Like admirals used to dream about crossing the enemies T with Dreadnaughts in the coal burning days - the new millennium idee fixee was to score a knock out punch - a decap strike
On 19 March 2003 communications intercepts suggested Saddam Hussein would be staying at a Tigris River facility known as Dora Farms, which was linked to his wife's family. Subsequent reconnaissance identified guards and vehicles tucked into tree lines on the farm. US forces launched the campaign on 20 March 20003 by firing more than 40 Tomahawk missiles at Dora Farms.
At approximately 05:30 two F-117 Nighthawks from the 8th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron dropped four enhanced, satellite-guided 2,000-pound GBU-27 'Bunker Busters' on the compound. Complementing the aerial bombardment were nearly 40 Tomahawk cruise missiles fired from at least four ships, including the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG-75), and two subs in Red Sea and Persian Gulf.
Every structure in the compound was destroyed, except one building - the main palace - hidden behind a wall topped with electrified barbed wire. Bunker-busters dropped by F-117 stealth fighters were used on the presumption the compound had underground tunnels where Saddam could be hiding - yet weaponry targeted on the central palace missed, exploding nearby.
There were no bunkers in the Dora Farms area
Dang it! Even so - still an incredible example of Great Satan"s magical ability to rewrite operational chiz on the fly
Pic - "Audacious!!"
