ealth fighter and the Tomahawk Cruise Missiles, these two attacks carried out all attacks on downtown Baghdad. The F-117 operated at night and the TLAMs operated during the day. Given American sensitivity to casualtiesour own and Iraqi civiliansthey were ideal weapon systems for attacking targets in a heavily defended, heavily populated city. As well, the F-117 had a psychological utility that was probably shared by only the B-52. When Iraqis saw either, they ran for cover. Both were aircraft of a kind that only a super-power could possess, and both could deliver destruction with no advanced warningsmall wonder, then, that both figured prominently in psychological operations pamphlets that were showered upon Iraqi troops.On the other hand, the F-117 and long range cruise missiles also had limitations, both were less flexible and considerably more expensive than most conventional systems. 4The F-117, a subsonic, light bomber, had to operate at night to maximize stealthiness, and nearly nineteen percent of the strikes attempted by F-117s were adversely affected by weather, misses or no drops, (Atkinson, Press 1994, p.247).While not quite as sensitive to weather conditions as the F-117, cruise missiles had a smaller payload, required a lengthy targeting process, and could not be re-targeted after launch. Even without the flexibility of other aircraft, however, these platforms were able to set to terms the air operations over Iraq and bring the reality of war home for the residents of Baghdad.AH-64 APACHE HELICOPTERThe AH-64 Apache is specifically designed for an attack role. My uncle said that during the war the soldiers called it the flying tank. Its Hellfire anti-tank missiles have a range of more than 3.7 miles and can penetrate the armor of any known main battle tank. The Apache may also be armed with 1.75inch folding-fin aerial rockets carried on two stub fins that provide additional lift and may serve as attaching points for external...
