America's 'Digital Division' (4th ID) Heads For Saddam's Stronghold

Independent (UK) ^ | 4-7-2003 | Donald Macintyre

[blam]

America's 'digital division' heads for Saddam's stronghold

By Donald Macintyre in Qatar
07 April 2003

Units from the hi-tech US 4th Infantry Division, which was blocked by a decision of the Ankara parliament from entering Iraq from Turkey, have begun a 350-mile dash north from Kuwait towards Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's home stronghold some 100 miles north of Baghdad.

Deployed in combat for the first time since the Vietnam War, the 4th Infantry is seen as a counterweight to Iraqi forces to the north of the capital and could be used if pro-Saddam forces tried to stage a last stand in Tikrit after the fall of Baghdad. Allied special forces have already set up checkpoints on the road between Baghdad and Tikrit to prevent members of the regime or its forces moving between them. Brigadier General Vincent Brooks, the US deputy chief of operations, said last week that Tikrit, which has been heavily bombed, was known to have housed command and control facilities for the regime.

The Republican Guard's Adnan Mechanised Division is based at Tikrit. The town also has a symbolic importance as the birthplace, in 1138, of Saladin, the legendary Muslim leader who defeated the Crusaders by seizing Jerusalem from the Christians.

The 4th Infantry, whose equipment began to be unloaded at the Kuwaiti port of Shuaiba last Tuesday, is known as the "digital division" because of its ultra-sophisticated communications systems. It is equipped with the M1-A2 SEP Abrams, the army's most modern tank. It is fitted with digital and thermal imaging and steel-encased depleted uranium armour, and is protected against nuclear, biological and chemical warfare. The division also uses Bradley fighting vehicles.

The division was the first to land at Utah Beach in Normandy on D-Day in the Second World War.

Unloading of the division's equipment began last week at a breakneck pace, despite the stifling heat, immediately after the first of its ships, the Houston-based Cape Texas, arrived at the port. The 4th Infantry's 2nd Battalion Field Artillery unloaded 550 vehicles in 12 hours, instead of the normal two days. Meanwhile, round-the-clock flights to Kuwait have been bringing troops from the division's base in Fort Hood, Texas.

The 4th Infantry was expected to form a northern front but the unexpected decision by Turkey last month to refuse a US request for its ground forces to use its basescaused US generals to rethink their strategy for the north. After a visit to Ankara by Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, last week, the moderate Islamist government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to allow the use of Turkish bases for search and rescue and medical repatriation.

[goldstategop]

Help Is On The Way!!! You go guys. Make us proud!!! :-)

[fooman]

yeah baby!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Wonder if the digital capabiliy will help us that much?

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[Enterprise]

"Units from the hi-tech US 4th Infantry Division, which was blocked by a decision of the Ankara parliament from entering Iraq from Turkey"

Those rascally Turks. They're probably feeling like a buncha turkeys about now.

[Dog Gone]

Haul butt, soldiers! You don't want to miss this!

[Semper Paratus]

Great, Tikrit was without doubt their original objective.

Tough hummus for Tikrit!

[dennisw]

Screw the Tuks. We are able to call the shots despite the efforts of France/Germany to pressure Turkey.

We overcome obstacles despite "moderate Islam nations" and European pests.

[js1138]

The town also has a symbolic importance as the birthplace, in 1138, of Saladin...

Hey, that's me: J. Saladin.

[goldstategop]

Sorry. Saddam will have put off til his next life fantasies of beating us at a modern day Horns Of Hattin.

[EternalVigilance]

If this is true, I find it wonderfully ironic that it will be the 4th the Turks are confronted with as they eye the northern oilfields...LOL

[Enterprise]

"Screw the Tuks."

And the Turks too! :^)

[Timmy]

All right! The 4th is rolling. When they catch up, we can end the "lull" and move that last 50 miles toward Baghdad . . .

[joesnuffy]

More than a few American casualties can be laid at our so called turk friends...
We should never trust ever trust the turks...or turn our backs on them
The only way to deal with these kinds is to hold a dagger to their throats ..than they are trustworthy..and only then imo

[Keith]

incredible...it is nothing short of AMAZING what the US military has accomplished in this war. This should be absolutely scaring the poop out of ALL of our enemies.

[Nick Danger]

[x1stcav]

I've got several fond spots in my heart for the 4th.

My Uncle John was in the 8th Infantry at Normandy. He made it until 16 June 44 and is buried there.

I served with 3/8th Infantry in SE Asia 25 years later.

Get some 4th!

[holyscroller]

Boy I'll bet these guys want to make up for lost time. They've got to be itching to get into the fight. God bless them and multiply their efforts!

[homeagain balkansvet]

I know it's not their fault, but...

'sabout time, guys! Jump on in, the water's FIIIIINE....