Iraqi resistance creates logistics headache for allied troops

Agence France-Presse (AFP) ^ | 3-28-03

[Oldeconomybuyer]

CENTRAL IRAQ, March 28 (AFP) - An inability by US troops to secure key towns and villages on their drive to Baghdad has created a logistical headache, forcing a pause in operations by marines here while supplies of food, water and ammunition are flown in.

"The long distances we have travelled makes it hard to push that amount of logistics -- water, fuel, ammo and chow -- over the vast area that's been covered," First Lieutenant Tom Elssinger of the marines' First Regimental Combat Team, told AFP.

"It's definitely a tough animal to rope," he said.

Tens of thousands of marines and troops from the US Army's Third Infantry Division have pushed more than 700 kilometres (420 miles) from the Kuwaiti border since US President George W. Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq last week to oust President Saddam Hussein.

But along key routes forces have encountered stiff resistance and atrocious weather that has significantly slowed the advance anticipated by military planners and placed a heavier burden on supplies coming up from the south.

Pitched battles were fought along Route Seven at the towns of Nasariyah, Sharat and Rafit and heavy fighting is still being encountered, prompting the deployment of the military workhorse CH-46 helicopters to bring in supplies.

Supply trucks and other vehicles carry machine gunners and armed troops but do not have the same armour as tanks and amphibious assault vehicles, leaving them prone to attacks.

Dust storms, rain and hail during the first days of the invasion also contributed to shortages by grounding helicopters and ruling out air as an alternative supply source until Thursday.

"This sucks," said one supply sergeant, who declined to be named.

He said a shortage of bottled water required troops to rely on filtered and heavily clorinated water while they took time to re-group and re-supply before pushing further north.

Water shortages have been partially alleviated by the installation of filtration sytems in local rivers and canals. One military spokesman said more were planned.

Another senior officer, who also declined to be named, stressed that troops were not suffering from a lack of water or ammunition and that any need could be ferried in by helicopter.

"But it has created a serious headache for support units and until we can secure those towns and create a safe and free passage we'll have to rely more on air," he said.

"Services are stretched and that will be a say in the next push forward," he added.

Lieutenant General William Wallace, the top US army ground commander in Iraq, told The Washington Post that Iraqi tactics had stalled the drive toward Baghdad.

"The enemy we're fighting is different from the one we'd war-gamed against, " he said at the Forward Operating Base Shell, in Iraq.

The commander of V Corps said that over-extended supply lines combined with an enemy that is using unconventional tactics make a longer war look likely.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Media template: "quagmire"

[VRWC_minion]

This sounds a little worse than an old motel I stayed in with the wife and kids once.

[goldstategop]

It sounds worse than it really is.

[VRWC_minion]

You would think with all the advance planning we could get the troops some decent rooms at the Marriot and some Perrier or Evan water.