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US Opens Way For Summer War In Iraq To Be Fought At Night
The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 1-5-2003 | Sean Rayment

Posted on 01/04/2003 5:08:21 PM PST by blam

US opens way for summer war in Iraq to be fought at night

By Sean Rayment, Defence Correspondent
(Filed: 05/01/2003)

Allied commanders are drawing up plans to fight a war against Iraq entirely at night, allowing an invasion during the heat of summer.

Front-line American troops have undergone intensive training recently in preparation for night combat.

American soldiers possess the world's most advanced battlefield night-vision equipment. Generals believe that their ability to fight in complete darkness will prove to be a vital factor in the outcome of the conflict.

The possibility of a summer invasion gives President George W. Bush the option of delaying an attack until all the military and political factors are in his favour. Military commanders say that surprise remains crucial for a quick and successful attack against Saddam Hussein.

They accept that the Iraqi leader must now be aware of "how and where" his forces will be attacked. The unknown quantity is "when". They believe that making Saddam aware that a summer invasion is now possible will undermine his ability to prepare for war.

Until recently, US military chiefs hinted that a summer invasion of Iraq was unlikely because its desert temperatures can pass 104°F (40°C).

Military equipment, such as tanks and self-propelled artillery pieces, tend to develop problems in such heat, while troops can quickly become tired or dehydrated, especially if they have to wear heavy suits to protect against chemical or germ warfare.

Fighting a war at night, when temperatures drop to about 68°F (20°C), would eliminate many of the drawbacks.

Each American soldier is equipped and trained to use night-vision goggles, which have the effect of "turning the night battlefield into day". All front-line US troops are also issued with a laser target-marker fitted to their rifles. At the touch of a button, the laser will place a red dot on a target, showing exactly where the bullet will hit when the trigger is pulled.

Night-vision equipment is also part of the weapons system in every American tank, armoured troop carrier, jet aircraft and helicopter.

The British Army, which also prides itself on its night-time military skills, does not possess anything quite as good as the US equipment.

British troops usually share night-vision goggles, while a night-vision weapon sight, which can be fitted to the SA-80A2 rifle, is issued to only one for every three or four soldiers.

RAF fighter and bomber pilots are trained in night attacks, and some helicopter pilots are trained to use night-vision goggles, but their cost, at about £4,000 a pair, has prevented them from being standard issue to all troops.

Iraq's army, one of the world's biggest with almost 400,000 regular troops and 650,000 reserves, has a very limited night-vision capability. The 60,000-strong Republican Guard is equipped with Russian-made T-72 tanks, which do have night sights, but most Iraqi troops have none and would be dependent on flares and illumination from artillery rounds during a night battle.

A senior British Army officer, who has trained with US troops, said he believed that their capability to fight a full-scale war in darkness was probably the most powerful weapon in their armoury. The officer told The Telegraph: "The US has the best night-vision equipment in the world. It is light, sturdy and gives a crystal clear image with real depth, which allows the soldier to engage the enemy with a phenomenal amount of accuracy.

"Night fighting is part of US military doctrine and they train intensively in darkness in all operational theatres."

The officer added: "The current thinking is that the US will go to war when the conditions are right. If that is in June - they will go in June.

"They would prefer to fight at night because their advantage is not diminished, but comparatively increased. Less well-equipped and trained armies, like the Iraqis, lose a great deal.

"This isn't going to be an El Alamein battle in which they're fighting for weeks and weeks in desert heat. It will be short, sharp and brutal."


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: fought; night; summer; us; war; warlist
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1 posted on 01/04/2003 5:08:21 PM PST by blam
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To: blam
Each American soldier is equipped and trained to use night-vision goggles, which have the effect of "turning the night battlefield into day". All front-line US troops are also issued with a laser target-marker fitted to their rifles.

I remember when (80-83) NOGs were unusual- when I was in I probably wore them two or three times, and that was only as a jeep driver. Interesting they're that common now.

Not sure I'd want to base my whole operation on what time of the day we will fight.

2 posted on 01/04/2003 5:13:57 PM PST by fourdeuce82d
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To: blam
The article ignores the fact that the area around Baghdad, especially to the south, begins to flood after the winter snows in the mountains to the North melt in March. Mesapotamia means "land between the rivers", and that aptly describes the flooding that enriches Iraq's soil seasonally. But not good for maneuver or armor.

It also seems oblivious to the requirement that muster period must be kept as short as possible to avoid exposing the troops to WMD attacks. Most of the equipment is there already; so that the troops can marry up with them as quickly as possible.

Lastly, combat tempo means you can't conveniently stop and start fighting. Fight at night and sack out by day? Puleeze.
3 posted on 01/04/2003 5:15:55 PM PST by wretchard
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To: wretchard
This is just another feign?
4 posted on 01/04/2003 5:22:30 PM PST by blam
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To: blam
Romme's offensive went on through the summer of 42, but the British counterattack at El Alamein started on 23 Oct and went on through early November. I would think the temperatures would have been somewhat cooler by then. In addition, El Alamein is near the coast, so the climate may be more moderate than in the interior.

Interesting site here containing the reminiscences of a British soldier at El Alamein, plus a lot of other good stuff.

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/8180/sid.html

5 posted on 01/04/2003 5:22:58 PM PST by kms61
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To: fourdeuce82d
My first duty station was the Night Vision Laboratory at Ft. Belvoir, VA. We did all the T&E on the 1st generation night vision devices, called starlight scopes in those days.
You would have thought you were going into the depository at Ft Knox when you went into the lab to work.

Fascinating work..
6 posted on 01/04/2003 5:39:49 PM PST by VMI70
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To: *war_list
http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list
7 posted on 01/04/2003 5:47:54 PM PST by Free the USA
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To: blam
What if the Iraqi's decide they want to fight during the day time?
8 posted on 01/04/2003 5:50:24 PM PST by ChicagoRepublican
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To: blam
Won't there be quite a bit of light when we drop those new, bigger, and better daisy cutters? Of course, I guess it doesn't matter because whoever it's dropped on won't be able to see anything afterwards anyway. :o)
9 posted on 01/04/2003 5:58:31 PM PST by McGavin999
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To: ChicagoRepublican
It won't or doesn't matter when the Iraqis want to fight - the choice is not theirs in the defense.
10 posted on 01/04/2003 5:59:13 PM PST by 11B3
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To: blam
How can you sleep outside when it's 130 degrees? and the Iraqis are gonna do nothing while our guys sack out? It will be a 24 hour war nonstop for a while at least. Lot of our troops said they didnt sleep a wink during the 100 Hours land campaign.
11 posted on 01/04/2003 6:05:12 PM PST by Eternal_Bear
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To: Eternal_Bear
"Lot of our troops said they didnt sleep a wink during the 100 Hours land campaign."

I believe that. I was at home and didn't sleep much either.

12 posted on 01/04/2003 6:09:47 PM PST by blam
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To: wretchard; Eternal_Bear; blam
If it's not feasible to fight during the day due to the extreme temperatures, I would assume Iraqis wouldn't be able to fight and we wouldn't be able to either. So both sides get to sleep during the day.

I have to assume Iraqi tanks don't have good air conditioning, and that would probably mean anyone mad enough to use an Iraqi tank during the summer daytime would be cooked - literally.

Interesting point about the flooding, though.

I think this article was released as a propaganda piece, to warn Saddam that we're keeping all our options open. As long as he thinks that, it doesn't matter that the reality of fighting at night in summer might not be that easily done. He has to plan for this now, even if we have no true intention of doing it.

D

13 posted on 01/04/2003 6:17:42 PM PST by daviddennis
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To: blam
"...It will be short, sharp and brutal."

I guess this means our Commander in Chief isn't about to fire a $2 million missle into some tent and hit a camel in the butt! Ain't that right, Hillary?

14 posted on 01/04/2003 6:32:11 PM PST by Paulie
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To: blam
I never did understand the big fuss about desert heat. Most of the United States is brutally hot during the summer. Given a choice of spending (weatherwise) a July in Baghdad or a July in Birmingham, Alabama, I think most people would rather have the weather of Baghdad. In Alabama (and the rest of the deep South), the combination of heat and humidity is brutal and there is little relief at night. Contrast that to the dry desert heat that is actually comfortable at night. I spent two years living in the Mojave desert of California where summertime temperatures were 105 to 115 and I was surprised at how quickly I got used to the climate. I don't think I'll ever get used to the 95 degrees of the Deep South however (including Texas).
15 posted on 01/04/2003 6:33:44 PM PST by SamAdams76
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To: blam
I think that this might have a lot to do with informing Saddam that he can't safely assume that if he just stalls until late spring, he's home free for the following six months.
16 posted on 01/04/2003 7:49:29 PM PST by Stefan Stackhouse
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To: blam
Hm. Call me a cynic, but does anyone else sense the moment for decisive action once more slipping away into the misty future?
17 posted on 01/04/2003 8:18:56 PM PST by Grut
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To: Grut
Hm. Call me a cynic, but does anyone else sense the moment for decisive action once more slipping away into the misty future?

I was just thinking the same. When does credibility become a problem? It seems to me we draw a line in the sand and then we keep moving the line. LETS GET THIS OVER!!!

18 posted on 01/04/2003 9:35:12 PM PST by teletech
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To: blam
It's possible there's some gamesmanship going on here. Start talking about a summer attack, start downplaying the notion of imminent invasion, get everyone thinking that either we aren't ready to go or were bluffing all along, and then bring Baghdad down around Saddam's ears.
19 posted on 01/04/2003 9:37:00 PM PST by Physicist
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To: Physicist
"It's possible there's some gamesmanship going on here."

I believe so. Saddam and his boys must be exhausted from being 'under the gun' for so long.

20 posted on 01/04/2003 9:46:08 PM PST by blam
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