Troop Deployments Raise Questions on War Timing and Strategy

STRATFOR ^ | Mar 04, 2003 | Staff

[SubMareener]

It has been said before, but should be repeated: "Those who know are not talking." When this is over, and the story can finally be told, you are all going to be amazed!

[Rome2000]

NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla.
33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

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March 3, 2003
Release Number: 03-03-03


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


COALITION FORCES TARGET IRAQI COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES, AIR DEFENSE FACILITY

MACDILL AFB, FL -- In response to Iraqi hostile actions toward Coalition aircraft monitoring compliance of United Nations Security Council Resolutions, Operation SOUTHERN WATCH Coalition aircraft used precision-guided weapons yesterday to target four Iraqi military communications facilities and an air defense facility. The Coalition struck the targets at approximately 6 p.m. EST.

The communication facilities were located near Al Kut, approximately 95 miles southeast of Baghdad; the air defense facility was located near Al Basrah, approximately 245 miles southeast of Baghdad.

Target battle damage assessment is ongoing.

The Coalition struck the targets after Iraqi forces fired anti-aircraft artillery earlier in the day at Coalition aircraft supporting Operation Southern Watch. The specific targets were struck because the enhanced Iraq's integrated air defense network.

The last Operation Southern Watch strike was on March 1, when Coalition aircraft used precision-guided weapons to target military communications sites and a mobile early warning radar. Those strikes were also in response to Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery being directed toward coalition aircraft.

Coalition aircraft never target civilian populations or infrastructure and go to painstaking lengths to avoid injury to civilians and damage to civilian facilities.

[Rome2000]

[Always A Marine]

It has been said before, but should be repeated: "Those who know are not talking."

I wish that trite old phrase was true, but it is not, as too many people talk all the time. While their babbling might not appear in print, an astute enemy doesn't need too many details to piece together the story. Fortunately, that where good ole disinformation comes in to muddy the waters...

[mystery-ak]

I agree....but the way this article reads the 4thID is going to miss the party.

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Free the USA]

fyi

[Beck_isright]

I don't think so. I think they'll be used to secure the Iranian border as that party could come before we are ready. I understand the deployment and it makes perfect sense. What scares me is the reaction of the Iranians if we are delayed for more than 7 days in taking Baghdad.

[Stefan Stackhouse]

Or it COULD be that some of those armoured divisions are secretly shipping out to someplace OTHER than Iraq. . .

Hmmms. . . I WONDER where "someplace other than Iraq" could possibly be? Think! Think! Hmmmm. . .

;-)

[Amerigomag]

When this is over, and the story can finally be told, you are all going to be amazed!

Probably but when?

As an example we are just beginning to understand the screw up on Schwarzkopf's part that resulted in the no fly zones. That was more than 10 years ago and it's just becomming public knowledge.

[mystery-ak]

I hope you are right...I know a couple of troops in the 4thID that will be real upset if they miss this.

[Cautor]

It has been said before, but should be repeated: "Those who know are not talking." When this is over, and the story can finally be told, you are all going to be amazed!

I'm convinced you are right.

[Hunble]

I agree, Iran is the country to keep an eye upon. Once we have Iraq under control, Iran is surrounded.

Those of us that still remember the Iran hostage crisis, still hold a grudge.

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

It's going to be a long week/weekend filled with up's and down's...

The most key of events will be this Friday with the UN vote.

We won't go before then, because Colin Powell is out touting as much, he has a promise from GWB.

After Friday, all bets are off.

TMMT

[TADSLOS]

I agree....but the way this article reads the 4thID is going to miss the party

Maybe, but this is a block party. There's another opportunity right across the street.

[Beck_isright]

I remember. And so do they. They know we have payback in our hearts and the mullahs will be dragged through the streets by the college students if we liberate Iran. Sadly, that will be the bloodiest war we fight if there is no civil war. I worry it will be as bad as Korea.

[TADSLOS]

When this is over, and the story can finally be told, you are all going to be amazed!

Yep. It's gonna be fun to watch the looks on all the "pundits" faces.

[Beck_isright]

I don't think the 4th will get to party until they are marching to Tehran. Godspeed to your family and thank them for me for their service.

[section9]

Or it COULD be that some of those armoured divisions are secretly shipping out to someplace OTHER than Iraq. . .

Hmmms. . . I WONDER where "someplace other than Iraq" could possibly be? Think! Think! Hmmmm.

The Iraqi army is going to fold up like a cheap Three-Card Monte table. They will literally not know what hit them. I think the service chiefs are being overly cautious, as they should be, but I think the President wants a huge mailed fist in the region to deal with the Syrians or the Iranians, and, in addition, to lean hard on the Saudis.

It is possible, just possible, that Saudi involvement in 9-11 and the Al-Qaeda enterprise were far, far deeper than has publicly been acknowledged by the Administration.

However, just as likely is that these units are being activated for the Pacific Theater. Kim is getting a tad funny in the head, you know.

Be Seeing You,

Chris