[Arkie2]

It occurs to me that our decision not to prepare the battlefield with airpower in a 2 or 3 week sustained campaign, as we did in the Gulf war, may cost us significantly more ground casualties.

[CatOwner]

"It occurs to me that our decision not to prepare the battlefield with airpower in a 2 or 3 week sustained campaign, as we did in the Gulf war, may cost us significantly more ground casualties."

I think that is the price we had to pay for securing the oil fields and from the sound of it we were very successful (only 9 of 500 wells? sabotaged).

[tomahawk]

The pockets of resistance are Saddam's internal security forces. Their orders are to resist behind our lines, and hide behind civilians.

We have have to root them out.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

Maybe a few more casualties. But an air campaign first is what the Iraqis expected. The surprise of the blitzkrieg ground invasion first, mixed with shock & awe will prove to be the best move. If you can't handle 10 casualties, turn off the news.

[okie01]

Note that what Reuters reported as "significant casualties" appears to amount to...about ten.