On or about 26 Oct 2003 02:12:08 GMT, (BUFDRVR)
allegedly uttered:

2 of the 4 zones are under European command with thousands upon
thousands of troops in theatre from over a dozen European nations.. If
that's minimal, what were you expecting?

I don't believe your "thousands upon thousands" makes up 10% of the total
force. I believe we were hoping for (not expecting) closer to 25-33%.

I'm not sure of the total force numbers (and a Google search didn't
give exact numbers), but in the UK AOR there's 3(UK) Div, plus an
Italian Brigade, and battalions from the Netherlands,
Denmark/Lithuania (joint Battalion), and Romania. Assuming similar
manning in the Polish AOR, then you've probably got over 10000 allied
troops from Europe. What percentage that is I won't guess, and I also
won't disagree that the US and the UK were hoping for more, but that
was never going to happen after all the diplomatic noses out of joint
back in the UNSC.

If you mean French and German forces aren't there, say so, please
don't tar us all with the same brush since there are more than 2
countries on the continent.

The European nation involved are much appreciated and their contribution is not
taken lightly, however, if it were not for the two nations named above, their
would be much greater (in numbers) European involvement.

Indeed.

On a completely unrelated note, I noticed that JASSM appears to have
been released for operations. When's the B-52 slated to get an
operational capability?

Cheers,

---
Peter Kemp

Life is short - Drink Faster