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US airstrikes on Iraq rise 500 percent :: www.uruknet.info :: informazione dall'Iraq occupato :: news from occupied Iraq :: - it

US airstrikes on Iraq rise 500 percent :: www.uruknet.info :: informazione dall'Iraq occupato :: news from occupied Iraq :: - it: "January 29, 2008

Though George Bush claims the 'surge’ brings peace in 2007 warplanes made 1,447 bombing runs

The US has unleashed a ferocious bombing campaign on Iraq and Afghanistan, with devastating effects on the population. This surge in the 'air war' is largely hidden behind talk of 'recent successes' for the occupations.

According to figures released by the US military – known as 'airpower summary of close air support missions' – in 2006 there were 229 US bombing missions. But last year this rose to 1,447 – more than a 500 percent increase.

The most frequently used munition in this campaign of air bombardment is the Guided Bomb Unit 12, a laser guided bomb with a 500 pound 'general purpose warhead'. This warhead is capable of reducing houses to rubble.

In 2006 over 111,000 pounds of bombs were dropped on targets in Iraq. Extrapolating for 2007, it can be estimated that 500,000 pounds have been dropped.

This month there were massive airstrikes in the region south of Baghdad involving 38 bombers dropping 40,000 pounds of bombs in 10 minutes. This is a portent of the kind of high-tech destruction Iraqis face. These figures do not include guided missiles, unguided rockets an"

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