Posted on 03/26/2003 5:03:35 PM PST by MadIvan
Saddam Hussein's decision to send out armoured columns of the Republican Guard is an extremely high-risk strategy. He is relying heavily on the cover provided by the sandstorms to ensure that Apache attack helicopters and the 101st Airborne Division cannot join the fight.
But they should be the least of his problems. The conventional wisdom was that the Republican Guard had no choice but to remain dug in around Baghdad. If it broke out, it would be cut to pieces by the sheer weight of allied airpower.
Now that theory will be put to the test. Can the allied airpower take out the Iraqis on the ground, leaving American marines and infantry to mop up and move on to Baghdad?
One thing is for sure, the sandstorms should not stop the allied aircraft, with their smart bombs and precision-guide missiles, from attacking the Iraqi armoured columns.
The layer upon layer of aircraft overflying the battlefield are directed by sophisticated surveillance aircraft such as the Jstars and Awacs, which can see through weather.
They act as the field directors for the Central Command operations team back at the al-Sayliyah forward command centre in Qatar.
They are not the only airborne sensors to allow the allied commanders to see through the sandstorms. Unmanned aerial vehicles such as the Predator drone carry sophisticated infra-red imagery equipment.
The use of the Global Positioning Satellite system to direct bombs and missiles means that, as long as the intelligence puts the target in the right place, they can be sure of hitting their targets.
If all of that works, then the end result is likely to be similar to Saddam's attempt to wrench the initiative from the allies during the 1991 Gulf war when his forces crossed the Saudi border.
Of the three armoured columns he launched into the attack, only one made it, severely depleted. The other two were turned back by lightly-armed US marines and overwhelming coalition air power. The allies will be hoping that Saddam has again made a gamble doomed to fail.
I'm not sure how feasible this is, but could there be a chance that, using intelligence our CIA guys have gathered about their communication systems, we could have issued bogus orders to some Iraqi commanders to do something stupid?
That's what I was thinking. He sends out some cannon fodder, telling them they're headed for victory, and the real plan is that he gets us to crater the road to Baghdad.
According to the stories I've seen, the B-52's dropped a 500-pounder every 500 meters on these sitting ducks. What could that road look like now? Is that a road we have to take to get to Baghdad?
The elite Grease Spots of Saddam score another victory.
Perhaps we can have Blixie Boy to come over and see what they actually look like. For future reference don't-cha-know. ;-)
If we hit chem weapons they are carrying and they detonate on the Iraqis, they will claim that we sent them, and much of the world (led by the French and many in this country) will eagerly pretend this to be a credible claim and be calling for trials before the world court.
Not a cheerful thought.. Those roads do bear watching.
Tonight we welcomew new show host TOM ATKINS! *GARY ALDRICH Former FBI agent, Author of Unlimited Access Gary will discuss his new book, and America's current political situation.
*PIERRE DE HAIL Former French Special Ops fighter, president of Risk Management International Pierre will offer exceptional insight in the Iraq war, and controversial opinions on France, Europe
I would imagine that the high winds would weaken any chem or bio weapons.
1) Saddam survived, but was seriously wounded, during the initial bombing.
2) Saddam has now recovered enough to issue orders.
Other than Saddam being dead, I can't think of a better thing for us than Saddam in charge of the military.
Imagine going up against Germany with Hitler in a coma and Rommel in charge. It would have been horrible. But, thank God in his Providence, it was Rommel in a coma and Hitler in charge and we won.
Saddam is a military idiot with no understanding that his personal willpower does not translate to battlefield success. So, when he wills reinforcements to the front, he doesn't understand what "Complete U.S. Air Domination" means for his troops.
Good for us!
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