2RHPZ
05-28-2005, 12:09 PM
Saddam’s Elite In the Meat Grinder
By Rebecca Grant
September 2003, Vol. 86, No. 9
Republican Guard divisions looked pretty bold—until they got sliced and diced by coalition airpower.
http://www.afa.org/magazine/sept2003/0903grinder4.jpg
The Remains. A field near Najaf—the site of a three-day battle—is littered with the carcasses of Iraqi T-55 tanks. Coalition fixed-wing aircraft decimated Iraqi forces.
“ We’re Killing Them”
Moseley, the air component commander, said of the airpower contribution: “I find it interesting when folks say we’re softening them up. We’re not softening them up. We’re killing them.”
Moseley went on, “I would not tell you the Republican Guard is 100 percent gone. I believe they are gone in organized division strength, corps strength, brigade strength, but I believe there are still some survivors out there that are still willing to fight.” He added that the dispersed survivors would “continue to cause a problem for us.”
His comments, however, left no doubt that the Republican Guard had come to the end of the road as an organized fighting force. No longer would Saddam’s regime enjoy their protection. Small units might still resist, but the road to Baghdad was open, and coalition forces took control of the city on April 9.
Air commanders, in particular, were quick to credit all forces for the smashing coalition victory. Unlike in the 1991 war, Republican Guard forces did not escape destruction because of poor coordination between air and land forces. No such problem occurred this time.
http://www.afa.org/images/mag_logo.jpg (http://www.afa.org/magazine/sept2003/0903grinder.asp)
By Rebecca Grant
September 2003, Vol. 86, No. 9
Republican Guard divisions looked pretty bold—until they got sliced and diced by coalition airpower.
http://www.afa.org/magazine/sept2003/0903grinder4.jpg
The Remains. A field near Najaf—the site of a three-day battle—is littered with the carcasses of Iraqi T-55 tanks. Coalition fixed-wing aircraft decimated Iraqi forces.
“ We’re Killing Them”
Moseley, the air component commander, said of the airpower contribution: “I find it interesting when folks say we’re softening them up. We’re not softening them up. We’re killing them.”
Moseley went on, “I would not tell you the Republican Guard is 100 percent gone. I believe they are gone in organized division strength, corps strength, brigade strength, but I believe there are still some survivors out there that are still willing to fight.” He added that the dispersed survivors would “continue to cause a problem for us.”
His comments, however, left no doubt that the Republican Guard had come to the end of the road as an organized fighting force. No longer would Saddam’s regime enjoy their protection. Small units might still resist, but the road to Baghdad was open, and coalition forces took control of the city on April 9.
Air commanders, in particular, were quick to credit all forces for the smashing coalition victory. Unlike in the 1991 war, Republican Guard forces did not escape destruction because of poor coordination between air and land forces. No such problem occurred this time.
http://www.afa.org/images/mag_logo.jpg (http://www.afa.org/magazine/sept2003/0903grinder.asp)