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Some of the more bizarre rumors about the coming War with Iraq:

@ The Pentagon is leaking detailed but phony war plans to unnerve the Iraqis. Or maybe the Pentagon is leaking real war plans to stop the crazy Bush-II administration from actually starting a war.

@ The US plans to seize airbases in Arab countries with paratroopers to use them in the war against Iraq. (One would assume that some form of security against any angry locals might be provided by an entire National Guard division guarding each such air base. How such bases would obtain fuel, workers, and off-base services is anybody's guess.)

@ Saudi Arabia is on the verge of a melt down due to infighting between the pro-US and pro-Wahabi factions. Three princes have died under mysterious circumstances.

@ Oshkosh Truck Company is running around the clock to repaint military vehicles in desert colors. (Actually, Oshkosh is trying to finish a contract issued years ago to refurbish Marine Corps vehicles early so it can bid on a new contract for the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles.)

@ The US is scrambling to get its Strategic Oil Reserve to 700 million barrels, enough to last 80 days without imports. (In fact, this is long-standing US policy and the US has been working since before 9/11 to complete this process.)

@ On August 12th, the Navy denied it was trying to lease roll-on/roll-off transport ships (used by the automobile industry but highly convenient for military vehicles) that would be used to send troops to the Persian Gulf. On the next day, it admitted that this statement was incorrect and that Military Sealift command had indeed issued a request to commercial shipping companies to provide such ships.--Stephen V Cole