Awaiting ‘G-Day’ - U.S. Considers Hypothetical Planning Dates For Air, Ground War

abcnews ^ | March 15, 2003

[Indy Pendance]

W A S H I N G T O N, March 15 — U.S. military planners have begun circulating hypothetical dates for the start of air and ground offensives in Iraq, military sources told ABCNEWS.

"A-Day," which would mark the start of an air war, and "G-Day," which would mark the start of a ground war, are marks on a calendar that the military is using as a theoretical timeline — so it can be combat ready if and when President Bush decides to go to war.

The actual G-Day and A-Day planning dates are not being publicly disclosed.

Logistics in Motion

Even the smallest units of the Army are now being told to be ready, which requires a high degree of coordination — involving everything from programming targets to deciding the sleep schedules of pilots.

"One of the greatest problems in modern warfare is you've got to synchronize vast numbers of land and air movements with a speed of reaction and an accuracy of targeting no one has ever done in warfare before," said Anthony Cordesman, an ABCNEWS military analyst. "You don't know the date you're going to fight on, but you constantly have to make changes as new forces arise and we re-deploy.

"This exercise involves thousands of men and women, some in uniform, some in the intelligence community back in the United States," he added. "You're coordinating satellite data, data from unmanned aerial vehicles [and] data from Special Forces that may already be in Iraq. And to pull all of this together is something you almost have to do by the day."

As the target dates approach, each American soldier has been issued a small "rules of engagement" card with clear instructions about who may be shot in battle — basically anyone in a threatening posture, armed, or obviously signaling other potential enemies as to the coalition locations — and who may not.

The cards also include hypothetical scenarios. Above all else, they stress that deadly force is authorized at all times in occasions of self defense.

More to Be Done

Despite the target dates, there are several significant pieces that are not in place.

The U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division — 17,000 men and women who are expected to be among the first in combat — is still waiting for some of its equipment.

Because of Turkey's refusal to allow U.S. forces to use its airspace, 225 aircraft that were to be based in Turkey are not yet ready for action, and a dozen Navy warships still are in moving from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.

"What senior U.S. commanders have said is this — that if the president gives the order, they can start the campaign today," Cordesman said.

"But the ability to fight that campaign successfully, quickly and with a minimum of risk is going to be limited by lack of reinforcements and by the fact that the forces in Turkey will not be available," he added. "So can war begin very quickly? Yes. Will there be an increase in risk? Well, yes to that too."

[maquiladora]

This is what you heard on the radio.

[maquiladora]

The actual G-Day and A-Day planning dates are not being publicly disclosed.

Talk about stating the obvious!

[Indy Pendance]

No sh*t. The media is so dense.

[section9]

No sh*t. The media is so dense.

Indeed. They're even buying into this obvious piece of dezinformatsiya.

There is no "G" or "A" day. There is only one Designated ("D") Day. On that day, everything will happen at once. Air, airborne, airmobile, infantry, and armor assets will all attack at the same time. The idea is to recreate what the Germans achieved in the Low Countries and France in May of 1940. The idea is to overload the Iraqis and give them too many things to respond to at once.

They can't, of course. It's Blitzkrieg.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[SubMareener]

Things have changed. Things are now measured from "A" Day and "G" Day. We still don't discuss when these are.

[InABunkerUnderSF]

G-Day? Does that mean the Ausies are leading the attack??? :)