Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!linac!att!cbnews!cbnews!military
From: Brian.Wbst311@xerox.com
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: re: B-52/Tanker movement noted?
Message-ID: <1991Jan17.051831.26926@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 17 Jan 91 05:18:31 GMT
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker)
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 25
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: Brian.Wbst311@xerox.com
Some months ago,  during discussion of the possible use of B52's in the middle
east,  there was a comment on this newsgroup that  B1's would be reserved for
their strategic function.   Harold Holm's note is the first mention of  B1's  I
have noticed since.   I  was at the 50th. anniversary BoB airshow at RAF
Finningley,  England,  last September 22nd.,  and there was one interesting
change in plan.   It was announced in advance that due to the Iraqi situation,
the  B1 which had been scheduled for the static display would not be there.

I would expect that they,  and the B52's,  would be flown from secure bases
which are out of range of Iraqi aircraft,  but are reasonably close to the
targets,  and have been stockpiled with bombs.   Perhaps Cyprus or Italy,  or
England.   Remembering the problems with over-flight arrangements when bombing
Libya,   I hope that this time,  they could fly via Turkey,  Saudi Arabia and
Egypt.

On another topic,   what US forces are left in Europe?    Considering recent
events in the USSR,   I hope someone in Washington is considering how soon an
Arab/UN peacekeeping force could take over in Iraq,  and the Nato forces return
to their normal duty stations!

Brian Evans,
Xerox Corp.,  Rochester,  N.Y.