US troops poised for the 'big push' on Baghdad

The Times ^ | April 2, 2003 | David Charter and Roland Watson

[MadIvan]

THE “big push” by coalition forces on Baghdad was said to be imminent last night as thousands of frontline US troops learnt that their four-day operational pause was over.

More than 60,000 men from the US 3rd Infantry were poised to begin the ground war against the Republican Guard ringing the capital. Senior military sources at US Central Command said that Operation Iraqi Freedom’s main ground offensive would begin “within 48 hours” with an intense artillery bombardment supported by close air cover before the main body of troops stepped forward.

Preparations for an offensive that would answer the growing chorus of criticism over the conduct of the war came as new questions were raised about President Saddam Hussein’s whereabouts. He had been expected to make a televised address to the nation yesterday, but failed to appear. His call for jihad, urging Iraqis to rise up against the invaders, was instead delivered by the Information Minister.

The Bush Administration also admitted that it did not know whether the Iraqi leader was alive or dead. Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman, said his failure to appear on television raised “interesting questions” and Donald Rumsfeld, the Defence Secretary, said: “Nobody knows where he is, whether he’s alive or dead.”

The allies’ main assault on the Iraqi capital is likely to start in the southwest with an initial strike to breach the Medina Division’s lines north of Karbala. Of the six Republican Guard divisions, the Medina is seen as the weakest part of Saddam Hussein’s “red line” around the capital after a week of air raids by B1, B2 and B52 bombers.

American planners are confident that the onslaught has “degraded” the Medina’s fighting strength of up to 12,000 soldiers and 400 Russian T72 tanks by at least 50 per cent.

US Central Command believes that those Medina troops who survived the airstrikes would have had little rest for seven days and no time to ready themselves for the more precise artillery barrage expected to precede wave after wave of US troops.

The largely American offensive will have air cover from RAF Harriers and Tornados and the USAF’s F15 Strike Eagles, A10 “tankbusters” and Apache attack helicopters.

[MadIvan]

Saddam is done. It is merely a matter of time.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[Retrofire]

400 T-72's. Wow, it's hard to picture a country with a GDP that is one quarter of budget we've allocated for the first 30 days of this war being able to support a war machine like that.

From what I gather, we have less than 600 Abrams in theatre at the moment.

Even with bringing another division or two in, and considering prevailing military theory (you need 6 attackers per entrenched defender to assure victory) I'd still say we're doing this "on the cheap."

Of course, total air superiority is a HUGE force multiplier.

Unleash hell!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

He had been expected to make a televised address to the nation yesterday, but failed to appear. His call for jihad, urging Iraqis to rise up against the invaders, was instead delivered by the Information Minister.

What a charade.

Everybody knows Saddam is deader'n a shitbug, but nobody will admit it, not even us.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

Hold the phone, this can't be...reuters said we were going to stand down for 30-45 days. Impossible!

[ravingnutter]

Senior military sources at US Central Command said that Operation Iraqi Freedom’s main ground offensive would begin “within 48 hours” with an intense artillery bombardment supported by close air cover before the main body of troops stepped forward.

But...but...but...I just read that Pootie-Poot and Co. just told Saddam today that he had until mid-April! Does this mean that "Russian Intelligence" really is an oxymoron? LOL!

[TADSLOS]

Those 400 T-72s might have just as well have been target hulks at China Lake, for as much good as they're doing the Iraqis.

[68skylark]

More than 60,000 men from the US 3rd Infantry were poised to begin the ground war against the Republican Guard ringing the capital.

As I'm sure everyone knows by now, a typical full-strength infantry division will have about 13,000 to 15,000 people.

Either this article is very wrong about the size of the 3d Infantry Division (and that's always a good possibility when the press writes about military affairs), or the 3d has been drastically reinforced for this war.

[68skylark]

By the way, I really appreciate all your excellent posts.

One sticks out in my mind from yesterday -- it included a short report about a UK trooper (a fitness instructor, I believe) who had the ceramic plate in his body armor shattered by a rifle bullet. The guy not only stayed in ths fight, he killed his attacker. That's one tough fighter -- thank God people like that are on our side!

[Zorrito]

I don't mean to be crude, but when it comes to the Republican Guard, kill 'em all. Do it quick; do it now.

[avenuesalan]

Is it possible Sadam has secretly fled the country? Dressed as a woman in a burka, or whatever?

[CholeraJoe]

Is it possible Sadam has secretly fled the country? Dressed as a woman in a burka, or whatever?

He's worm food.

[johnb838]

Yes, because our initial battle plan has FAILED because we UNDERESTIMATED the DETERMINATION of the Iraqi forces. And we're TRYING to rewrite the battle plan.

This is like when a really good football team is playing a really lousy football team on Monday Night Football, and it's "only" 24-3 at the half, and the announcers are trying to pretend the lousy team isn't getting trounced so the viewers don't tune out.

[johnb838]

"Get away from him! Beavis is not dog food!

He's worm food."

[wireman]

Saddam just called from Hell.

He said he was still dead!

[jackbill]

MSNBC is reporting a huge battle at Karbala and it is escalating. Centcom statement shortly. May be related.

[ChadGore]

Unleash hell!

Loose !

[ALOHA RONNIE]

...US at the OSCARS =

http://www.tripflicks.com/pro/
(Photos)


Signed:..ALOHA RONNIE Guyer / Yellow Jacket Vet-U.S. 7th Cavalry's Opening Days in Vietnam

http://www.LZXRAY.com/guyer_collection.htm
(Photos)


GO 7th Cavalry GO

[hchutch]

Or maybe Pootie-Poot is setting up Saddam for a fall? Who knows what is going on?

[FastCoyote]

"Everybody knows Saddam is deader'n a shitbug, but nobody will admit it, not even us."

Bwa ha ha, too funny. The real reason no one will admit it is they all have heavy money riding on the Internet betting pools that says Saddam lasts another few days!