March 16, 2003

PLACE YOUR BETS:

War To Start Monday (Debka, 3/16/2003)
DEBKAfile’s Military Sources: Full-scale US-British offensive against Iraq is scheduled to begin Monday, 24 hours after Azores summit....

Preparations wind up Sunday night to fly and parachute ground troops into Iraq from launching bases in and outside Middle East. US 82nd Airborne Division will be flown in from Afghanistan.


OK, I've predicted Monday night, Orrin Wednesday night, GlobalSecurity.org Tuesday night. Commenters, it's time to put yourselves on the record. Posted by Paul Jaminet at March 16, 2003 6:54 PM
Comments

Wednesday night, Iraqi time.

Posted by: David Cohen at March 16, 2003 7:22 PM

I second that.

Posted by: Bruce Cleaver at March 16, 2003 7:54 PM

March 2005.

Posted by: TBC at March 16, 2003 8:10 PM

I third that. This translates to Wednesday afternoon or early evening, Eastern (U.S.) time. In 1991, the first action reports came in just after 7 pm on January 17.

Posted by: Joe at March 16, 2003 8:11 PM

Oops. I just went back and reread what I wrote under the "2 days, 5.5 hours" entry, and I ask leave to revise and extend my remarks. It'll start sometime in the timeframe between 1800 - 1900 Tuesday and 1800 - 1900 Wednesday (times are EST), that is to say, either Tuesday or Wednesday evenings. We need time to get everyone in position (though, given DEBKAfile's spotty - to say the least - track record on accuracy, I am very skeptical of the 82nd's being moved from Afghanistan) and to allow time for the final political maneuverings in London.

Posted by: Joe at March 16, 2003 8:19 PM

late Tuesday night/early Wednesday morning, Iraq time.



Which means that we'll begin to hear about it going down sometime Tuesday afternoon/evening.

Posted by: H.D. Miller at March 16, 2003 8:38 PM

Last February?



Late 7th century AD?



Saturday, when, so I read with not much

faith, B2s started bombing southern Iraq?



No predictions here.

Posted by: Harry Eagar at March 16, 2003 8:41 PM

Recall too that the 1991 war began, if I recall correctly, with Marlin Fitzwater coming to the podium, announcing: "The liberation of Kuwait has begun", and leaving.

Posted by: oj at March 16, 2003 9:13 PM

Tuesday.

Posted by: mike earl at March 16, 2003 11:15 PM

Ditto H. D. Miller.

A morning address by Bush that begins something to the effect of "Last night, coalition forces..."

Posted by: Timothy at March 17, 2003 1:14 AM

I buy into the reports that Special Ops stuff has been going since January.

For the obvious war (i.e. bombing) I thought I read that Blair was going to go to his Parliament on Tuesday for a vote assuming the UN says no today. If true Tuesday night in Baghdad so we hear Wed a.m.

Posted by: AWW at March 17, 2003 9:47 AM

Thursday?

Posted by: RoboDruid-bert! at March 17, 2003 10:21 AM

Wednesday, after 7 pm EST.

Posted by: BJW at March 17, 2003 12:07 PM

Wednesday morning, 3:00am EST.

Posted by: Steve Martinovich at March 17, 2003 3:30 PM

Well after the President's speech, looks like Wednesday night Iraqi time will win.

Posted by: pj at March 17, 2003 9:39 PM
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