Posted on 03/24/2003 10:27:20 AM PST by Sabertooth
Coalition forces have begun a massive aerial bombardment of Iraqi Republican Guard units entrenched just outside Saddam Hussein’s capital, military chiefs said today.
The aim is to “soften up” the Iraqi dictator’s elite troops before ground forces arrive to begin the “Battle of Baghdad".
Up to 40 helicopters from the US Army’s 11th Attack Helicopter Regiment were involved in the first assault on the Republican Guard’s Medina Division, one of six stationed in and around Baghdad.
Each division could have more than 10,000 men.
Around 30 surface-to-surface missiles were also fired at Republican Guard command posts and their artillery, which could be used to fire chemical shells.
One US Apache helicopter was downed in the attack and the fate of the two crewmen is unknown.
General Tommy Franks, head of US Central Command in Qatar, said the Republican Guard could expect to be battered further.
“They have been hit and they will continue to be hit at points and places and times that we choose.
“The effect has been very positive for us,” he said.
Coalition commanders want to stop the Republican Guard from retreating back inside Baghdad to fight a guerilla war.
They also hope crushing the Medina Division would encourage others, including the Al Amarah and Baghdad Divisions stationed to the south of the city, to give up.
The MOAB is still in development. The daisy cutters are available though. The MOAB will allow the C-130 to do a 'stand-off' launch. The daisy cutters require a close in launch.
We should just roll propane trucks out of the back of a C-5 with an altitude trigger.
The aim is to “soften up” the Iraqi dictator’s elite troops before ground forces arrive to begin the “Battle of Baghdad"."Battle of Baghdad". Saddam's Little Big Horn ! . . .
That sucks.
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