areas of Syria or Iran. Basic infidel meat grinders for the intransigents
Posted by: Captain America   2006-03-04 00:49  

#2  Ah. Whuppass in the Supersized cans. Good luck & good hunting.
Posted by: PBMcL   2006-03-04 00:22  

#1  hello Assholes! Martyrdom has come! bend over! take the lead.
Posted by: Frank G   2006-03-04 00:18  

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