[Timeout]

"Pause"-talk was created in Washington by the chattering intelligensia who felt left out of the loop.

Here's how I see it. CENTCOM saw the forecast for that sandstorm blowing in last week. They decided it was time to hit the road before we got socked-in down in the Kuwaiti desert. Instead, they unleashed several armorned units and told them to skeedaddle to their pre-planned positions before the storm hit. Thus the early footage of long armored caravans screaming across the desert.

Some units had to drive thru the storm for a day, but by the 2nd day they were all settled in for the rest of the storm. Logistical support units, unfortunately, had to start their caravans in the midst of the storm.

Now, as the dark of the moon approaches, all are catching up and finalizing their positions, while air strikes prepare the battlefield for what's to come.

All you military vets out there: Doesn't this make as much sense as the "pause" theory?

[ChadGore]

Re:All you military vets out there: Doesn't this make as much sense Absolutly ! Here's my hope, for ABC to do a 20/20, CBS to do a 48 hlours, and NBC to do "a very special dateline" on Iraqi airforce victories of this battle.

"Iraqi airforce victories and their impact on the Smart family, on the next 20/20"

"Iraqi airforce victories and what they mean to Micheal Jacksons nose, on the next 48 hours"

"Iraqi airforce victories and what they mean to Katie Kurics colin, on the next Dateline"

[CasearianDaoist]

There could be quite a bit going on but a "pause" is not one of them. The media has concocted this and very soon they will be made to look like idiots. The Military remembers oh so well how they lied about the Tet offensive - they will never permit that again.

[AFPhys]

I almost agree with your analysis in entirety. The one picky thing I will niggle at is your "...saw the forecast for that sandstorm blowing in last week. They decided it was time to hit the road before we got socked-in..."

It is my suspicion that the rapid push north to engage the RG was one of the major branch points in this plan from the beginning, and the sandstorm did not affect that at all. The storm did, however, slow our supply line a day more or less, I suspect, but that does not account for the present status of the battle.