DOHA, QATAR

Fliers are purposeful, know world watches

By Anne Barnard, Globe Staff, 3/22/2003

OHA, Qatar -- Hours before yesterday's massive bombardment of Baghdad, an American F-16 fighter pilot flying missions over Iraq said the mood of US flyers was buoyant.

"Everybody is excited about this," said the 36-year-old pilot, a major in the South Carolina Air National Guard who is stationed at an air base in the Middle East. "This is a great opportunity for us to take part in something big."

The pilot was interviewed by telephone on condition that he be identified only by his call name, Twig, and that his location not be disclosed.

He was speaking about the war with Iraq in general, not about a particular upcoming mission. But less than 12 hours later, as bombs opened an orange gash along the Baghdad horizon, his words were a glimpse of a pilot's mood on the eve of the campaign the Pentagon has dubbed "shock and awe."

"We've fought red coats and blue coats," Twig said. "We have this long history, and this is our generation's chance, basically, to add to that. There's apprehension, sure, but we're ready."

From the "Arab street" to European capitals, the justice and success of the war will be judged in large part by how precise the bombing is and how successful it is at preventing civilian deaths. The pilots know that.

"Nobody wants their bomb or missile to go wild," said Twig, a United Airlines pilot in civilian life. "You basically have to make sure before you drop, and if you don't drop or don't shoot because you honestly in your heart of hearts believe it's not right, no one's going to give you grief. "

Twig said he and other pilots do not spend a lot of time debating regime change. "Pilots ... all we care about is our airplane and the target and going in and doing our job," he said. "We're the sword, but we're not the handle."

This story ran on page A17 of the Boston Globe on 3/22/2003.
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