[carton253]

My favorite has been "fierce"... In fact, the media seems shocked that the Iraqis are fighting back. Can I have a show of hands... how many people expected the Iraqis to fight back?

[Carolina]

In fact, the media seems shocked that the Iraqis are fighting back.

It's interesting how Bush, Blair, Rummy, Franks, and crew have stressed continuously that this is not a cakewalk. There WILL be difficulties.

It's aggravating to hear the media pushing the idea that the Allies did not anticipate such fierceness.

[steveegg]

Can I have a show of hands... how many people expected the Iraqis to fight back?

Aye.

[AppyPappy]

If the Iraqis were truly fighting back. we would have hundreds or even thousands of casualties. We are encountering "pockets of resistance". For the first 1/3 days, accidents caused more casualties than the Iraqis.

[Toskrin]

I fully expected the Iraqis to fight back. Seems to me that things are going quite well. We saw an opportunity last Wednesday to disrupt Iraqi command and control - and did so. While Iraqi leadership was crippled, we rushed in to take positions and establish supply west of the Euphrates nearly to Baghdad.

We have always known that the Republican Guard would fight back. I don't expect a push against them for several days, until they are severely softened.

Look at it like this - the air war against the Iraqi ground troops has just started. But we have a 250 mile head start. The RG are not only being pounded with B-52s, but also, thanks to our bold advance, artillery and close air support. Seems like a lot better option than just being in an air war, with our troops still in Kuwait and 300 miles of unknown still ahead of us...