From: davei@wam.umd.edu (The One True Dave)
Subject: Re: Somalia
Organization: University of Maryland, College Park
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 21:29:49 GMT

In article <1992Dec18.195053.14666@cbnews.cb.att.com> jmk@cbnews.cb.att.com (joseph.m.knapp) writes:
>egl1@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (Elizabeth G. Levy) writes:
>>m23364@mwunix (James Meritt) writes:
>>>Out of curiosity, do you think there was a gun mounted on top of the
>>>bomb with wheels that took out the barracks in Beruit?
>>
>>Er, the thread so far seems to be one in which we're discussion
>>Pentagon weaseling about the truth ("disinformation" and "later
>>[stuff eleted]
>
>Right! I'd have more respect if they'd tell it just like it is,
>[stuff about smart bombs and bombing raids and false claims about weapon
>accuracy]
>caused by us, said Disinformation Story #1: it was caused by those
>goofy Libyans firing their missiles and AAA straight up in the
>air and it came raining back down on their heads! This story is
>good because it emphasizes the infallibility of our weapons, as
>well as our racial superiority. Well, this explanation didn't
>really hold up, and thus came Disinformation Story #2, the "Iron
>Bomb": one plane and its pilot were lost in the operation. The
>plane was crippled by AAA, wandered off course and dropped its
>ordinance somewhat randomly. But under normal conditions, everything
>works perfectly... really! And it could have been worse -- after
>all, it was the FRENCH embassy that took a hit, hee hee.

Actually, a lot of the damage (including that wonderful humanitarian
"Baby Milk Factory: Iraq;" that was SO believable, Saddam. But I
digress.) actually did come from the AA fire. In WWII, especially in
Central Europe, a lot of buildings and fields were destroyed by fires
started by AA shells falling to the ground. 

Smart bombs are a lot more accurate than "iron bombs," but nothing is
100%. (It's no easy task to keep a laser pointed at a single place at
mach 2 while trying not to get shot down.) So some other things got hit,
and, in fear of a certain type of person who will lynch any government
official if anything goes wrong, they lied. (Actually, they probably
weren't sure, and gave out the story they liked the best as God's own
truth. Same thing.)
>
>So a few weeks later comes the admission that this is all bullshit
>and the bombs' IQs are somewhat out of the "gifted" range. If you
>pay close attention to the press, the truth comes out on page C32.
>If not, you join millions of others who go around believing
>stories #1 and 2, and the disinformation has had its effect. By
>the way, the Libyan operation was run by Admiral John Poindexter,
>then head of the NSC, and author of the famous "disinformation" memo
>where he detailed his strategies in that area.

If you had any doubts about the abilities of the smart bombs, you
didn't have to wait until the press got around to it. The published
data on those weapons show them to be less than perfect. They are,
however, better than unguided weapons.

It's strange to observe that the Iraqi's had more faith in the
guided weapons' accuracy than you do. They tended to walk in the
streets unconcerned as the missiles went by; they knew they weren't
the target.
>
>I'm just so sick and tired of the militaristic progression of the
...[stuff about American military actions over the last 12 years]...
>of blind acceptance and willing suspension of disbelief are developing.

Actually, what you are seeing is an end to the blind hatred and
distrust of the government. I, personally, believe that I look
at what goes on realistically. Of course, maybe you're right, and
I am being brainwashed. But if I am, I should trust the government
more than I do. (Just because I defend them doesn't mean I think
they're always right.)

I do think, however, that it's nice to see the US isn't letting
other countries push them (us) around. For a while there, it was
like watching Woody Allen bully Arnold Schwarzenegger (sp) around.
(I can only pray that the U.S. Arnie (excuse the pun) doesn't go
too far, as some of you think it will (or it already has).)

>
>I really, really hope that the fantasies are true and the US can come
>riding in and save that country from the brink of oblivion, now and
>for all time. If so, maybe we are really in a New World Order, as
>envisioned years ago by supporters of the UN.
>
So do I. I'm not as pessemistic as you, but I still wouldn't want
to lay odds.
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