Amongst the world's media group covering the war against the Iraqi regime, IDMA Secretary Tim Ripley is reporting out of US Central Command Headquarters in Qatar with full media accreditation. He can be contacted by telephone: 00 974 529 5501. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live this morning (20 March) he filed his first report following the Coalition Forces preliminary air attacks over Baghdad last night. Tim Ripley confirmed that last night's air strikes on Baghdad where designed to take out leading members of the Iraqi regime, following intelligence reports of their possible whereabouts. The Pentagon described the air strikes as "a target of opportunity" in the Baghdad area. Ripley went to say that the opening air strikes, which also included ship-launched Cruise missiles, were an unexpected start to the campaign. The considered view was that Coalition Forces were expected to launch what General Tommy Franks, the overall US commander, had graphically described as a campaign of "shock and awe". Whilst nobody, outside the military chain of command, knows the timing of the main US-British assault, which President Bush has called "a broad and concerted campaign", it is clear that Coalition Forces will take every opportunity to maintain the advantages afforded by tactical surprise. Following the launch of 2 Scud type missiles and 2 ship-launch type missiles by Iraqi forces into Kuwait, it can not be long before the Coalition Forces make their move to free Iraq and gear up their campaign of "shock and awe".

Meantime Francis Tusa, IDMA Vice Chairman, is the Defence specialist and daytime anchorman on Sky News television for the TV station's ongoing analysis and interpretation of what is actually happening on the ground. Tusa's deep knowledge of weapon systems, military technology and how military operations are conducted is contributing much to Sky News' comprehensive coverage and the overall understanding of its viewers. Francis Tusa's expert comments offer Sky News viewers a balanced insight into the capabilities of the forces engaged in combat. Tusa, the publisher of Defence Analysis, is characteristically providing a calm and authoritative analysis of the rapidly developing situation in the Gulf.

Doubling up on Francis Tusa for Sky News, Wilf Owen, takes up the evening and late night 'stag' on Sky News from Tusa. Between them IDMA is well represented throughout the 24 hour coverage on Sky News - considered by many to be providing the most timely and balanced of reports on a conflict that is fast becoming far more complex and hazardous than many pundits had forecasted. Wilf Owen, an experienced and valued television and radio commentator, is well regarded for his specialist knowledge on the use of Air Power, US Special Forces, the employment of marine and air assault forces, and the use of attack helicopters. Owen's commentary on Sky News is typically well judged and spiced with anecdotal detail that adds candour to the studio debate on scenes sent in by Sky's field reporters.

Mark Ashley is the Defence and military aviation analyst on TalkSPORT Radio, an independent radio station that specialises in providing live coverage of major sporting events, as well as international and national news reports. Come the radio station's regular news breaks, Mark Ashley is on air to provide an insight into the use of the combat airpower and 'weapon effects' munitions that are impacting on the developing conflict in Iraq. Ashley has a special reporting spot on TalkSPORT Radio's Breakfast Show and follow-up Morning Show programme. Ashley is a specialist aviation expert with a deep knowledge of combat aircraft and missile systems. His succinct radio reports are providing listeners with comparitive detail on the scale and performance of air and missile assets deployed by both the Iraqi and Coalition Forces.

The team at Defence Research & Analysis (DR&A) has been advising a number of media outlets during the current Gulf conflict, including BBC News 24 and Channel 4 television. Since September 2001, Robert Jarman has been resident military 'adviser' to TalkSPORT radio providing commentary and analysis on many aspects of the War Against Terrorism. With the onset of operations in the Gulf, TalkSPORT has now expanded its retinue of defence specialists to include several other IDMA members. In the meantime DR&A continues to keep the diplomatic and industrial communities up-to-date with defence and foreign affairs, through the weekly news brief Defence News Analysis (DNA) – A View From London (published since 1993).

Currently editor of the specialist defence publication Global Defence Review and founding editor of Air Forces Monthly, David Oliver is also a features writer for the Official RAF Magazine. With his expertise in air force, navy and army aviation operations and equipment, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Oliver has been heard on the BBC World Service following reports of Cruise missiles falling on Turkey and Iran, and has been invited to join the TalkSPORT Radio's team of defence analysts. Having co-produced the Discovery TV documentary featuring Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) called 'Robot Warriors', Oliver has an in depth in sight into the deployment of these assets in current military operations.

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