"We are putting up a significant CAP over Incirlik and believe we can have planes launching from there inside of three days. They would be controlled by portable facilities on the ground and from E-3 Sentry AWACS flying out of Izmir, until the runway is sufficiently repaired to allow for the larger aircraft-that's about three to five days out."

"We can launch sorties out of Izmir earlier, refueling them in flight, to attack the GIR forces our satellites are showing ma.s.sing for their push on Irbil. I believe this is the course we should pursue. We have already weakened their air capability in that area, and this will provide the best chance for us to break through. I recommend that we do this immediately, if we want to have any hope for our plan to support the Kurdistan divisions around Irbil to succeed."

The President considered his options. He had a strong blocking force to the south that he had to maintain in case the GIR also decided to attack Kuwait and/or Saudi. He had to keep the majority of his supporting air forces there on hand and ready to help defend against such an attack. Trying to use part of them to fight through to the north did not seem feasible or practical.

The sorties out of Izmir were clearly the best method of bringing force to bear on the GIR forces in Kurdistan. And the Kurdistan defenders would be in desperate need of that force early tomorrow.

"OK, Jeremy, make it happen. Have the Reagan stand off further into the Arabian Sea, and have our aircraft out of Izmir conduct operations against the GIR in Kurdistan."

November 3rd, 2005, 05:30 local time Little Zab River, GIR Outside of Karkuk, Kurdistan Yesterday had been Abduhl's introduction to battle. It had not gone at all as he had imagined. His unit's advance had been so swift, and so unhindered for most of the day, that they had scarcely been able to stop and get out and stretch their legs, much less engage any enemy units.

At one point, during one of the rare occasions in which the enemy had stood and fought, Abduhl had seen men die horribly. A BTR-80 in their formation had taken a direct hit from a Kurd anti-tank weapon of some sort. His NCO had called it an American Javelin missile, but Abduhl did not know one enemy missile from another. What he did know was that the armored personnel carrier next to them, with eight soldiers and three crew members, had suddenly become a blazing, h.e.l.lacious funeral pyre.

They had stopped their own BTR-80 and dismounted while its machine guns provided covering fire. In the distance, Abduhl could see two of their support helicopters circling back to try to locate the attackers. Abduhl and his squad, under the direction of their NCO, had scrambled to the cover of a small levy on the far side of the wash they had been following. The smoke track from the missile that had destroyed the other BTR-80 still hung in the air, and at least two of the men in the fiercely burning BTR-80 were dying horribly, their weakening screams still audible to those who allowed themselves to hear.

"Abduhl, take your sniper rifle and circle over to that rock out cropping to the left. Get as high in those rocks as you can and see if you can spot the enemy who fired that missile."

Abduhl immediately sprang to obey.

"Yes Sir!"

In his desire to anxiously obey, for a moment he forgot his training and began to rise. Simultaneous with his feet being kicked out from under him by the NCO, a small "crack" sounded just above his now p.r.o.ne body.

"Dear Allah, Abduhl! I didn't ask you to kill yourself.stay down and get your b.u.t.t over to that outcropping.

This timekeep low !"

Kicking himself mentally, and at the same time grateful to the NCO for saving his life, Abduhl made his way to the rocks and began climbing.

As he neared the top, he remembered his training and moved off to the side of the "summit" of the rocks so as to not be "profiled" against the skyline. He began to gaze across the scrub brush covered hill that lay in front of him. After no more than five seconds, his peripheral vision caught sight of a group of men, located at a distance of about five hundred yards, who were slowly moving up the hillside towards a small saddle.

"Once they reach that saddle, they'll disappear over into the next drainage" though Abduhl.

Carefully bringing his rifle up to his shoulder, Abduhl took aim at the back of the individual leading the group, adjusting for the range and the slight breeze. He took a deep breath, and as he slowly let it out, he squeezed.

"BANG!".

The leader and the man behind him both fell. The third individual in the group began to scurry towards the summit at a much quicker pace. Again taking aim, this time at the lone survivor, Abduhl pulled the trigger. As the man scrambled for the saddle, Abduhl took three more shots, adjusting for what he antic.i.p.ated the man would do to avoid getting hit. On the third shot, some twenty feet below the saddle, Abduhl connected again.

Later, it was discovered that Abduhl had severely wounded the leader of the group and killed the second man with his first shot. It had been too low for the first individual and had hit the second man high on the back near his neck, breaking his spine. Fragments of bone and bullet from that shot had severely injured the leading individual.

The NCO had been able to gain some valuable intelligence from the mortally wounded man before mercifully ending his life with a quick shot to the head. "G.o.d rest his soul," Abduhl thought, barely keeping from retching.

This event had initiated Abduhl as a fully functional part of the squad. Despite his age, and despite his origin, such shooting skill was a valued commodity in any combat situation-one that could make the difference between life and death for any member of their team.

Now here they were, as the darkness yielded to the brightening sky of the next morning, winding up a steep road from the Little Zab River, making their way to the rebel capital, now less than 50 kilometers away.

November 3rd, 2005, 06:55 local time Kurdistan blocking position One valley over, Kurdistan Jabal surveyed his intelligence once more. The air disaster that had befallen the United States the day before was sobering and had created a serious situation for his forces. Although the US had destroyed larger numbers of GIR aircraft, it was clear that the GIR had gained the advantage by sheer numbers and was advancing rapidly towards him.

His spotters and forward scouts had indicated that the enemy's initial a.s.sault division was just over the rise on the far side of the valley, about 6 kilometers away, and that they had the additional benefit of attack helicopters and close air support. There was audible and visual evidence of both. Jabal had heard the rotors already this morning, and he could now make out the contrails in the lightening sky above him.

"Just light enough to see," he thought.

"Will, we are going to be needing that air support soon. The GIR forces are going to come over that ridge any minute and..."

As Jabal said this, there was a "WHOOOSHHHH" sound followed by a large explosion about fifty meters downhill from them in the vicinity of some concealed bunkers, followed by yet another "WHOOOSHHHH" and explosion, then a third, and a fourth. The numbers of impacts and explosions increased to a crescendo where one could hardly discern between one explosion and the next.

In a few moments it was over. Jabal rose from his p.r.o.ne position in the bunker, thankful that none of the multiple rocket impacts had scored a direct hit on his position.

Almost immediately, there was the sound of a low-flying jet aircraft overhead, followed by a thunderous explosion somewhere up the hill from his position. Almost immediately after the initial explosion, several more jets came into view over the top of the rise, from the other side of the valley.

"Hold your fire! Hold your fire! Do not engage any aircraft or helo's until you get my order!"

Jabal turned back to the American Special Forces commander, turned CIA field team leader.

"Will, weneed those support aircraft now!"

Will Peterson understood their need. He also understood that, without air superiority, any a.s.sets coming into Kurdistan had to fight their way in, and then fight to remain on station.

Just such and effort was in the process of occurring, but it was meeting resistance in the form of many GIR MiG-29, SU-27, MiG-25 and MiG-21 fighter aircraft.

"We're going to have to hold another five minutes, Jabal. We have F-15's and F-14's attempting to sweep the GIR aircraft out of the way so our attack aircraft can hit those advancing mechanized columns."

"There's a big dogfight, that our boys are about to win, going on right now over the Great Zab River Valley. But until that happens they cannot risk sending the attack aircraft in."

November 3rd, 2005, 07:00 local time Anvil Flight 42,000 ft Over the Great Zab River, Kurdistan "Fox-2, Fox-2. Tracking...scratch another MiG-29!"

"Okay, Anvil flight. Re-form on me. Control indicates the other bandits are punching out of this one.

Proceed to point Echo and take up a CAP position at angels forty."

The remaining F-14's of Anvil flight proceeded to point Echo over the Little Zab River drainage above Jabal's blocking position. They had started the day with three flights of four F-14D aircraft. Now the remaining five aircraft were taking up CAP positions over the battlefield to protect the attack aircraft, F-18's, F-16's and F-15E's that were now approaching and would be used against the advancing GIR armor columns.

Ten miles to the east, a similar condition developed as three F-15 Eagles destroyed the last MiG-29 and took up CAP. These three were from an original group of eight.

"Seven Tomcats lost in one engagement!" thought the Anvil flight leader. "Well, those rag headed b.a.s.t.a.r.ds paid dearly for our losses."

In fact, the GIR had lost another eight SU-27's, nine MiG-29's, six MiG-25's and eleven MiG-21's in attempting to hold up the American fighter sweep and trailing attack aircraft formations. Although their efforts had diminished the US Navy and US Air Force ranks by a total of twelve aircraft, they had failed to stop them.

Now, twelve F-15E's, twelve F-16's and eight F-18's were barreling in on the Little Zab drainage and the advancing GIR mechanized Corps.

Even as they approached, the GIR was launching a ma.s.sive retaliatory raid of its own from GIR bases to the east in the former state of Iran. Within twenty minutes, over one hundred GIR fighters would descend on the attacking American forces.

November 3rd, 2005, 07:07 local time Kurdistan Forces blocking position Outside Irbil, Kurdistan The mechanized a.s.sault on Jabal's position had gotten very intense in just the last few minutes. He was losing positions too fast to the mortar, artillery and now the direct tank a.s.saults on his bunkers and fortified locations. Clearly the GIR was not surprised that they were here, though perhaps they were still not aware of their full numbers and disposition.

Although the Javelin and LAWS missiles his men employed were having a telling effect on the GIR armor and personnel carriers, there were simply not enough of them. Where was that American air support?

"Red dog, Red dog! There's a platoon of T-80's moving towards your right flank. Say your status."

Jabal knew that the numbers would soon tell on his forces. Without immediate air support, he was going to have to fall back very soon. At least the air a.s.sault on his position had finally ceased and he took this as a good sign, particularly with those lazy contrails now weaving and circling overhead. If they weren't firing on him, he figured they must be friends, and if they were friends, perhaps help would soon arrive.

Even as he surveyed the advancing GIR T-80 platoon off to Red-dog's right, he saw a number of missile launches from among the GIR forces. At first he was about to issue orders for his forces to respond, but then he saw that the missiles were traveling up into the air beyond his position. As this occurred, several vehicles that had fired those missiles exploded in bright flashes of light, followed seconds later by the sound waves from those explosions.

Above and behind him there was an explosion in the air as a US F-16 aircraft was. .h.i.t. This produced fiery wreckage that rained from the sky on his positions. It also produced a parachute as the pilot ejected and came floating down behind his lines.

Within a minute, the leading echelon of GIR tanks and armored personnel carriers began exploding as more US Aircraft streaked in at low alt.i.tude and attacked the advancing columns. More and more tanks and armored personnel carriers began exploding and being ripped apart by U.S. air-launched munitions, including AGN-65A and -65C Maverick missiles, GBU-12D Paveway II laser-guided bombs, 30 millimeter cannon fire, M20 Rockeye cl.u.s.ter bombs, lAU rockets and MK82 general purpose bombs.

"Well, Jabal, there's your air support. Look at those fly-boys hammering them! We'd best make the most of it."

Jabal looked at his American "advisor" and nodded his head. The firepower was truly awesome and as more GIR vehicles were destroyed, and the rest veered off to unload their troops and take up defensive positions, Jabal began to have hope that their plan might work after all.

Just as this thought was forming, his radioman indicated he had a call from the government headquarters in Irbil. Jabal listened intently for a moment, put the radio hand set down, and then, with a sober look, he addressed Will Peterson.

"The large GIR forces which took Mosul yesterday are on the move. According to our intelligence, those forces completely destroyed our reserve mechanized division and are now advancing on Irbil and our undefended rear. Can U.S. Air Force attack missions be called in against those forces? It appears to be an entire armored corps."

Will knew that missions could be planned, but he also knew that such planning took time-a precious commodity of which they were running precariously short. Any aircraft devoted to such a mission (if there were any available) would have to fight their way in, just like the group that was supporting them right now. It was also likely that the GIR would soon be delivering another air attack. It was clear that neither side was able to maintain air superiority at this point in the battle.

"I'll get on the radio right now, Jabal, and try to arrange it. But I do not believe there are many a.s.sets close enough to get it done very quickly. We dare not divert any of these aircraft if we want to have a chance to hold this line. My recommendation is to presume that this is all we are going to get, and to make the most of it while we have it."

November 3rd, 2005, 07:25 local time GIR a.s.sault forces Outside Irbil, Kurdistan Abduhl had never been so scared in all of his life. In the midst of exploding tanks and exploding armored personnel carriers, his unit and several of those around him had somehow been spared. They had dismounted in a rocky gully and had taken up defensive positions as the American attack aircraft pounded the lead elements of the a.s.sault division to which he was attached.

Just when he thought they might come away from the air a.s.sault untouched, one of the American aircraft found his group and started a steep bank to come around and attack them. His NCO indicated it was an American F-15E Strike Eagle.

"Everyone down! Hit the dirt now!" yelled the Abduhl's NCO.

As the F-15E made its attack run, it used its GPU-5/A Gun pod which housed a GAU-13/A 30 mm cannon, to strafe Abduhl's unit. There was a sound in the air like a large buzz saw, and scores of large "thuds" impacted all around him. The left side of Abduhl's head was severely cut by a chunk of rock that exploded to his right. After the aircraft pa.s.sed, when Abduhl looked up, he could hardly see anything because of all the dust in the air. As it cleared, he saw that his NCO was ruined, destroyed, turned into a b.l.o.o.d.y ma.s.s of meat with no appendages.

"Alright, form up on me! We have orders to move out."

The Junior NCO took command and they got into their BTR-80, which had been s.h.i.+elded from the attack by two large rock outcroppings between which it had been parked. There were only four of the a.s.sault team and two of the crewmembers left to respond. The others had just been killed.

Five good men gone; in just a few seconds, thought Abduhl.

As he was stepping into their idling BTR-80, Abduhl noticed a number of flashes to his west and saw two American aircraft fall from the sky. As this occurred, several GIR MiG-29's streaked over their position.

"Our aircraft are back! Sir, look!"

The Junior NCO, demoralized by the extensive losses his squad and division had taken, was heartened as he stuck his head out and watched numerous GIR aircraft fly by.

"Yes, it seems help has arrived. I wish they had been here ten minutes ago. Come on, Abduhl, this day's work is far from over."

November 3rd, 2005, 18:00 local time Outside of Irbil, Kurdistan With the return of large numbers of GIR aircraft, the American aircraft were forced to retire. The five F-14's and three F-15's flying CAP for the ground attack aircraft fought hard, but in the face of overwhelming numbers, and forewarned by their AWACS aircraft, they quickly broke off and retreated after a brief engagement.

Some of the American "ground pounders," who were in the midst of making "last" attack runs, remained on station a little too long against the now disorganized 1st echelon of GIR ground forces. In so doing, they ensured their own demise, being caught off guard as scores of GIR aircraft filled the air above the valley, leaving them no place to run.

Even so, the numbers were lopsided as the US forces lost two more F-14's, two F-15's, three F-16's and two F-15E's in this engagement against six MiG-29's, four SU-27's and five MiG-25's. The number of aircraft lost made no difference on the ground once the Americans departed. The GIR had regained air superiority over the battlefield. As the 2nd echelon of GIR mechanized forces pressed the attack, they were able to quickly drive Jabal and his Kurdistan forces from their positions defending Irbil and then begin advancing towards the city.

November 3rd, 2005, 17:00 local time GIR Forces Outskirts of Irbil, Kurdistan The Junior NCO who was now commanding Abduhl's squad listened intently to his company commander over the radio. After a few seconds he hung up his hand set and turned to what was left of his squad in the BTR-80 that had carried them so far this day.

"By order of the Imam, the a.s.sault on Irbil has been unilaterally suspended."

There were a number of audible moans, and a couple of "but why's and: "but we have this sc.u.m in the palm of our hands. The NCO continued.

"Imam Hasan Sayeed will make a national statement at 20:00 hours explaining his intent. Apparently, his statement will be broadcast internationally. We will receive it over the command frequency right here in our unit."

"Until then, we have been ordered to take up defensive positions above Irbil in these ridges south and east of the city. Apparently, our sister divisions, which have advanced to within fifteen kilometers of the city from the west, will take up positions there."

"So, let's get our gear in order. We will be able to restock ammunition and provisions at 22:00 hours.

Until then, let's set up our camp along the ridgeline, dig into our positions and await further orders. The Imam will address us at 20:00. Let's get finished before then."

November 3rd, 2005, 18:45 local time Retreating Kurdistan force North of Irbil, Kurdistan Jabal was leading his men overland to a strong defensive position in the mountains between Rayat and Aqrah. From there, if driven off again, they could quickly retreat into Turkey to continue the fight from exile.

Who would have thought that the mighty US forces would be pushed from the air twice in as many days? It was true that they had decimated many of the GIR's aircraft in an awesome and terrible display of firepower, but the GIR was apparently ready and willing to suffer such losses to achieve its goals.

Now, the dream of an independent Kurdistan was drifting away like smoke in the wind.

As he pondered the best way to keep up the fight, Will Peterson, who had been talking into his satellite set, hung up and spoke.

"Jabal, US intelligence is reporting that the GIR has stopped its advance on Irbil. Apparently, Hasan Sayeed has made a unilateral decision and intends to deliver an address to the world in about an hour."

Jabal was shocked. Irbil was the GIR's for the taking. Its fall would spell the end of the push for Kurdistan independence. Outside of some hara.s.sing forces he had left behind to slow the advance, Jabal knew that the GIR forces could be in Irbil tonight.

"It will be interesting to find out what he has to say. I can think of no military reason for him to stop his advance and take the pressure off of us. Perhaps something has occurred on the diplomatic or economic front. Maybe your people have finally found some threat or lever that has influenced him."

Will did not know, but he doubted the accuracy of Jabal's speculation. The people at the Agency he had been talking to were as mystified as Jabal, which meant that whatever Hasan Sayeed's reasons were, they were not being forced upon him by the United States. It was more likely that Sayeed saw some advantage to the GIR in taking this action, though what advantage could be gained by "pulling back"

when one's forces had the strategic momentum was hard to comprehend. Jabal, Will, and many others, particularly those in US intelligence, were left scratching their heads.

"Well, we'll be able to listen if you want. The entire message is supposed to be only ten to fifteen minutes long, and they are going to pipe it through the satellite so we can hear it here."

November 3rd, 2005, 20:00 local time Presidential Offices Tehran, Greater Islamic Republic "Good evening. I have come before the people of the world this evening, and before my brothers and sisters of faith throughout Islam in particular, to express my deep sorrow for the hostilities gripping the northern regions of the former Iraq, and the attendant loss of life over the last two days. I express my sincerest sorrow to the families, friends, and countrymen of those who have fallen in combat, and those innocents who are inevitably displaced, injured, or killed by the ravages of war."

"It is easy to indicate that such actions were appropriate and necessary due to the actions of a rebellious few. But, despite whatever justifications, despite whatever provocation, the loss of a father, a brother, a husband...or the tragic death and suffering of a sister, mother, or children, cannot be soothed or reconciled by such talk. Therefore, in an effort to end such tragedy in these regions, I have ordered all GIR forces to unilaterally cease their offensive operations. We will look to diplomacy resolve this issue now."

"In that spirit, I will personally become involved with the negotiations."

"Let me explain to those of my own faith more of the detail of my heartfelt reasons for doing this. It goes beyond the worthy desire which all the world recognizes to soothe the brokenhearted. There is a reference in the Holy Koran to the writings of the ancient prophet, Jasher, wherein Jasher speaks of the days during the rise of the Mahdi. It may interest many listening tonight that the prophet Jasher is also mentioned in the Jewish Talmud and the Christian Bible. Within the s.h.i.+a faith, our Mullahs, senior clerics and Ayatollahs have had access to these writings for many centuries, and have used them as reference material to the Holy Koran. With respect to the current situation in which followers of Islam are warring against one another, let me quote the following from the words of Jasher:"

"In those days will the Mahdi arise and punish the infidels and the unfaithful with the heavy hand of Allah.

But ere he can accomplish this, he shall make peace between his warring brothers and sisters.

"Yea in the midst of battle will he call a halt and himself become as a dove to them, uniting them and restoring them to the house of unity and faith. From thence will he then go forth, gird about with the armor of truth, like a stone breaking forth from the mountains, until it has cleansed and filled the entire earth."

"My brothers and sisters in Irbil, Karkuk, Mosul and all of the regions round about. We must stop warring among ourselves! Can you not see that we are being manipulated by the decadent powers of Europe and America into this quarreling, so that we remain weak and divided before them? It is they who seek to keep us at odds. We must resist their manipulation. We must not fall prey to it."

"Irbil, the capital, lies before the forces of the GIR. It is within our power to destroy it and ruthlessly put down this rebellion. But I shall not do it. No more shall the faithful kill the faithful. I call a halt. We represent theGreater Islamic Republic !"