If Bush decides to attack Iraq, the strike could be sudden

Associated Press ^ | 7-10-02 | SALLY BUZBEE

[Oldeconomybuyer]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States is capable of launching a rapid attack on Iraq by marshaling 50,000 troops at the Kuwaiti border in roughly a week, airlifting them in and bringing their tanks and heavy equipment on ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

[caa26]

I think Saddam could have figured this out on his own. He likely has Anthrax and other biological agents with sleepers ready to go.

[Right_in_Virginia]

But...doesn't the president have to wait until Biden says it's okay?

[Redcloak]

These look more like calculated leaks coming from the White House basement. Last week it was a three pronged attack from Jordan, Turkey, and Kuwait. Now it's "straight up the middle" through Kuwait. We're jerking Saddam's chain, but it doesn't look like it's just for giggles. Pay attention to the lunar phase! I doubt that anything's likely in the next few days; but in ~28? Perhaps.

[LibWhacker]

Dubya'll see your 110 and raise it to the 3.320356392 power. :-)

[Tallguy]

"We could have a situation where on Monday, it first looks like there will be a war, on Friday troops are in Kuwait, and by (the next) Thursday they're in Baghdad," said John Pike, a defense analyst in Washington.

Pike is full of it, as usual. While all of this is theoretically within the capabilities of the US military, there's no way the US Army is going to move without adequate preparation of the battlefield -- including extensive bombing by tactical and strategic aircraft. Even Schwarzkopf wanted the Iraqi army attrited before he unleashed the ground war.

I still look for a long buildup, but with the troops based further away (beyond Scud range) than during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. The troops will rapidly close on their jump-off points from these new bases, but it'll still take a 6 month buildup.

[bvw]

NEW moon, far from full.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Biden is getting additional hairplugs this week.

[RightWhale]

Saddam doesn't know that. He can't very well go outside and look for himself. He's getting dizzy by now, looking north, south, west, east, and to the sky for incoming enemy soldiers. He still hasn't been hit with the tunnel plan.

[ClearCase_guy]

Logistics isn't really my thing, and I have no doubt that the US military can prepare for an attack very quietly, however ...

This article talks about 50,000 men and (I assume) heavy equipment to supply the same number. I hope we have a way to provide reinforcements. American pride tells me 50,000 is plenty -- but no smart commander would attack Iraq with 50,000 men and no way to reinforce quickly.

[Jumper]

The attack on Iraq is merely to sever this country into three separate states; one state of Kurds with oil, one state of Turkomans with oil and a buffer to Turkey and the Kurds... and then Iraq proper deprived of both oil and a military machine under surgical strikes designed to topple Saddam.

This is the Iraq battal plan, and plan which will take pressure off Israel, and the final defeat of Syria, Iran and their remaining state sponsored terrorist machines which openly operate; from there the war on terrorism will be long but without State funding they will eventually be worn down and defeated.

The US dollar will jump, oil prices will drop, energy supplies around the world will increase and alternate sources of oil and gas around the world will not be subjected to disruption by Islam!. The Saudi's will be given a final chance to do business or else the House of Saud' will too fall.

[ellery]

Or the fake-breaking news out of MIT that we've just discovered the secret of teleportation -- call it the Baghdad Project. Hee.

[demlosers]

But...doesn't the president have to wait until Biden says it's okay?

The DemoRats in Congress also get Bliztkrieg'd. Biden gets Blitzkrieg'd, Dasshole gets Blitzkrieg'd, Gephardt gets Blitzkrieg'd Mckinney gets Blitzkrieg'd..ect. Hehehe

[chiefqc]

The distant thunder keeps getting louder and louder.

[RightWhale]

It will seem that way when Abrams tanks start coming out of the woodwork.

[Allrightnow]

"It must be fun to f&%^ with Sadaam's head almost daily"

I get a chuckle myself, thinking of him wetting his pants on a daily basis. One thing we should remember about this though is that any missiles he can get off will most likely have chem or bio weapons loaded. He knows we are playing for keeps this time (or at least I would like to think we are) and will pull anything he can out of his a*s to stop us.

Let's hope Isreal is prepared too.

[r9etb]

We're jerking Saddam's chain, but it doesn't look like it's just for giggles. Pay attention to the lunar phase! I doubt that anything's likely in the next few days; but in ~28? Perhaps.

Assuming, of course, that we want to start a war with Iraq. I don't think that's what's in store. Instead, I think we're going to take out Saddam and a few of his closest friends.

The difficulty with taking him out is that he's always on the move, and has numerous look-alikes who travel around the country to throw off possible attackers.

However when it comes to actual military planning stuff, Saddam has to be in the room with his generals. To find Saddam, you watch the guys he has to meet with, and take him out when arrives. If nothing else, Afghanistan has shown that we can make these short-notice, pinpoint attacks. The real key to finding out would be to count the number and type of planes in the no-fly zone.

And the best way to force a meeting is to get word out that we're planning a 1991-style raid into the country.

[demlosers]

I still look for a long buildup, but with the troops based further away (beyond Scud range) than during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. The troops will rapidly close on their jump-off points from these new bases, but it'll still take a 6 month buildup.

Gee, if I was the Pentagon, I would be quietly pre-positioning as much equipment as possible in the region, and then some more. I'd bet the build up is in progress.

[SGCOS]

Not to be a disruptor, but I don't see an attack on Iraq unless and until the Harken, Holiburton and Judicial Watch lawsuit gets some legs.

Just my opinion.

[M Kehoe]

The great thing about all these leaks/reports is that the Iraqi intellegence reads them and tells sadaam. Sooner or later, after crying wolf for a while, sadaam will shoot his intellegence officers. Regardless, the butcher of Baghdad doesn't sleep well at night.

Clear your calendar sadaam, you will be very busy, soon.

5.56mm