Allies Risk 3000 Casualties in Baghdad - Ex-General

Reuters ^ | 3-24-03

[oursacredhonor]

LONDON (Reuters) - The U.S.-led force in Iraq risks as many as 3,000 casualties in the battle for Baghdad and Washington has underestimated the number of troops needed, a top former commander from the 1991 Gulf War said on Monday.

Retired U.S. Army General Barry McCaffrey, commander of the 24th Infantry Division 12 years ago, said the U.S.-led force faced "a very dicey two to three day battle" as it pushes north toward the Iraqi capital.

"We ought to be able to do it (take Baghdad)," he told the Newsnight Program on Britain's BBC Television late on Monday.

"In the process if they (the Iraqis) actually fight, and that's one of the assumptions, clearly it's going to be brutal, dangerous work and we could take, bluntly, a couple to 3,000 casualties," said McCaffrey who became one of the most senior ranking members of the U.S. military following the 1991 war.

"So if they (the Americans and British) are unwilling to face up to that, we may have a difficult time of it taking down Baghdad and Tikrit up to the north west."

McCaffrey said Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had misjudged the nature of the conflict. Asked if Rumsfeld made a mistake by not sending more troops to start the offensive, McCaffrey replied: "Yes, sure. I think everybody told him that."

"I think he thought these were U.S. generals with their feet planted in World War II that didn't understand the new way of warfare," he added.

U.S. forces have advanced more than 200 miles into Iraqi territory since the start of the war and are beginning to confront an elite division of the Republican Guards deployed to defend the capital.

"So it ought to be a very dicey two to three day battle out there." McCaffrey said of the confrontation with the Republican Guards.

He said his personal view was that the invading troops would "take them (the Iraqis) apart."

"But we've never done something like this with this modest a force at such a distance from its bases," he warned.

McCaffrey, a former Commander in Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces in Latin America, served overseas for 13 years and took part in four combat tours.

He twice received the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest medal for valor in the United States.

[Diddley]

Bomb them with these?

ROFL

[Illbay]

Do the people here REALLY not think that our advantage in weaponry, plus the fact that we own the skies with weapons that the Iraqis can only dream of in their worst nightmares, offset any such disparities of numbers.

[Diddley]

The antithesis would be the chickenshits who likewise never served but insist on using the term chickenhawk.

ROFL, ROFL, ROFL.

Thanks for the information.

[G-Bob]

I'd feel a lot better if we had some more troops on the ground in Iraq.

It seems that we're relying upon our air-power to compensate for our small numbers but we're not being honest about the fact that we're not willing to fully utilize that air-power because of humanitarian reasons.

[diamond6]

Seems the General has a credibility problem.

[PhilDragoo]

Now we have the Medina Division mapped out and as we speak I suspect the B-52's, the A10's and the Air Force sharpshooters are kicking the crap out of them.

A retired officer told Greta tonight that the Longbows gave sufficient granularity to the battlefield picture.

Now, death from the air will destroy it in detail.

[blam]

"I guess I am weary of McCaffery, as he is a bit political. "

After all the defending I have done on McCaffery, I don't like him on TV either. I can't run him down because of his GW1 record though.

[NeilSmith]

"ChickenHawk is a term of art used by the anti war left and right to describe pro war "neo cons" who have never served in the armed forces.

The antithesis would be the chickenshits who likewise never served but insist on using the term chickenhawk."

So, does this mean you haven't served?

[Illbay]

Gee, what a horrible situation for a war less than a week old, and irresistable force being unleashed on the enemy!

People like you are kind of amusing. Don't you long for the days of Bill Clinton, when no one got their hands dirty except Monica?

[Maynerd]

LOL

[jwalsh07]

Nope.

[diamond6]

We have plenty of troops to take care of business. Don't worry.

[fooman]

I agree with assessment on Barry.

[BoomerBob]

I don't disagree with you at all. Casualties could be as high as McCaffrey suggests but there is no way to know until we've fully engaged the forces around Baghdad.

This war is obviously being fought under different rules of engagement than previous efforts. As much as I'd prefer to provide maximum protection for our soldiers (and my brother is out there somewhere with them) it's my opinion that a preemptive war, such as this, places a greater moral burden to limit the potential of civilian casualties. It's a high standard, to be sure, but that's part of what elevates our country above all others.

[sam_paine]

We've had casualties before. We'll have more before Baghdad is freed. It won't stop us.

I wonder if that US blood is the sacrifice at the alter of credibility owed to make up for the cruise-missile lobbing Clintoons?

I mean, the terrorists continue to think we're weak livered, and that's why UBL attacked WTC, Saddam bullied the UN and Kim Jong Dong is launching missiles.

Sadly, maybe only a swath of blood down the highway into baghdad will jerk their respect for the Star-n-Stripes back?

[Illbay]

Don't go anti-semite on us, son.

Most of the time I respect your opinion. But I'm rather sick of hearing this stupid charge thrown around like it actually means something.

[Fury]

I never heard this story about Franks. Tell me more.

Fred Franks had his left foot severely damanged by a thrown grenade in Snoul, Cambodia in 1970. After healing and some therapy, he decided to have the lower part of his left leg amputated in 1971, as his damaged leg was just too mangled. He was fitted with a prosthetic lower left leg and went on to command the VII Corps and eventually TRADOC. The guy is amazing in my book.

[diamond6]

Tell us more about your brother. What service, rank, specialty, unit, etc. Can you give us his name? We will keep in our prayers, definitely.

[KCmark]

Saddam must surely realize he is not attacking secretaries and salesmen this time.

Wrong bad guy.

[diamond6]

Awesome! This reminds me of the movie I saw called Men of Honor, starring Cuba Gooding.