Tomorrow is "The Day", so...

[FallenAngel]

OK....since the summit meeting this morning anounced tomorrow is the absolute last chance...how long do you think it takes before we get Saddam and his Cabinet (I think theres about 50 people or so who we also want "replaced")

I say...maybe 3-4 days of just solid, 24:7 airial bombardment. Everything from UAVs to B-52s and B-2s.

Then, the ground campaign, which I fear is going to get pretty f*cking nasty in Baghdad and Tikrit if all those troops actually get the balls to fight to the last man.

Also...anyone think with the lack of support from other countries, that the US and UK will let the Isrealis tear into Iraq too? If that were the case, Saddam might give himself up to the US for fear what teh Iraelis will do to him.

[David]

if saddam uses bioweapons it could slow down the war some. or it could speed it up cuz we might be like, "f**k him", press a big red button and baghdad gets vaporized.

[Light Fighter]

I wouldnt worry too much about the ground war, hell, Iraqi soldiers already tried surrendering to British forces who were only out for target practice in the desert.

[Merik]

Either way Saddam is DEFIENATLY gonna use WoMD.He has nothing to lose this time around and he knows it so he will make us pay trying to get his sorry ass this time.

[redondomarine]

The next no moon in Iraq is at the end of the month I think. We might wait to go in then so our b-2s will be safer, but when it comes to the air force, I cant tell the diference between a plane and a helicopter. :cantbeli:

[GazB]

Exactly what will these B-52s be bombing?

Do you really think the Iraqi forces will line up around the border waiting for the bombs to fall?

Some more real problems are what are the Marsh arabs going to do, what are the Kurds going to do, and what are Saddams forces going to do.

Iraqi troops didn't put up much fight in Kuwaite, but ask any Israeli and they will tell you the Iraqis are not mugs. They fought long and hard against the Iranians and were greatly outnumbered. Obviously US and UK forces will be superior but fighting in builtup areas is not like fighting in the desert.

There is also the cost as hinted at by Bush.

A palestinian state.

[Ratamacue]

The urban combat in Baghdad won't be a walk in the park like Desert Storm was, but I have no doubts whatsoever that NATO (specifically US and British) troops are far superior in training in Urban areas than Iraqis (especially 101st Airborne/75th Rangers and all those more "special" units)

[BMF]

true story from the last gulf war: Iraqi repulbican guard units tried to surrender to 1: helicpopters/CAS aircraft, and 2: reporters

[Sulph8]

I read somewhere that the first 100 hours are the most crucial, any thoughts on that?

[hood]

A perfect analogy to this whole thing is Panama. Their elite soldiers didn't give up and it took a while to route them all out, but the Rangers who were the first on the ground did an incredible job. Now imagine that we've had 12 years worth of intelligence and photography of the place, all with the thinking that we might have to go back in. The plans to take out Saddam go all the way back to at least Clinton when he signed an order saying that we need to do it. The only issue is if Saddam decided to drop chemical weapons inside his own city. We all know that he doesn't care how many Iraqi civilians he kills to get his way, but one thing is certain, whoever orders that to happen, and whoever carries out that order will be killed one way or another. Just like in Panama with its corrupt regime, most high-ups care more about their own skin, and surrendered without any shots being fired when it was obvious that they wouldn't win.

[SHOOTERB]

It wasnt the elite troops that had us worried in Panama. It was the Dignity Bns. We could find the PDF eaisly enough but civilians fighting in the cities and hiding in the jungle would have been a major problem. Most of the elite forces like the "Macho de Monte" and the Paras did put up some resistence but surrendered after a few "Ma Bell" operations with out a shot fired. Also remember that our SF had been working with these forces for years and we had a good relationship with them. Hell we were even married to women who had relatives in the PDF.

This is a different situation altogether. We will win but we will have a great more deal of causulties this time.

[hood]

Well, one of the great things that happened concerning the Dignity Batallions, was that as soon as the people were assured that we were there to help, they started pointing them out and told us where they were hiding. With so many people in Iraq having relatives that have been taken away, never to be seen again, I feel a similar situation will present itself. One of the first things to happen will be the US taking over the radio and television stations, and broadcasting friendly messages telling people to stay in their homes and such.