Top US military planner fears a 'likely' repeat of Somalia bloodbath [in Iraq]

The Independent ^ | 15 March 2003 | Andrew Buncombe

[mystery-ak]

This is my greatest fear.....

[Cicero]

So, what else is new?

[TADSLOS]

"So I asked myself today which war will this be: Desert Storm or Somalia?"

Neither.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Maybe so, I tend to expect much of that, but what is the alternative?

While my conclusion my be unfair, given the limits of this article, this retired general seems to be worried only with his military sphere, without considering an ultimate solution. Basically the "That's not my job" mentality.

[homeagain balkansvet]

Sounds to me like he's preparing to fight the last war himself.

Thirty special forces < 300,000 troops.

1 SF company < five US Army divisions, plus six carriers and half the USAF.

We're going to kick ass. Quickly.

[mystery-ak]

Turner is on Fox now.

[knarf]

Col. .... the CIC now is far and away more a man and soldier than x42.

[MEG33]

I doubt there is not one horror scenerio that hasn't been discussed.

[dhardt]

I think we learned from Somalia.

[Hoppean]

Then again, it's just one scenario. Things could go quite well--Drudge is reporting that there are more open acts of rebellion against Saddam taking place in Iraq. Only time will tell, and word has it that the time is soon.

[dhardt]

Giving him more air time...

[mystery-ak]

It's my job to sit at home and worry...LOL

[McGruff]

There's a few differences between this operation and Somalia:

1 - The UN was in charge in Somalia. We are in charge now.

2 - We didn't have overwhelming force in Somalia. We do here.

3 - Norman assumes the Iraqis want to defend this butcher.

4 - We didn't have any locals in Somalia to do our dirty work for us. We will here.

[Fitzcarraldo]

U.S. and British troops take over Baghdad airport and surround the city...

Sadaam launches SCUDs at Israel with biological/chemical warheads...

Israel instantly retailiates with nuclear weapons targeted for Baghdad...

[jlogajan]

'likely' repeat of Somalia bloodbath

Isn't that where about 20 US soldiers killed about 1000 Somalians?

[BillM]

This guy is an ex AF Col. Hardly a combined arms stategist.

[Highest Authority]

The Col. sounds like he has a bitter taste in his mouth because he didn't finish his job! He thinks in military terms over 10 years (and equipment) old. He's a loser!!!

[mware]

A former military aide to General Norman Schwarzkopf has warned that a US-led war against Iraq could turn into a disaster that echoes the bloody debacle of Somalia

The difference is that we do not have Clinton and Les Aspin denying the troops the equipment they need to be successful.

[Cap Huff]

Whether this retired Colonel is good or not I can't say, but the article is clearly written as propaganda. "Top planner" makes it sound like he was in charge of Pentagon planning. I doubt some bird colonel was quite that exalted. Second, they bring in first the name of General Schwartzkopf. Name dropping. As if General Schwartzkopf would endorse the view given here.