And if that's the case, here's his end:
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.
We might need roads if it rains or Saddam blows that dam and floods everything up to Kabala. That is a very large body of water behind that dam.
And if that's the case, here's his end:
Does he not realize what the depleted uranium rounds of A-10s and the Hellfire missiles of Apaches can do?
Does he not realize that of all the things the US military excels at the most paramount is in destroying large well-defined targets (and an enemy convoy moving on a desert highway is extremely well defined). Didn't he learn a lesson from the Gulf War 1 'Highway of death?'
I know Saddam is kooky in the head .....but this is just too much even for him! It just does not make any sense ..........even Hezbollah and Hamas make much more 'sense' than this ....at least they believe they are getting a bevy of virgins when they die!
What do you guys think Saddam is thinking (although it may take an insane mind to understand this stratagem! I tried yesterday morning and ended up talkign to myself in the shower).
This is just plain stupid .......or maybe Saddam wants a further example of what Apache LongBow copters can do (unless, of course, the US Defense industry has been working on some 'mind control ray' that allows us to make the enemy do stupid things ......stupid things like setting off on a desert highway, with swamp on each side, driving toward the US encampments).
If no 'mind ray' is involved then what is Saddam expecting to accomplish by such an act?
Kafjee All over again.
Its good that Saddam is stupid, makes for less forces we have to dig out of Baghdad.
They have to use the Armor outside Baghdad (the Iraqi's). Or else its Urban warefare with RPGs.
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