SADDAM'S DEADLY PLAN

Sky News ^ | 03-20-03 | Sky News

[Beck_isright]

SADDAM'S DEADLY PLAN

Saddam Hussein has turned Baghdad into a "hornets' nest" ready for a bloody showdown with British and American troops, US officials said.

The Iraqi capital is expected to witness the most fierce fighting if war breaks out.

Saddam's generals are expected to try to drag invading forces into a messy urban conflict in the city.

Military experts say urban warfare gives Iraq its best chance of inflicting a high number of casualties and causing a stalemate which would save it from defeat.

Major General Dan Leaf, the chief US Air Force officer in the headquarters of the allied land command, said:

* Baghdad has been ringed with air defences more formidable than the 1991 Gulf War.

* Almost all Iraq's heavy weaponry has been pulled back to Baghdad to protect the capital.

* Baghdad is packed with surface-to-air missiles, heavy machine guns and anti-aircraft artillery.

* Trenches surrounding the city have been filled with oil ready to be set ablaze to hamper British and US air strikes.

* Clusters of anti-aircraft artillery have also been deployed along possible attack routes for cruise missiles.

"It is a hornet's nest right now. There is nothing subtle about it," General Leaf told the New York Times.

"The volume of it is significant. They will be able to put a lot of missiles and a lot of bullets in the air and that will make Baghdad a very tough problem."

Saddam has several Soviet-designed missile systems, some of which he has been upgraded and put into strategic positions, said General Leaf.

"If you put enough lead in the air somebody is going to get hit if they are at the altitudes that those bullets can reach. That's a robust air defence system," he added.

Last Updated: 18:25 UK, Monday March 17, 2003

[Beck_isright]

Please, let us revel in the victories, but remember what awaits us. Probably 50-75,000 hardcore troops. NBC attacks. The proverbial cow cookies hit the fan in about two weeks when we get there. SO please, pray for our troops and pray for a mass surrender.

V

[leadpenny]

Pray for Shock and Awe in Bagdhad!

[SpeakLittle_ThinkMuch]

2 weeks? How about 2 days.

[Jeff Chandler]

It will be over in two weeks. We (or more likely, Mossad) have moles in the Iraqi government.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[Husker24]

50 years ago we simply would have surrounded the city and starved them out, this will pose an interesting problem.

[Redcloak]

How does he make this plan work if his army has surrendered or defected?

[Dat]

Is it possible to surround the city but not attack it? Just outwait the Iraqis?

[JustPiper]

Pray for Shock and Awe in Bagdhad!

I believe this is exactly what we are saving it for. Think about it, the dumb@**** are on the other side of everything they are setting us up for, what better time for Shock and Awe?

[Bobby777]

In any case, regardless of how good things go or how little resistance is met, it is never wise to underestimate an enemy's cunning, will, numbers or traps ... there will be plenty of time after all is done to review ... for now, prudence is called for ... especially with a lunatic like Saddam who has turned chemical weapons loose many times ...

Saddam and Sons may indeed be pushing up daisies ... but until there in 100% proof they are dead, I will assume they are still in power, or if dead, have enough loyal to their "cause" to potentially make things difficult ...

[Beck_isright]

Actually, I'll present a larger problem, which I have before. What if he is alive and there is a scorched earth policy. Imagine 200,000 people infected with the Plague while we're going house to house dealing with snipers and suicide bombers inside Baghdad. This does pose an interesting problem. I have no suggestions.

V

[goldstategop]

Worst case scenario? We use a neutron bomb on the place.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Prayerful bump.

[Beck_isright]

"Worst case scenario? We use a neutron bomb on the place."

No dice. It would trip to many trip wires world wide. Plus we don't have any in inventory, James Earl "I kiss mass murderers' butts" Carter destroyed them all.

V

[Lancey Howard]

Very good post.

You know, I don't care how easy all this looks on TV.
What I am watching on all the cable news networks is tanks and troops - - the cavalry - - moving toward Baghdad. Eventually there will be a lot of American troops there.

Saddam Hussein has had months and months to contemplate this showdown. Say what you want about Saddam, he is (was?) not an idiot. No way did he ever expect in a million years to win a war against the US. So.... what did he plan to do?

We better pray he didn't, somewhere along the line, get his hands on a nuke or two. Because he was just nuts enough to let Baghdad get surrounded by as many US troops as possible and then say "eff you" and go out with an atomic bang, taking Baghdad and lot of the US military with him.

Let's hope and pray our intelligence didn't fail.

[2rightsleftcoast]

Wow, I completely agree. Was just watching coverage and felt that commentators are acting like it is a done deal.
I feel we are giving too much info on air and we don't know what is yet to come.

[John Lenin]

It's time to test out those E-bombs.

[vger]

Saddam Hussein has turned Baghdad into a "hornets' nest"

President Bush is going to turn Bagdad into an FA-18 Hornets Hot Dump Zone!

[BurbankKarl]

they have traveled 150 clicks before lunch....who knows where they will be by nightfall

[Professional]

Oh Pulleeeze!

Air defenses? Well, a good one needs radar. As soon as it gets turned on, BLAM!

Heavy weapons? Gee, our artillery shoots farther than theirs, advantage, US!

Oil trenches? Sure, if they want to ruin THEIR visibility, fine.