Ground war on Baghdad seen by Tuesday-UK source

Reuters | Sunday, March 23, 2003

[JohnHuang2]

Ground war on Baghdad seen by Tuesday-UK source

LONDON, March 23 (Reuters) - The ground war to capture Baghdad should begin by Tuesday, with no plan for U.S.-British troops to get bogged down fighting in Iraq's second city of Basra, a British defence source said on Sunday.

"We're looking towards Monday night, Tuesday for the ground offensive on Baghdad," the source told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

"The important thing is not to take Basra but to get through it and get to the north. We won't get into fighting in downtown Basra."

The source said thousands of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's elite Republican Guard forces were dug in around the capital city of Baghdad and that U.S.-British forces expected to encounter fierce resistance.

"That will be a tough fight. It will be interesting to see how they play it," the source said.

U.S.-British forces would move up to Baghdad and then assess the situation, he said, suggesting Iraqi troops may be softened up with heavy air bombardment before ground forces move in.

"I wouldn't be surprised to see a massive barrage from the air," he said. "You are dealing with a different enemy. The Republican Guard are going to put up a proper fight."

He said that U.S.-British forces did not plan on getting distracted by firefights on the way to the capital and that it was key to push on and keep supply routes open.

"Baghdad is the only one to watch. That is what this is all about. It needs to be looked at as the main focus," he said.

After a fierce battle, an armoured U.S. column pushed on towards the central city of Najaf and came within 180 km (110 miles) of the Iraqi capital, a Reuters reporter said.

[JohnHuang2]

Sunday, March 23, 2003

Quote of the Day by rintense

[goldstategop]

They could be there by Monday if they hurry up.

[bucephalus]

Are we getting info on what's going on at the outskirts of Baghdad? Are warthogs softening 'em up on a nightly basis?

There seems to be a lot of missing parts in the presses reportage. Thank God for that.

[Quix]

THOSE B52'S ARE STILL SOMETHING ELSE.

THANKS.

BTW,

WAS ANYONE WATCHING FOX when the military consultant started to talk about what the Arabs around the region were saying about our precision bombing when they called?

He was interrupted by the woman who could have waited a bit. Did he get back to that point?

I've long expected the Arabs to be incredulous because they wouldn't even think of being that kind and charitable to an enemy.

[goldstategop]

Arabs would simply slaughter you on the spot and not feel guilty about it. The double standard in the Arab world is truly Orwellian.

[Quix]

He just got back to it.

Said that civilians are not intimidated by bombing because it's so precise and that restaurants have more business than before the war.

Interesting.

[Quix]

Reminds me of

Dillbo and
her unroyal lowness,
her hideous heinous
bwitch Shrillary's

duplicitous mentality in terms of "values" etc.

Orwellian indeed.

Some village idiots are definitely considered more equal than others.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

The only "ground war" in Baghdad will be special ops directed specifically at regime leadership targets. We don't need to control hotels, gas stations, schools, and barber shops in order to topple Saddam and control the city.

Just as the air assault was surgical, the ground component will be focused at the Iraqi leadership.