Posted on 03/26/2003 5:11:22 PM PST by Sabertooth
Allied jets target Republican Guard convoys IRAQI military in Baghdad and Basra were last night risking being wiped out in air attacks by leaving the confines of the cities to confront coalition troops. Saddam Hussein's elite Republican Guard left the capital in a column of 1,000 vehicles. And up to 120 Iraqi troop vehicles drove out of Basra in a southern direction. Harriers and Tornados flying out of Kuwait attacked the armoured convoys. An RAF source said, "A significant number of British aircraft are involved." It appeared the vehicles were heading towards British troops on the Al Faw peninsula. It is thought Iraqi commanders decided sandstorms around Baghdad would provide cover for the elite troops to journey to the area of the heaviest fighting of the war so far. They may have believed the appalling weather conditions would protect their troops from being decimated by allied air power, much of which has been grounded by sand-storms. But military intelligence had spotted 3,000 Republican Guard moving from the capital to the city of Al Kut, and a further 2,000 were seen to the south of Al Kut. The Iraqi advance appeared to signal that Saddam Hussein's best trained and most loyal force was ready to go on the offensive despite days of allied air strikes and missile attacks on its positions. The Iraqis have already issued their first report of battlefield action by the Republican Guards. A spokesman said a special forces unit attacked coalition troops in south-central Iraq, destroying six armoured vehicles and inflicting an unspecified number of casualties. A US military officer said there had been a fierce battle yesterday for control of a bridge over the River Euphrates at Abu Sukhayr, 13 miles south-east of Najaf. He said an unspecified number of tanks and Bradleys had been destroyed. He believed the US crews, under the command of the 3rd Infantry Division, had escaped the vehicles - but their fate was unknown. Meanwhile Washington announced yesterday it was flying another 30,000 troops from the US to the war zone. The Pentagon admitted it was shifting its battlefield tactics after commanders on the ground said they were surprised by the stiff resistance put up Saddam's paramilitaries.
Mar 27 2003
The Western Mail - The National Newspaper Of Wales
Thanks for the heads up on your Weather/Map thread.
Bump for bookmarking
Many of Saddam's military actions have been to demonstrate his strength when he believed his power was fading. This was one of the reasons he moved against the Kurds in '73? and also when he brought troops to the border with Kuwait in '98? To him, it was/is all about ensuring he retains his power to rule the country as deems necessary. And in doing so, he takes gambles and he sometimes blunders - badly.
Don't know what to make of this.
"The Pentagon admitted it was shifting its battlefield tactics after commanders on the ground said they were surprised by the stiff resistance put up Saddam's paramilitaries."
Lincoln, as usual, put it best. He stated that Meade would fight hard to protect his own dunghill. He was referring to the impending battle at Gettysburg (Meade was a Pennsylvanian).
When you try to conquer someone else's country, you should expect a stiff fight. Our boys are seeing this now, but I have no doubt they will prevail. Take Baghdad, kill Hussein and his entourage, and the rest will fall in short order.
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
The disconcerting thing is that the Iraqis were never like that. The ones that were with the government were bullies, but not would-be martyrs. They tried to take part of Iran, and retreated when battle turned against them--they didn't have the suicide warriors. Then there was Kuwait, and altho they got creamed, they weren't wearing explosive belts. Now, Saddam's donned the religious mantle, and enough Iraqis seem to believe this crap that their acting like Palis or Al Qaeda. Its like a virus.
I was wondering the same thing.
2. Hit them hard!
An unfortunate combination of posts!!
I'd say Saddam is in A WORLD OF $hit!
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