I don't know. A recent post said Stratfor.com said Iraq must move it's troops before the war starts because we own the sky so they can't move troops after the war starts. This may be their last troop movements. Moving south makes sense, engage the enemy. I don't know why they're moving west, unless they think we're going to do another left hook.
Maybe we sold them the left hook this time and we're really going to do an amphibious assault.