• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Airmen poised to attack Iraq

by Louis A. Arana-Barradas
Air Force Print News

03/19/03 - SAN ANTONIO -- With some media sources already reporting the start of fighting in Iraq, airmen worry Saddam Hussein will use chemical weapons against coalition forces.

Iraq has long denied it has such weapons, but Saddam Hussein used them in his war with Iran and against Kurds in his own country. President George Bush said the Iraqi dictator has given his troops the OK to use such weapons again.

Since it is probable Iraq will use chemical weapons, airmen at bases in Europe and Southwest Asia are preparing for the worst.

"We're absolutely concerned about that stuff," said Capt. Gary, a B-52 electronic weapons officer deployed to Royal Air Force Fairford, England.

The captain will be high above any chemical or biological threats when bombing missions begin over Iraq. Still, he said the thought of Iraq using such weapons is "something that's going to impact our mindset because we have friends on the ground."

Gary, from the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, said it is up to the Air Force to knock out facilities or units suspected of having weapons of mass destruction.

"If we're going to prevent the use of weapons of mass destruction, we've got to be all over that [country] as fast as possible," Gary said. "That would just about be Job 1 -- taking those guys out."

President Bush has repeatedly warned Iraq that if it uses weapons of mass destruction, Iraq will suffer the consequences. His last warning came March 17 during a speech to the nation.

"Do not obey any command to use weapons of mass destruction against anyone, including the Iraqi people," Bush warned the Iraqi military. "War crimes will be prosecuted. War criminals will be punished. And it will be no defense to say, 'I was just following orders.'"

Unfortunately, nobody knows whether the Iraqis will heed the warning. That is not comforting, said Staff Sgt. Marc Kreienbrink. He is a contracting airman with the 405th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron at a forward-deployed location.

"My concern is what weapons of mass destruction will do," he said. "Are we going to be ready to deal with this [threat]?"

Air Force officials said airmen are ready to counter chemical and biological threats. Kreienbrink said he has had enough chemical warfare training to last a lifetime. He is ready.

"I'm quite confident of my ability to put my training to use," he said.

Though the two airmen are concerned about chemical attacks, neither is worried any threat will stop them from accomplishing their mission.

As Gary put it, "It will be business as usual."

At another forward-deployed base, Staff Sgt. Nick Brautigam said the mood in the U.S. Central Command building where he works is tense. Brautigam is also worried about chemical attacks, but his main concern is whether the United States really needs to go to war with Iraq.

"I wonder if we could do this some other way," said Brautigam, a communications planner. He was quick to add, though, that no amount of concern will prevent him doing his job.

The three airmen have one thing in common -- none want Americans to lose sight of the mission the men and women in uniform are about carry out.

Kreienbrink wants Americans to support their troops, even if they do not support the war. Brautigam said people can protest the war all they want, as long as they do not take out their frustrations on troops returning home like many did after the Vietnam conflict.

And all confessed that on the eve of what could be a second Gulf War, they feel a bit of uncertainty and fear, too. Mainly because they really do not know what will happen. They do not know what Saddam Hussein will do.

Most Americans share their concerns.

Gary will most likely be flying bombing missions over Iraq within the first hours after war breaks out. His extensive training and combat experience over Kosovo will take over, and he hopes the coalition will overrun Iraq quickly with minimal loss of life on both sides.

The electronic warfare officer believes the best thing Americans can do -- as their military stands poised to attack Iraq -- is pray for their troops.

"People should have faith in our leadership and know that everybody here believes strongly in what we're doing," Gary said. "We're just hoping to do it as quickly as possible."