Military to use "Shock and Awe" battle plan

CBS ^ | 24 January 2003 | David Martin

[n2rox]

"If the Pentagon sticks to its current war plan, one day in March the Air Force and Navy will launch between 300 and 400 cruise missiles at targets in Iraq."

"On the second day, the plan calls for launching another 300 to 400 cruise missiles."

"The battle plan is based on a concept developed at the National Defense University. It's called "Shock and Awe" and it focuses on the psychological destruction of the enemy's will to fight rather than the physical destruction of his military forces."

[n2rox]

They probably won't launch now that the "human shields" are on their way to Baghdad.

[rintense]

Seriously doubt human shields would stop the US. What troubles me most about this article is the March timeframe.

[Dog]

March???

[swarthyguy]

Nope. Gen Myers, at a press conference, said the presence of idiots at a bombing target site would not immunize the site. And he added the caveat that from high up in the air, it may be impossible to distinguish iraki soldiers from gringos, despite the efforts of the US to avoid civilian casualties.

FWIW.

[marron]

it focuses on the psychological destruction of the enemy's will to fight rather than the physical destruction of his military forces."

This is a good idea, since we are expecting the regular Army to switch sides and join us.

But just in case that doesn't happen, we had better be prepared with Plan B, which does include the "physical destruction of his military forces".

[n2rox]

I agree and was joking about the human shields. Sounds more like the date is getting pushed back.

[dennisw]

Sounds like China's plan for Taiwan. AKA blitzkreig

[Redcloak]

Um... Do we have 800 cruise missiles in the inventory?

[Capitalist Eric]

As a military vet, I prefer the old strategy:

"SHOOT AND KILL"

FReegards

[Dog]

Go read the article....someone in the Pentagon calls this plan a joke..

[Mr. Lucky]

Shock and awe?

Shouldn't our forces first get in touch with their feelings?

Jeepers it's great to have adults in charge.

[n2rox]

This is from the same article...

"Last year, in Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan, the U.S. was badly surprised by the willingness of al Qaeda to fight to the death. If the Iraqis fight, the U.S. would have to throw in reinforcements and win the old fashioned way by crushing the republican guards, and that would mean more casualties on both sides."

[HardStarboard]

They probably won't launch now that the "human shields" are on their way to Baghdad.

Wrong! They are the first targets! If I was running the show!

[demsux]

Aim right at the "volunteer" shields...they won't do it again

[dighton]

1) Those who know, aren't talking. (Cliches 'R' Us).

2) Lots of "human shields" should be killed, to send the unmistakable message: don't anybody try this stunt again, because it will not work.

[Nick Danger]

one day in March the Air Force and Navy will launch between 300 and 400 cruise missiles at targets in Iraq

Every 3.6 minutes, something in Iraq blows up. I say they run out of fire trucks.

[Falcon4.0]

What troubles me is the these rectal orifices in the media think it is ok to devulge this kind of info even if it is hear say. If there is any truth to their reporting it puts American lives in danger just as much as the decesion by the President to deploy the troops. I wonder why we don't have a national debate over whether Dan Rather should give out Lat's and Long's of troop position if he knew them.

[Night Hides Not]

You're sitting in Baghdad and all of a sudden you're the general and 30 of your division headquarters have been wiped out. You also take the city down. By that I mean you get rid of their power, water. In 2,3,4,5 days they are physically, emotionally and psychologically exhausted," Ullman tells Martin.

It won't take the human shields 5 minutes to be trying to get the hell out of Baghdad. I doubt they'll have enough human shields to surround more than 10 targets. If that Iraqi general is lucky, he'll only lose 20 of his divisional headquarters.

It's been almost 20 years since I got out of the Army. The sophistication of today's weaponry is astounding. I'm sure these missiles will be launched at night, and nobody will have a clue until after the missiles have struck.

Sounds good to me.

[MHGinTN]

Noting your tagline, did you catch the news today that Chirac has been pocketing cash from Saddam ... money to him personally, not into his political coffers?

[aculeus]

They probably won't launch now that the "human shields" are on their way to Baghdad.

I fervently hope no "human shield" is hurt.

(Kill them! If wounded they'll come home and play "victim" for the rest of their rotten lives.)