U.S. general tells Israelis war will start by late November

WORLD TRIBUNE.COM ^ | Thursday, August 29, 2002 | SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM

[Non-Sequitur]

Ten years ago we had twice the military we have now. We didn't have troops pinned down in Bosnia or Afganistan needing a supply chain maintained. And we had countries where we could launch from so we could roll across the border into Iraq, something we're lacking this time around. In short, we're faced with a harder task with fewer resources, and that will require a lot longer that 12 weeks to prepare for, prepositioned supplies or no prepositioned supplies.

[mystery-ak]

I hope your comment was an attempt at sarcasm.....I have two family members(hubby and son) in the Army and I don't appreciate the upcoming war with Iraq as a must see tv event......pray for our troops.....HOOAH!

[Kermit]

"It is the first stop. After that there will be massive [U.S.] pressure on Syria and Iran to halt weapons of mass destruction programs and Syria's occupation of Lebanon."

Why no mention of Saudi Arabia? Palestine?

[Snowy]

I pray that your hubby and son stay safe. I work with someone who has a son over there in the Rangers, and I know he's worried. I wish they would stop broadcasting when they think it's going to happen. As the time gets closer, we will hear the "the new moon is on ....", like we have to make plans or something. I didn't wish to offend anyone, especially people who have loved ones over there.

[jbstrick]

My exact thoughts.....

[elfman2]

"Ten years ago we had twice the military we have now. We didn't have troops pinned down in Bosnia or Afganistan needing a supply chain maintained. And we had countries where we could launch from so we could roll across the border into Iraq, something we're lacking this time around. In short, we're faced with a harder task with fewer resources, and that will require a lot longer that 12 weeks to prepare for, prepositioned supplies or no prepositioned supplies."

You're telling half a story. Here's the other half:

Iraq had 10 times the military they have now.

We've been preparing for this for years, not 12 weeks.

I didn't say that we have propositioned supplies, I said supplies, equipment and people.

We have much more experience.

We have better precision weapons.

We have many more precision weapons.

Our commitment to Bosnia is dominated by European forces and they're also filling substantial peacekeeping roles in Afghanistan. Great Briton mounted at least one complex operation there as I recall, and they'll be of great assistance if anything erupts to distract us from Iraq.

People claim that several Arab nations will be there for us once they see that we're committed. I don't know how to evaluate that, but I'm sure that if they refuse us, Israel will be there. That's something significant that we didn't have in Desert Storm.

[Non-Sequitur]

OK, ianything has happened by late November then you can say "I told you so."

[crystalk]

egg on My face now, typo

Should say planned Saddam attack on JORDAN (and maybe Israel too) in mid-October, of course, not Iraq.

[elfman2]

Perhaps, but I didn't say that it would happen by late November. All I know is that it's very likely to not happen in the summer heat.

[Binti Jua]

If you do attack--it will be your 'Suez'--have no doubts about that.

I'm not sure if it will be "Suez" or not but I don't like the plan: "Saddam is toppled and a democratic regime is installed." This means a lot of human misery and the massacre of many innocent lives. Besides, the democratic regime already installed in Afghanistan will need 50 US bodyguards 24/7 for the whole duration of the "democracy." I may spend less at the gas pump but my tax dollars are spent to maintain funny democracies.

[mystery-ak]

Forgive me, Im a nervous wreck...my 20 yo pvt is so full of bravado he scares me, he has no idea of what real combat is like...and all the arm-chair generals are driving me crazy!....pray for our young soldiers.

[thinktwice]

You're right about Congress having authorized Presidential action on 14 Sept. 2001. Everyone can read about it in the little noticed Rush Limbaugh article at this link.

[Snowy]

I can understand your case of nerves. Please know that I am thankful to each and every one of our troops. Maybe here at FR we can organize care packages for FR relatives over in the Middle East (or wherever else they are serving)? Take care.

[Dog Gone]

The World Tribune is a trashy tabloid for news junkies who don't care about accuracy, much less common sense.

[elfman2]

"Forgive me, Im a nervous wreck...my 20 yo pvt is so full of bravado he scares me, he has no idea of what real combat is like...and all the arm-chair generals are driving me crazy!....pray for our young soldiers."

If it help, even prior to 9/11, the most dangerous jobs were firemen and then police before soldiers. Your private's in good hands and doing great things, and there has never been a military more concerned with minimizing our casualties than ours today.

[mystery-ak]

I know....I/we love and trust our CIC and Sec. of Defense...we are indeed in good hands.

[Antoninus]

dumfounded

The operative word is "dumb." Just wait and see, pal. You may be surprised at what happens. To claim that we are as impotent as France and Britain in 1956 is a bit premature, I think. We've been underestimated many times before.

[rwfromkansas]

Right. I just don't see this helping the pubbies much if we attack before November. Maybe a little, but the negative publicity by the media and Dems, which WILL resonate with dumb Americans, will nullify any increase.

[Robert_Paulson2]

"Or it may be part that, and/or something more imaginative that will appear to some to come out of nowhere, with much less warning than 6 months or 12 weeks." you got it...

YUP, a round travelling at 2000+ fps, from the barrel of one of his own sharpshooters... why go to war when he can be taken out of circulation by one round at 4-5 hundred yards?

This is not our father's war.
It won't be fought like the last one... even the one in Afghanistan.

Just guessing of course.

[rwfromkansas]

They haven't passed the Homeland Security Dept. bill either. I hope Bush seizes on this as an election issue.