[nopardons]

You've left out a tiny piece to the puzzle. Saddam's army was being coached by old Russian generals. He and they had planned a new " STAINGRAD ". The only thing they didn't consider, was that Baghdad isn't Stalingrad, his army would rather emulate the French, and WE don't rely on " old " war plans...we invent NEW ones.

[Billthedrill]

Those Russian generals were who I was referring to as con men with Slavic surnames. And con men they were. One of them is said to have received a medal from Our Boy for his expertise in air defense. Yeah, air defense. I hope he cashed the check reeeeeal quick.

In any case, the Sovs don't really have much experience stopping a Blitzkrieg, Stalingrad included. The Germans outran their logistics, and we nearly did the same. But we solved the problem and the Germans did not. And we avoided known seasonal weather difficulties and the Germans did not. And we won, and the Germans did not. Runner-up is not an entirely comfortable position when the Red Army's knocking on your doorstep...or the Third Infantry Division, either.

[John Valentine]

He and they had planned a new " STAINGRAD ".

Well, he did wind up as a stain on the floor of that Baghdad resaurant, so I guess he did get his "Staingrad" after all.