[pawdoggie]

The second is that there are two powerful physical constraints on the timing of an attack on Iraq. The Kosovo and Afghan wars drained our supply of JDAMs, the satellite guidance system that makes dumb bombs smart. It would be imprudent to initiate hostilities until the supply has been replenished. The other constraint is weather. Saddam is all but certain to use chemical and biological weapons against U.S. troops. It's too hot in Iraq in the summer and early fall to be running around in chemical protective suits.

This guy has hit the nail right on the head. Until the weather cooperates (i.e. winter in the Northern Hemisphere), and until we have replaced the weapons wasted on Serbia and the aspirin factory by the CinC of the hollow military, there's no need to fret about the Iraq invasion. Meanwhile, let Saddam stew by feeding him every conceivable operations plan and variant. That way, even if some traitorous rat tried to hand him the actual plans, he wouldn't know if he was getting the real deal or a Trojan Horse. Mr. Kelly obviously understands strategy and operational art better than the op-ed "journalists" at the New York Times.

[CIB-173RDABN]

This guy has hit the nail right on the head. Until the weather cooperates (i.e. winter in the Northern Hemisphere), and until we have replaced the weapons wasted ...

Even if true, you win wars by doing the unexpected. I believe we will attack Iraq between now and the end of September.

[section9]

Actually, I strongly suspect that the JDAM supplies are almost, if not already at, wartime strength.

LGB's have also been brought back up to strength. Naval builds and supplies are open to the fleet like a fire hydrant on full blast.

I strongly suspect that we are nearly ready to go, or will be by September. I agree with Kelly in that full dress infantry/armor/artillery operations will not begin until late November. However, I suspect that a large scale campaign of sabotage backed up by airpower will begin in October. The Boeing JDAM plant is going three shifts, 24/7, to fill the DOD orders. Other supply plants are going at full steam as well.

Certain decisions have already been made. However, it should be pointed out that Iran is not in our planning right now. We'll simply ride that wave and be around when the Ayahtollahs are overthrown to establish friendly relations with the New Regime.

Be Seeing You,

Chris