Word: combatting
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Iraqi skies were protected by an air force of 800 combat planes and thousands of antiaircraft missiles and artillery pieces. These defenses looked more capable than those of North Vietnam, which ended up destroying hundreds of American aircraft. But Iraq's forces proved far less effective. Only 36 U.S. and allied planes were shot down, though Washington had been expecting to lose as many as 200. After 36 of his aircraft were destroyed in combat, Saddam sent most of his best planes to sanctuary in Iran and grounded the rest of the air force. Allied electronic jamming and antiradiation missiles...
...first air strikes were launched against Iraqi targets, the French, under General Michel Roquejoffre, closed ranks with the other allies, putting themselves under U.S. operational command. Guided by U.S. AWACS aircraft, French pilots flew their Jaguar fighter-bombers on combat missions deep into Iraqi territory, while French ground forces, including Foreign Legion units, committed themselves wholeheartedly to the battle...
...true that France insists on her differences," he said last week, "but during combat, when soldiers are down there together, like brothers, - fighting for the same cause, when the safety of one depends on that of the other, are we going to engage in games of divergence or opposition...
Because of the huge number of men and weapons Saddam poured into Kuwait, many military observers expected him to fight more effectively and inflict many more casualties than he did. As Schwarzkopf recounted at his wrap-up briefing, Iraqi combat forces outnumbered the coalition's 2 to 1 on the battlefield. In addition, the Iraqis had many more tanks and artillery pieces and had carefully dug them...
...that for the first time air power was going to play a decisive role in war. Again Saddam made a misstep: after losing 36 fighters to allied aircraft, fighters he sent aloft, he grounded his 800-plane air force and eventually dispatched 137 of his top-of- the-line combat and transport aircraft to sanctuary in Iran. Allied planes then flew 80,000 sorties virtually unhindered and lost only 36, dramatically fewer than the 200 the coalition command had braced for. Asked how Saddam might have made better use of his multibillion-dollar air force, a U.S. Air Force general...