Posted on 02/22/2003 5:36:22 PM PST by Pokey78
Saddam plans to destroy everything in path of US and British assault
American and British war planners fear that Saddam Hussein may be preparing a scorched-earth policy ahead of any US military attack, destroying roads, bridges and other infrastructure to slow up advancing forces before a final and potentially bloody battle for Baghdad.
The revelation of a series of worst-case military scenarios emerged as military briefers, who have for months been portraying a military operation to remove Iraq as a 'walkover', began to offer more gloomy scenarios of potential pitfalls ahead.
Military analysts on both sides of the Atlantic now believe that an Iraqi strategy is likely to focus on slowing down advancing coalition forces - possibly with the use of chemical weapons or nerve agents - before a final battle for Baghdad.
The analysts believe Saddam Hussein is counting on forcing a stalemate by inflicting sufficient US casualties that any further advance becomes politically unacceptable in the United States and the UK. According to Pentagon officials, Saddam Hussein has given orders to blow up dams, destroy bridges and ignite oilfields.
British sources have speculated that Saddam Hussein may engineer a devastating humanitarian crisis against his own people - perhaps by use of weapons of mass destruction or denial of food - that would also draw in troops for humanitarian support, slowing any attack.
The deliberate leaking of the concerns over nightmare scenarios facing those prosecuting the war may, however, have a more cynical intent: to avoid accusations if the campaign encounters problems after months of leaks suggesting how easy it would be to depose the Iraqi dictator.
There are, however, genuine reasons for concern. Although defence officials are confident that much of the regular Iraqi army will surrender, they are less certain about better equipped and trained formations.
Leaks from Iraqi officers suggest that even the Republican Guard may be preparing to give up without a fight, but defence planners admit they have little or no information about the elite Special Republican Guard, which has between 15,000 and 30,000 soldiers dedicated to protecting the regime and is the only force permitted inside Baghdad.
US officials believe that in any attack on Baghdad besieging forces would most likely meet Iraqi forces deployed in 'collapsible concentric rings' who would try to draw US troops into fighting for the city's streets.
A recent order to equip these special units with chemical-protective gear and atropine anti-nerve agents has alarmed officers who fear they may use such weapons in any defence of the city.
The nature of Iraq's potential defence strategy was revealed to Congress by the director of the US Defence Intelligence Agency, Vice-Admiral Lowell Jacoby.
'If hostilities begin, Saddam is likely to employ a 'scorched-earth' strategy, destroying food, transportation, energy and other infrastructure, attempting to create a humanitarian disaster significant enough to stop a military advance,' he warned.
US and British military planners have been hoping to avoid heavy fighting for urban centres, with the high risk of casualties, and the even bigger political risk of already widespread international opposition to such a war being bolstered by media images of combat in civilian areas.
US troops have also had little training for fighting in urban areas in recent years, despite efforts to improve their urban warfare skills after the debacle in Somalia.
But while planning for the nightmare scenario continues, officials admit they simply do not know if the Republican Guard and Special Republican Guard will follow Saddam Hussein's orders in the event of a war, or if they will switch sides to save themselves.
In what way?
Works boths ways. The time has allowed the generals to medidate on the fact that they do not want to be hanged because of war crimes should they use bio or chem agents.
Sadaam is not going to be allowed to casually direct the defense of Baghdad from the safety of his presidential places or his bunkers.
'collapsible concentric rings' are a defense, they are also a bullseye.
What's this supposed to mean? There's only a sentence and a half left in the article! ;)
But seriously, do you disagree with the statement that American troops are undertrained for urban warfare? I certainly hope the article is wrong on this point.
With catapults and trebuchets!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.