# Will war start tonight? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 19, 2003, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554 "2003-03-19T15:04:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Latro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@Latro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latro)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554/21 "2003-03-19T18:23:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by empfsu1 \* > \*\* The only reason I don’t think it will start tonight is that there is no element of surprise. He’ll probably wait a couple more days. \*\* Ah, yes but, see, that is exactly what they _think_ is going to happen. So tonight will be total surprise. I think. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554/22 "2003-03-19T18:40:37Z")
Mothchunks and MSI 1978, may I copy your work and forward it to a friend who does not have access to these boards? Both poems are PRICELESS! ---
**Author:** ![yme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/35a633/32.png) [@yme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yme)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554/23 "2003-03-19T18:40:45Z")
Sae damne, who just made your country go boom boom bam? G double V B did, see? Tonite is right. With bombs mid-air in flight. Better run cuz’ the white light is bright. With green screens on your tv screens and white hot spots from big fiery shots. It’ll be hot summers from every day to every night. ---
**Author:** ![yme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/35a633/32.png) [@yme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yme)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554/24 "2003-03-19T18:42:47Z")
Ugh! Tonight! ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554/25 "2003-03-19T18:45:23Z")
I should think so… just in time for the prime-time network slot, too. I know that’s snarky, but I couldn’t help but notice the timing… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![MSU\_1978](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@MSU\_1978](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MSU_1978)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554/26 "2003-03-19T19:28:45Z")
Be my guest, MLS ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554/27 "2003-03-19T19:30:40Z")
It’s already started: [http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/til/jsp/modules/Article/print.jsp?itemId=3895393](http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/til/jsp/modules/Article/print.jsp?itemId=3895393) Also, as per my claims in a recent thread, invasion was not contingent on anything: only Iraqi resistence to it was. ---
**Author:** ![Regina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d78d45/32.png) [@Regina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regina)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554/28 "2003-03-19T19:32:08Z")
I heard from a semi-reliable source that operations have begun to secure oil fields and move in troops. ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554/29 "2003-03-19T19:44:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MSU 1978 \* > \*\*It will start when the Michigan State basketball game Friday gets in the last two minutes. \*\* Thankfully, we will have long since seen the scrubs come in since CU will be up by 20 as Michigan State continues a string of shooting inspired by Mateen Cleaves. ---
**Author:** ![MSU\_1978](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@MSU\_1978](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MSU_1978)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554/30 "2003-03-19T19:53:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mullinator \* > \*\*Thankfully, we will have long since seen the scrubs come in since CU will be up by 20 as Michigan State continues a string of shooting inspired by Mateen Cleaves. \*\* Ha! Next week we’ll be in the sweet 16 after dispatching Cu and UF. ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554/31 "2003-03-19T20:04:31Z")
Dont they sing the national anthem before the Kickoff? Command and control sites are already being bombed. Special forces are already IN Iraq Armored Units are at the Kuwaiti border waiting for the national anthem to finish … I dont think theres a coin toss anymore because we all know who is going to recieve. Hope the half time show is good… Everyone got their beer and chips??! ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554/32 "2003-03-19T20:05:51Z")
There are several things going on which will affect the kickoff time. First, the President very cleverly set his 48-hour deadline to expire at 4:00 am Baghdad time. As many of us know, the last war more or less began at 3:00 am Baghdad time. The time from 2:30 to 3:30 am is the period when the average human’s circadian rhythm is at its lowest ebb. The President would have to jump the gun by an hour or so to hit the Iraqis at the ideal time–if he’s stupid and wants to further enrage the international community. Or, we could pad in that extra 23 hours–which is what Colin Powell wanted anyway, and make sure that the guys on the other side of the fence don’t get any sleep tonight. That would be smart. Second, the full moon actually helps the Iraqis, because the Allies have more and better night-fighting equipment. A full moon gives the Iraqis a better chance to spot helicopter insertions and extractions as well as anyone using a parachute in HAHO operations. The weather is expected to “improve” to mostly cloudy tomorrow night, which will reduce unaided nighttime visibility. Third, a big-ass sandstorm happens to be whipping itself up right now in Kuwait, making virtually all night operations more difficult that’s expected to change by tomorrow night. Fourth, since it looks like this operation is going to incorporate ground troops from the start, a 3:00 am kickoff might be less beneficial than an all-night plastering-and-blitzkrieg. Sunset tomorrow night is 6:13 pm Baghdad time, which is about 10:13 am EST. So if I had to guess, I’d first say that the kickoff would be at 11 am EST tomorrow. Barring that, my next guess would be 6:30 pm EST tomorrow. If it’s neither of those, I’ll go with my original guess, which I think was 6:30 pm EST on the 28th, 2:30 am EST on the 29th Baghdad time. ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554/33 "2003-03-19T20:50:24Z")
The mechanized units and ground troops are in for a 600 fast dash across the desert to get to Baghdad. They wont be in play for a few days. The real kickoff is when the US Navy, US and British Airforce punts the “ball” and the Iraqi Republican Guard receives. Just to give everyone of the Irai military a chance to recieve, we’ll be dropping a few thousand of these “balls” for everyone in baghdad to receive. Some bigger than others and some faster than rest. Only then will special teams from the 101st Airborne get to pile on the guy with the ball …uh the one still standing. ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554/34 "2003-03-19T22:02:27Z")
Hope all of you have your Gulf War II Fantasy League rosters all finalized by now…☹ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mothchunks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@Mothchunks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mothchunks)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554/35 "2003-03-19T22:08:02Z")
It is my gift to the world. No fair having Marnie Nixon dub your voice. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554/36 "2003-03-19T22:29:10Z")
As I said to someone else, if Bush had a real sense of style he’d have it timed so that cruise missiles would all hit their targets right at zero. ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554/37 "2003-03-19T22:33:15Z")
I dunno, a MOAB exploding at the palace in Baghdad has a sense of drama that has appeal. ---
**Author:** ![Milum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Milum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milum)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554/38 "2003-03-19T22:55:50Z")
**Try 5:35 PM Tonight 3-19-03 ALABAMA TIME**. That’s 39 minutes from now and 6:35 EST for you people who live in the east. We cheat a little but a strong\*\* 3:45 AM BAGHDAD TIME \*\* night air strike saves american ground troops from bio/chemical attacks as they advance a little later toward Baghdad through the early morning Iraqi desert. As well, Saddam Hussein, being stupid, doesn’t have time to ignite the oil fields. ---
**Author:** ![Daoloth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@Daoloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daoloth)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554/39 "2003-03-19T23:13:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Milum \* > \*\ ***Try 5:35 PM Tonight 3-19-03 ALABAMA TIME**. > > That’s 39 minutes from now and 6:35 EST for you people who live in the east. > > We cheat a little but a strong\*\* 3:45 AM BAGHDAD TIME \*\* night air strike saves american ground troops from bio/chemical attacks as they advance a little later toward Baghdad through the early morning Iraqi desert. > \*\* Nitpick: 6:35PM EST is 2:45AM Baghdad time. ---
**Author:** ![Milum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Milum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milum)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554/40 "2003-03-19T23:35:47Z")
Thanks Daoloth for your nitpick. Sorry. Make that **7:35AM EST**. And thank me Daoloth for not being in charge of the invasion. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-war-start-tonight/162554.md?page=3)