US Troops First Encounter Iraqi Republican Guards [50 mi. out at 'Gateway to Baghdad']

DEBKAfile Security Newletter 'Iraq War Diary' ^ | March 24, 2003 | Gioria Shamis 'Economist Magazine' Reporter

[ewing]

The first frontal engagements between united States troops marching on Baghdad and Saddam Husseins Elite Special Republican Guards began near Al Amarah, a small town on the Tigris River, and at al Kut, some 100 miles upriver to the Northwest.

Al Amarah is geographically the southern gateway to Baghdad.

The United States led column driving towards Baghdad along the easternmost route up the Tigris River led by 1st and 2nd Marine Divisons.

Sunday, they bypassed Basra, leaving behind the 7th British Division to assert control over Iraq's second largest city and dashed north towards Al Amarah.

Waiting for them were three Iraq divisions, the 10th, the 11th, and the 4th Corps, which is the Special Republican Guards Nida Armoured Division.

By the end of the day, the Marines and the Nida tank force had entered their first clash of arms in the series to come. (Three additional United States columns are also now pusing towards Baghdad)

[Paraclete]

I heard a report that the 101st is coming in from the west.

[CedarDave]

Just on Fox -- reporter from Kuwait reports he received an email from a western reporter just inside Iraq. That email purports to say that troops are NOT securing areas as they rush to Baghdad and they remain very dangerous places to be in, much more so than in other war zones he had been in. His (email writer's) closing was that the troops keep moving forward because they can't go back.

Maybe Gertz (on Drudge last night) has a point about not enough troops deployed.

[ewing]

These are probably the positions after the thrust.

The Sandstorm has stopped prograss for now.

[Air Force Born]

That makes good sense, shorten the turn around time for the Apaches. H2 and H3 are still a bit distant for that.

[ewing]

It was the DEBKA report that described the 'southern gateway'

[Nov3]

Where oh where is the 101st?

I think when we find out it will be impressive!

[The Vast Right Wing]

Yes, I want to see Spooky and Spectre plying their trade.

[montag813]

Sandstorms or not, we are quickly arriving at the gates of Baghdad. I believe that the battle for Baghdad will begin in the next 48 hours.

You are right. Let us hope we are not squeamish about taking out civilian shields along with the soldiers they are with. Freedom comes at a price, and I don't want any American boys dying because some pussy commander is afraid of what the press will say. LEt's f**k world opinion and win hard, fast and overwhelmingly.

[over3Owithabrain]

If true, it's hard to believe the brass didn't have a plan for this scenario.

[DAPFE8900]

I beg to differ. We are going to surround bagdhad wait for reinforcements. IMHO

[ewing]

What was the kill ratio in 1991? I think we lost something like 112 fighting men with 1/4 of that friendly fire

[johnb838]

General Tommy Franks said pretty much the same thing. We know the flanks are a bit exposed but the Iraqis have nothing to hit them with that can stop them. Yes, Basra was leapfrogged. Yes, it is quite a dangerous place. We have the oil fields, terminals, and ports. We don't really need the population centers right away.

In for a penny, in for a pound.

[faithincowboys]

bring in the big bombers and straighten this mother out!!
send them on the highway of death towards their rightful place on the highway to hell!

[Air Force Born]

This looks a bit like Lee's advance into Pennsylvania. If he had had the kind of technological supperiority that the US commanders enjoy, especially intelligence data, we'd all be speaking Southern by now.

[faithincowboys]

the european leftists and american democrats in the media and gov't will tag bush with hitler no matter what he does. kick a$$ dubya and let the global left become more shrill.
win the damn war, use our boys wisely, and let's worry about world opinion manana!!!

[Wonder Warthog]

"Al Amarah is a h*ll of a lot further than "fifty miles out" from Baghdad!"

"Gateway to Baghdad" = Al Amarah

Therefore the position is fifty miles from Al Amarah, not fifty miles from Baghdad.

[gitmogrunt]

Yes. Iraq is the perfect place for spooky and specter.

But,where the hell are they?????

IMO our leaders are currently crippled with political correctness.

No big deal, whats a few dead grunts, as long as we show the Arab world we're sensitive to their culture.

[Illbay]

Still, it's DEBKA so I won't take anything for granted.

[archy]

A few maps of Baghdad (one is quite large you can download, about 14meg, but quite detailed)

More and better maps *here*.

-archy-/-