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Unusually Large Movements of US Warplanes Overhead in Scotland.

features list | 01.11.2003 00:00 | Anti-militarism

Since Saturday, the 1st of November, people in the Highlands of Scotland have been witnessing large movements of US warplanes overhead. [1,2,3].

Experienced observers say the large numbers are reminiscent of those that preceded the bombing of Iraq in 1998 and military strikes on Libya in the 1980s as well as the first Gulf War.

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, or NATO,held a summit in Edinburgh, Scotland, the 6-7th of November. Spontaneous protests took place in small numbers. Increased security is in the area.

Read more here.

To get more impression of events in Scotland, please view the scotland events calendar and participate.


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Hide the following 7 comments

Syria ??

09.11.2003 13:43



Is this the lead up to an attack on Syria? Or just Dubyas advance guard for
his visit.(?)

Will Dubya be making the announcement of any action whilst in UK,with Phoney standing
alongside obediently ? (Whilst the UK becomes a full Police state for the visit-instead
just provisional(barely) at the moment).

Maybe we could sent the Toxic Texan back on the Toxic Ships. The sea air and asbestos
might do him some er. good.



GL


Warplanes resume bombing in Iraq

10.11.2003 18:21

UK corporate press are not reporting this for some reason, but Reuters and AFP are putting the story out.

See recent article:

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2003/11/280163.html

also from today:

Warplanes resume bombing in Iraq

By Sasa Kavic
Tikrit
November 10, 2003

US warplanes bombed targets in Iraq at the weekend - the first time since US President George Bush declared major combat over on May 1.

The US offensive came as the International Committee of the Red Cross said it was temporarily shutting its offices in the Iraqi capital and the southern city of Basra because of safety concerns. A car bombing at the Red Cross headquarters in Bagh-dad last month killed 12 people.

The US Army said the air strikes targeting suspected guerilla hide-outs in Saddam Hussein's home town of Tikrit was a "show of force" after insurgents killed six soldiers when they shot down a Black Hawk helicopter on Friday.

F-16 fighter-bombers swooped over Tikrit, dropping bombs near the crash site. Troops backed by armour and attack helicopters destroyed several abandoned houses that the US military believed had been used by insurgents. Dropping bombs on an empty landscape as a pure demonstration of power is an unusual tactic, underscoring the military's fury at the downing of three helicopters in a two-week period. In addition to the Fallujah and Tikrit crashes, a helicopter was brought down near Tikrit on October 25 without fatalities.
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The Red Cross announced the temporary closure of its Baghdad and Basra offices. But the Italian arm of the Red Cross said its 32-strong staff would remain in Iraq. On October 27, car bombers attacked the International Committee of the Red Cross and three police stations in Baghdad, killing at least 35 people.

Following the August truck bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad and a string of other attacks on foreign targets, many international organisations have left Iraq.

Visiting Deputy US Secretary of State Richard Armitage said the US had been sobered by a mounting toll of casualties in Iraq but insisted that America would press forward and take the fight to the enemy.

Mr Armitage's remarks came at the end of the bloodiest week for coalition forces since April.

A roadside bomb in Baghdad on Saturday killed a US soldier from the 1st Armored Division and wounded another, the US Army said yesterday. Two soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division were killed in Falluja. At least 150 US soldiers have been killed in action since major combat was declared over on May 1.

- agencies


 http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/11/09/1068329418990.html

nobody


CND deny story

11.11.2003 14:57

but CND Scotland are denying the story, so i'm not so sure

broken yolk


response from Scottish CND

12.11.2003 19:52

"Thanks to everyone who has been responding to the newsflash from local people about aircraft movements over the Scottish Highlands between Saturday 25th - Tuesday 28th October. We've had a lot of response and general information from activists in the US, as well as elsewhere, adding to the picture. Some more of the detail that has come from the Highlands tells us that the aircraft involved were probably C5 Galaxy Transporters. These are enormous transport aircraft, which can be used in the large-scale movement of troops and/or equipment. We are continuing to investigate and monitor and all information is welcome."

Scottish CND,
15 Barrland Street
Glasgow
G41 1QH

Tel: 0141 423 1222
 http://www.banthebomb.org
scnd AT banthebomb.org

question asked


Check your facts people

15.11.2003 16:18

This story has been floating around since at least June of 2003 folks, it's becoming a disinfo-virus even if it started out as a true story once upon a time.

eagleEye


Eagleeye

15.11.2003 21:07

So where are your facts you are talking about?
You have only made a mere comment. Where is
the June story you have boasted.

Spring