Iraq Massing 4 Divisions on Jordanian Frontier Border

World Net Daily.com and DEBKAfile Security and Terrorism Newsletter ^ | April 24, 2002 | Gioria Shamis and Diane Shalem (Former 'The Economist' Magazine Reporter-30 year yeteran)

[codebreaker]

DEKAfile's military sources provide details of the Iraqi troop movements.

The force Iraq started massing some weeks ago contains 3-4 of its 7 crack Republican Guard Divisions, which are stationed in the center of the country opposite the Jordanian frontier. They are fanned out across a 300 sq.km stretch of land, bounded by four bases:H-3 Main, H-3 Southwest, and H-3 Northwest-350 km. west of Baghdad-and the big al Baghdadi ground and air base west of town of Rutbah.

The Iraqi high command reckons the first American strike, carried out under the cover of bombing and missile barrage, will try and capture this area and take over the four bases-much in the way a main US base was set up in Kandahar, Afhganistan. From there the US forces will threaten the capital Baghdad.

The Iraqi response will be to divide their strength into two contingents. One leg by Saddam Hussein's son Qusay, will fall back towards Baghdad; the other will push into Jordan and sieze its eastern region, ready for an eventual move into the capital Amman. The Israeli troop concentration the Saudis are referring to-whose presence Israeli spokesmen deny-is poised to defend Jordan against this very Iraqi assault.

By his pincer movement, Saddam hopes to crush the American force, trapping it in a isolated pocket, vulnerable to a blitz of missiles carrying chemical and biological agents. Simultaneously, Iraqi missile barrages will be aimed at Israel and US military targets in the Jewish state, as well as American military facilities in the Gulf, Kuwait and Qatar.Iraq is also set to counter alternative US tatics. This week, Baghdad deployed heavy reinforcements of anti-air missile batteries in the southern and northern no-fly zones patrolled by US and British allied planes. This move was a preventative measure against a possible US attempt to sieze Iraq's northern and southern oilfields. The batteries are aimed not only against bombers but also large scale helicopter squadrons flying US and British Marines in from Kuwait, Oman or Turkey.

[codebreaker]

Thanks.

[dead]

I accept your apology.

[hobbes1]

And I hope to take Anna Kournikova on a romantic cruise.

I'll hav her call you, when we return....

[LenS]

It's also another Road of Death like what occurred in Kuwait at the end of the Gulf War. IDAF or USAAF or USN air attacks would decimate such an attack on an open highway. It would need air cover and the only possibilities would be the Saudis or Syria. But Syria's Air Force would most likely be shredded even worse than they were over the Bekaa Valley twenty years ago. And Saudi air cover would lead to open war with the US and Israel. The House of Saud would not survive. So the House of Saud would do what it does best -- stay out of real fighting.

[Soul Citizen]

Nice shot

[wny]

This is the same debka that had Chinese troops intervening in A'stan to save the taliban.

[Dog Gone]

Look out. According to tallhappy, those who criticize Debka are idiots.

I know you're going to fret about that fact all night. ;-)

[xm177e2]

DEBKA is always fun to read, but that's about it.

[Husker24]

Yes they would, theyve asked for Isreali air cover before.

[AF68]

"Now, would crack refer to what they're smoking or that portion of their anatomy most commonly seen by their enemies?"

"There really should be an weekly award given to notible Freepers for Best Posts of the Week. I nominate yours."

I'll second that.

[caddie]

...crack Republican Guard...LOL!

They must mean, 'butt-crack'.

[HP8753]

DEBKA???????.....Looks like Miss Cleo got a new job. ;-)

[Enemy Of The State]

Considering how Iraqs military was seriously reduced during the Gulf war, I think Sodom is leaving the hen house open for a flogging :)

I think its great that all these countrys are massing their troops up on the borders of Israel, It sure makes an easier target if you can hit them all at once :)

[okie01]

"Are these the same divisions DEBKA said had already crossed the Jordanian border enroute to Israel a few months back?"

Oh, no. Those earlier divisions secretly "infiltrated" across the unoccupied desert, remember? Even now they are "arrayed" on the River Jordan, facing Israel, and are waiting to "link up" with these new divisions.

And nobody has any idea they are there. Except DEBKA.