Posted on 07/29/2002 3:43:09 AM PDT by ZULU
U.S. Explores Strike Options Against Iraq-NY Times Updated 2:41 AM ET July 29, 2002
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United States is exploring the concept of taking Baghdad and one or two key command centers and weapons depots first in the hope of prompting a quick collapse of Saddam Hussein's Iraqi government, the New York Times reported on Monday.
The aim would be to kill or isolate Saddam and preempt Iraq's use of weapons of mass destruction, whether against an incoming force, front-line allies or Israel.
The Baghdad-first or "inside-out" approach would capitalize on the American military's ability to strike over long distances, maneuvering forces to envelop a large target, the Times said, citing senior administration and Pentagon officials.
Advocates of the plan say it reflects the desire to avoid committing a quarter-million American troops, yet hits hard enough to succeed, the newspaper said.
The advantages and risks of strikes aimed deep inside the country and radiating outward are under discussion, though no formal plan has been presented to President Bush or senior members of his national security team.
Officials say it may be possible to paralyze the highly centralized and authoritarian Iraqi command-and-control system. Mid-level officers are not taught to improvise, should they be cut off from commanders.
While other options are being considered, the Baghdad plan could appeal to Gulf allies of the U.S. who are nervous about a large-scale U.S. military deployment, the unnamed officials told The Times.
Yet the 250,000-man figure could still be accurate, the newspaper said, as it might take that many troops to ensure that forces dropped into Baghdad are not isolated or surrounded, bereft of support, food and ammunition.
Defense Department deputy spokesman Bryan Whitman had no comment in response to the article, the newspaper said.
In a purer and more pristine past, when men were allowed to act like men, a lynch party would have appeared at their headquarters, burned the presses and strung up the scumbags responsible for this.
AH for the good old days when men were men.
Here's an article posted earlier which mentions Congressman Biden.
A talking head on Fox this morning said the US has been pastering Iraqi officer's e-mail accounts with messages about how badly they are going to get whipped, and assorted other things which might persuade them to take things into their own hands, or get other results. Perhaps this is part of it.
Rumsfeld ain't gonna like another leaker. The Pentagon needs to find the folks with loose lips and drag their a$$es off in handcuffs.
Yes, I never underestimate Rumsfeld or his capacity to double-double think his enemies, both inside and outside the U.S. government. On the other hand, you cannot underestimate the capacity of anti-U.S. operatives (Clinton holdovers, but I repeat myself) inside the government bureaucracy to sabotage.
Hard to tell who is pulling the strings in this particular news story, tho -- Rumsfeld or our enemies.
:-D
Britney Spears naked
Nigerian money laundering scheme
Death threat from Donald Rumsfeld
Human Growth Hormone alternatives
Joke about Sadam and a camel with far too many > > > > at the beginning of lines.
Another death threat from Rumsfeld
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