WashPost: Audacious Mission, Awesome Risks

The Washington Post ^ | March 16, 2003 | Rick Atkinson

[mikegi]

CAMP NEW JERSEY, Kuwait, March 15 -- With a force only one-third the size of the one that liberated Kuwait 12 years ago, U.S. commanders poised to attack Iraq have been given a far more ambitious mission: March hundreds of miles to Baghdad, neutralize the Iraqi military, overthrow President Saddam Hussein and then prevent a country the size of California from disintegrating into chaos.

The war plan they have devised to do all this is by most accounts innovative, even daring. "We literally could be in Baghdad in three or four days," said one general here in the field. "How audacious do you want to be?"

But those qualities also make this mission riskier than other recent U.S. military operations. Retired Marine Gen. Joseph P. Hoar, a former chief of the Central Command, the U.S. military headquarters for the Middle East, noted that danger is "what comes with being bold and audacious."

The aspects of the operation that most worry planners here, and Pentagon insiders and experts in the United States, are the emphasis on lightning, simultaneous operations that could result in "friendly fire" incidents; the dependence on a 350-mile supply line; and the heavy reliance on Special Operations troops behind enemy lines. Overhanging the entire operation is the prospect that Iraq could use chemical or biological weapons. The other major fear is that U.S. forces could be bogged down in an urban battle that could turn Baghdad into a modern Stalingrad -- a possibility that has resulted in some troops here being issued battle axes and battering rams. ...

[mikegi]

What in the heck is a "battle axe"? Anyway, I hope our guys have plenty of slack built in to the schedule so that the inevitable SNAFUs can be managed.

Still, I wonder what nasty surprise Saddam has up his sleeves. He knows he's a dead man. Baghdad worries me. I don't like the idea of a siege nor do I like the idea of our guys marching into the city. A few of Saddam's men will fight but it certainly won't be like Mogadishu. I think we should send in the Kurds.

[bart99]

I read somewhere just recently that all the tanks and artilary in bagdad are well hidden in underground chambers - places where the inspectors no doubt never knew about and where the WMD probably are hidden. The Iraqi's are planning to wait out the air campaign, then bring out the weapons. Other than that, I can only think that they will hide themselves as civilians and do some homicide bombing on our troops as they congratulate and welcome us. Who knows.

[litany_of_lies]

We had 750,000 troops in the Gulf to liberate Kuwait, and we have 250,000 now for a more ambitious mission. Yikes, even if you acknowledge technological advances that probably enable you to get more done with fewer troops.

Clinton decimated the military more than I thought.

This perhaps explains why it took so freaking long to mobilize.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Battle Axe:

[CatOwner]

Don't forget the Democrat's call for the "Peace Dividend" after the Gulf War. By the time Republicans got control of the House in 1995, the damage by the RATs had already been done. And with Clinton in the White House, no way to undo the decimation.

[aynrandfreak]

March hundreds of miles to Baghdad? I imagine that some sort of transporation will be provided.

[xm177e2]

What in the heck is a "battle axe"?

Saddam's mother-in-law, to be used as a human shield.

[rolling_stone]

Re Battle Axe, I was thinking more of Helen Thomas....

[xm177e2]

March hundreds of miles to Baghdad?

"I just walked in from Doha, and boy are my legs tired" (canned laughter)

[Scott from the Left Coast]

I played it straight.

[MigrantOkie]

When Saddam was desperate in the Iran-Iraq war he used chemical weapons, it worked. There are some that have indicated that the threat of the same or worse may have ended the first Gulf War.

[CatOwner]

"When Saddam was desperate in the Iran-Iraq war he used chemical weapons, it worked. There are some that have indicated that the threat of the same or worse may have ended the first Gulf War."

Maybe that's why 9/11 occurred. Saddam has amassed enough chemical weapons to infect the entire Middle East, including our troops. It's almost like he expected us to come to him and he's been waiting for this confrontation.

Or I could just be paranoid! ;)

[section9]

Other than that, I can only think that they will hide themselves as civilians and do some homicide bombing on our troops as they congratulate and welcome us. Who knows.

History has taught us that it is the wise commander, who understands, but doesn't take counsel of, his fears, and chooses to be bold and daring nonetheless.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[tomahawk]

I believe that in the North, the Kurds will lend their support, and in the South, the Shiites will be happy to see Saddam defeated. The Republican Guard forces can be targeted from the air.

If they put their tanks next to schools or mosques, too bad. They will need to be targeted wherever they are. I do not believe they are suicidal, which is what they will be if they fight for Saddam.

[mrsalty]

NO, He has already killed her!!

[Jeff Chandler]

What in the heck is a "battle axe"?

 

[Consort]

It would be diplomatic to let the Iraqi Opposition take back Baghdad with some help from the Kurds. They have a big score to settle with Saddam.

[11B3]

The traditional thought about Baghdad becoming a siege is rooted in the first Gulf War - we bombed for a long time before the ground forces went in. This time, the bombardment of the major strategic and high-value targets will still be underway when the ground forces begin to appear hundreds of miles behind the lines.

The bombing this time will be far different as well. Using JDAMs in conjunction with the Tomahawks, given the size of our available air assets we could theoretically strike several THOUSAND places simultaneously. Imagine a time-on-target mission where 2,500 -3,000 points were bombed at the very same moment. By programming the JDAMs pre-flight and using 300-400 aircraft of all types this could happen. That is what the 'shock and awe' is about: Destruction of that many places simultaneously coupled with the appearance of SF soldiers instantly - almost as though they followed the bombs down out of the aircraft.

[xm177e2]

Fine then, Arafat's mother-in-law. She's an important person to him (his marriage to her daughter is a sham to make him look hetero and increase her power within his regime)

[The Great Satan]

With a force only one-third the size of the one that liberated Kuwait 12 years ago, U.S. commanders poised to attack Iraq have been given a far more ambitious mission: March hundreds of miles to Baghdad, neutralize the Iraqi military, overthrow President Saddam Hussein and then prevent a country the size of California from disintegrating into chaos.

A word to the wise: Dubya has no intention of launching an invasion of Iraq any time soon, and Saddam knows it.