Skirting Baghdad trap

Washington Post ^ | 11 November 2002 | Thomas E. Ricks

[Asmodeus]

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration has settled on a plan for a possible invasion of Iraq that envisions seizing most of the country quickly and encircling Baghdad, but assumes that Saddam Hussein will probably fall from power before U.S. forces enter the capital, senior U.S. military officials said.

Hedging its bets, the Pentagon is also preparing for the possibility of prolonged fighting in and around Baghdad. Administration war planners expect that, even if the Iraqi president is deposed, there could be messy skirmishes there and in Saddam's hometown, Tikrit, the military officials said.

[SamAdams76]

At their request, several aspects of the plan are being withheld from publication.

Well that's nice of them. BTW, aren't we supposed to refrain from posting Compost articles? How much text are we allowed to quote before we break that silly agreement?

[SamAdams76]

I guess my question was just answered. For the post got cut down to two paragraphs.

[AngrySpud]

" ... encircling Baghdad."

Just like the Middle Ages; lay siege to the city. I'd bet within two weeks Sadaam would either fly away into exile, or be shot in the head by his own.

[Uncle Miltie]

Firebomb Tikrit.

[hchutch]

Saddam ought to look up two phrases on Google:

"Sir Arthur Harris" and "Dresden"

Then he ought to wonder just what a ticked off USA might do.

[r9etb]

Just like the Middle Ages; lay siege to the city. I'd bet within two weeks Sadaam would either fly away into exile, or be shot in the head by his own.

Finish that sentence: "... by his own son."

Be that as it may, I think once Saddam is encircled, most of Iraq comes over to our side. Just a guess, mind you.