Iraq war 'began last year'

[IndianaGreen]

Iraq war 'began last year'

Julian Borger in Washington
Monday July 21, 2003
The Guardian

The Iraq war began in mid-2002 with intensive air strikes under the guise of enforcing the southern no-fly zone over the country, a senior US officer admitted in remarks published yesterday.

Lieutenant General Michael Moseley, the chief allied war commander, said that the previously secret plan, Operation Southern Focus, was launched last summer - before President Bush took his case against Baghdad to the United Nations.

The operation involved dropping 606 precision-guided bombs on 391 targets, in an effort to destroy Saddam Hussein's air defences.

<snip>

The air force general said Operation Southern Focus paved the way for the use of special forces early in the war, and the decision to begin the ground war earlier than planned with offensives by marines and regular infantry.

The admission raises further questions about US intentions in the build-up to war, at a time when the administration is scrambling to explain its reliance on shaky intelligence in making the case for war.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1002402,00.html

[Maple]

1. I doubt this will come

as a surprise to anyone on DU...but others should be reminded of it.

There was never any intention of waiting for a UN resolution. The war had already begun, and Bush only wanted a rubber stamp.

He was then, lying to the entire UN.

[bemildred]

2. This is funny:

US civilian administrator Paul Bremer said yesterday that the
attacks were being organised by a small band of "professional
killers" in an area that was probably harbouring Saddam Hussein.

[wtmusic]

3. Professional killers?

Takes one to know one.