We’ve announced the attack in order to thin the Jihadi ranks, particularly officers.
The next couple of weeks will be full of forced errors on the Jihadi’s part.
Could get funny at times.
If all you want to do is take the city it makes sense.
But why would you not want to kill or capture as many of the ISIS officers and men as possible?
The giving away the element of surprise still makes no sense.
If you give the Jihadi the chance to flee the city they will just form up elsewhere and kill and maim more people. Perhaps you can kill or capture a few on the road. But I am of the opinion that kill them in Mosul while you have the chance is the best strategy.
Blitzkrieg is still a great tactic. Hit them fast and hard before they can react.