Posted on 03/24/2003 12:49:09 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
The U.S.-led coalition is said to be planning a massive air attack on Republican Guard strongholds around Baghdad today, as ground forces moved to within 50 miles of the Iraqi capital before a sandstorm stalled the advance.
Pentagon officials made no comment on the planned air assault, but CNN reported 1,000 air sorties will be launched by day’s end, 80 percent of them seeking out and attacking Republican Guard forces.
The Iraqi forces thumbed their nose at the coalition, airing a videotape of Saddam Hussein declaring “victory will be ours soon.”
But Gen. Tommy Franks, head of U.S. Central Command, offered a far different assessment, describing the resistance as only “sporadic,” and pledging that the coalition will continue to “fight this on our terms.”
“Progress toward our objectives has been rapid and in some cases dramatic,” Franks told reporters at a briefing this morning in Qatar about 8 a.m. Chicago time.
The contrasting views of the war in Iraq come amid reports that Iraqi forces shot down two U.S. helicopters, that a U.S. missile hit a bus carrying civilians and that President Bush is preparing to tell Congress Operation Iraqi Freedom could wind up costing as much as $75 billion.
British forces suffered their first combat casualty today.
‘Like LaGuardia Airport’
The air attack is expected to intensify, with an estimated 1,000 sorties expected in the 24 hour period ending later today, CNN reported.
Of those 1,000, 800 will be carrying their bombs and missiles to the Baghad area seeking out Republican Guard troops. Another 1,000 sorties will fly support missions, assisting ground forces or dropping leaflets to Iraqi troops and civilians.
“We’re being told at this base, they are expecting more traffic than ever today,” said CNN correspondent Gary Tuchman, reporting from an allied air base at an undisclosed location along the Iraqi border.
As departing F-16 fighter planes roared in take-off behind him, Tuchman said at one point he saw seven combat aircraft lined up on the taxi-way awaiting take-off.
“It almost looked like LaGuardia Airport on a busy Sunday afternoon,” Tuchman said.
Infantry stalled
Howling winds kicked up a brutal sandstorm that stalled the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division near the Shiite holy city of Karbala, about 50 miles south of Baghdad.
With Iraqi forces attacking them from behind, the U.S.-led forces tried to continue their advance on the Iraqi capital. Allied aircraft provided air cover, at one point wiping out a column of charging Iraqi armor and sending other Iraqi troops back toward Baghdad, the Associated Press reported.
Iraqi militiamen fired mortars at a supply convoy of Humvees and cargo trucks with the 7th Cavalry Infantry Regiment, but no casualties were reported.
In Baghdad, security and police officers dug more trenches around military offices in the heart of the Iraqi capital, as smoke from fires set to conceal targets from bombing hung over the city.
Small arms down U.S. choppers
In central Iraq, U.S. forces suffered a significant setback.
Iraqi forces downed two Apache helicopters and forced 30 others to return to their brigade, using small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.
Two crew members were missing, but the other two-person crew was rescued. All 32 helicopters sustained some damage, occasionally slight, Army officials told the New York Times.
The resistance comes a day after 10 Marines died in the battle in Nasiriya.
Franks confirmed the loss of only one Apache, denying Iraqi reports it had been downed by farmers.
“The fate of the crew is uncertain right now,” Franks said. “We characterize that crew, two men, as missing in action.”
Fierce fighting was still erupting in southern Iraq. British troops were engaged in artillery exchanges with Iraqi forces on the outskirts of Basra, some of it heavy, British military officials said. British troops have remained outside the city, the second-largest in Iraq, unable to move through it because of pockets of resistance.
A British soldier was killed in combat in southern Iraq today, the first British combat death since the war began.
The unidentified soldier was killed near Az Zubayr in southern Iraq, British military officials said. A spokeswoman declined to provide further details, but said the soldier’s family had been notified.
Sixteen other British servicemen have died in the Persian Gulf, in two helicopter accidents and the downing of a British jet by friendly fire from a U.S. missile battery. Two others were reported missing Sunday after their convoy was attacked in southern Iraq.
Saddam predicts victory
Appearing in full uniform, an apparently composed Saddam appeared on Iraqi television.
‘‘Iraq will strike the necks [of each enemy fighter],’’ he said. ‘‘Strike them, and strike evil so that evil will be defeated.’’
“Those who are believers will be victorious,” he said. “In these decisive days, the enemy tried not using missiles and fighter jets as they did before. This time, they sent their infantry troops. This time, they have come to invade and occupy your land.”
A senior U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity, told AP that intelligence operatives had determined that Saddam’s speech was recorded—but it was unclear when.
Saddam did mention specific U.S. military divisions and the “fierce battle” for Umm Qasr that has waged since Saturday, calling it “the mother of all battles.”
Syrian casualties
A U.S. missile hit a passenger bus on the Iraqi side of the border as it carried Syrian civilians fleeing the war, killing five people and wounding 10, Syria’s official news agency reported today.
The bus was transporting 37 passengers when it was struck by the air-to-surface missile Sunday near the border of the two countries, the agency reported.
A U.S. Central Command spokeswoman had no information on the report.
Syria has strongly opposed the war on Iraq. A Syrian official said the Foreign Ministry had summoned the U.S. and British ambassadors to Damascus ‘‘to protest this appalling aggression.’’
War to cost $80 billion?
For months, the White House has refused to put a price tag on the war in Iraq, but today President Bsh is expected to tell Congress it will cost at least $70 billion and possibly as much as $80 billion.
Bush planned to provide the estimate to congressional leaders today, ensuring that lawmakers’ discussion of war spending will take place amid a surge of public support for American troops. Aides at the White House and on Capitol Hill said the figure will be between $70 billion and $80 billion.
Congressional aides said it will include $62 billion for the Defense Department for the war and perhaps other expenses related to the fight against terrorism.
Lie.
Iraqi forces downed two Apache helicopters and forced 30 others to return to their brigade, using small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.
Lie.
Thanks fellas, those trenches around the target should make it even easier to hit.
Iraqi forces downed two Apache helicopters and forced 30 others to return to their brigade, using small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.
According to another thread they lost 70 tanks in the process...doesn't sound like a significant setback to me!
On the contrary: it's a huge setback
...
for the republican guard.
Wow! Over one million sorties. Now that is HUGH!
Yeh! Returned for more ordanance
Yes, we have an assymetrical attack by the major media, contrast:
1) 70 of 90 tanks destroyed.
2) Hail of Gunfire and Grenades Forces Apaches to Pull Back
We need to take the media to task to report BOTH sides, and to acknowledge that the their field reporter's limited view of what's in front of them - "analysed" by military-ignorant journalists - is not a true picture of the war.
Yesterday a skirmish became another "major battle of surprising Iraqi strength" solely because a camera was there instead of where the major events of the war are occuring.
You can't be series...
”Guns Before Butter.”
The air attack is expected to intensify, with an estimated 1,000 sorties expected in the 24 hour period ending later today, CNN reported.The idea that 80% of sorties consist of shooters, rather than support underscores the total air superiority. These sorties will carry an average of 10 weapons each, allowing for the mix of heavies and smaller aircraft. We are looking at 8,000 units of ordnance. Some of these may be JSOWS, which will multiple targets. There will be redundant targeting, but that still means that upwards of 2,000 separate IRG targets will be struck.
Of those 1,000, 800 will be carrying their bombs and missiles to the Baghad area seeking out Republican Guard troops. Another 1,000 sorties will fly support missions, assisting ground forces or dropping leaflets to Iraqi troops and civilians.
... “Progress toward our objectives has been rapid and in some cases dramatic,” Franks told reporters at a briefing this morning in Qatar about 8 a.m. Chicago time. (15:00 Baghdad time, same day)
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