Lights! Camera! Action! Let the bombing begin

In deference to Japan, hosts of the ongoing Winter Olympics, and an age old tradition of not waging war during the Olympics, the US has indicated that it will not begin the air attack till after the games have concluded on Sunday, February 22.

By common consent, the ideal date of attack is February 26, a moonless night which is favoured by military commanders for the cover of darkness it provides. Because the date and hour is so predictable, there is also talk of advancing the attack some 24 to 48 hoursbefore the new moon night when the moon will also be almost invisible and the darkness considerable. The next moonless night after that will be March 28.

Some US officials though say the moon theory is a little overdone, although the Americans prefer fighting at night because their night vision and stealth technology is so advanced. The Gulf War did begin on a moonless night, but then they bombed for 40 days on the run through new moons, full moons and all kinds of moons.

Among other things the Americans needed to factor in before settling on the window of attack between February 23 and March 20 are Islamic holy days and President Clinton’s travel schedule. In fact, the attack against Iraq was said to have been deferred initially to allow for the holy month of Ramadan to pass. Now it will have to be concluded before the end of March because the Haj season, when Muslims from all over the world flock to Saudi Arabia begins around March 20.

Besides, President Clinton is also scheduled to travel to SouthernAfrica end March, although if the cancellation of Vice-President Al Gore’s trip to the same area is any indication, that visit may also be postponed if needed.

The US state department has already issued the mandatory travel advisory to its citizens abroad. An announcement earlier this week advised American citizens in the Middle-East and South Asia to assemble all vital documents, ensure that passports and necessary visas are valid, register with the American embassy, maintain an adequate supply of food and water in your home, and keep the gas tank full in the family car.

Meanwhile, US television and media crews have had plenty of notice and some 25 teams have already filed into Baghdad to film, telecast, broadcast and write about the shooting match. Unlike during the Gulf War, this time around the Iraqis seem all too ready to issue visas to let the media see the impending mayhem and milk sympathy.

Already, there is the first faint stirring of outrage in the region at what many feel will be a made fortelevision spectacle. Bassem Sakjha, a widely reported columnist in the Amman newspaper Al Dustur wrote: “In Baghdad, Amman, Jerusalem, Riyadh, Doha and Kuwait, people are rushing to store food and fuel. But Americans are rushing to buy beer, popcorn, wine and cheese for the start of the show. The movie is about to begin: Violence, sex and excitement for them. For us, more Arab blood about to be spilled.”

Reports from Baghdad also say President Saddam Hussein has already gone underground fearing an American attempt to eliminate him. He is said to be on the move from night to night, often sleeping in the homes of ordinary Iraqis while sending out his Presidential convoy as a decoy.

One Arab official who was sent with a personal letter to Saddam said he was divested of the letter by an assistant who forwarded only a photocopy of the letter to the Iraqi leader so that he did not have to touch the original. He feared the letter was an attempt to poison him.