Tuesday, April 01, 2003

Troups Moving Toward Baghdad - Palestinians Invading Iraq - What's Really Happening?

NYTimes: Word Goes Out That 'This Is It'

Been following the war, but not posted much about it. The news coming now (actually now being yesterday at this very time in the story) points to rough times ahead for our troups and out country. I hope I'm wrong and I hope there is inspiration to troups trying to stay alive in the sure-sounding leader,

"This is it," said Brig. Gen. John F. Kelly, assistant commander of the First Marine Division.

He was addressing top staff and combat officers today as they clustered around a map taped to an armored vehicle, and he was referring to the imminent attack on Iraqi Republican Guards south of Baghdad. "We're on the move," he said."

I was kind of shocked when I read such detail of the war plans. Isn't this a little too much information when the battle is being fought right now?

"The plan, Col. John Toolan, the division's operations officer, told the gathered staff members and officers, was for the Army's Third Infantry Division to come through the Karbala gap, south of Baghdad and west of these troops. That division, which has seen heavy fighting, is being supplemented with elements of the Army's 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions.

As for their troops, the officers learned, the plan was to continue north on Highway 7 and engage the Iraqis at Kut, southeast of the capital. "Route 7 is like a dagger pointed at the heart of the beast," General Kelly said later."

A fear that Iraqi military could be reading the NYTimes and knowing exactly what was happening gave me a pause. The I figured out it was at least 24 hours ago. But it makes you wonder (and hope) that our military that is escorting these reporters is comfortable with the information being communicated to the world from the front lines. Let's hope they didn't get bogged down and now they know where our guys are.

Haitham MussawiAnd what are we going to do about this,

The cities and towns, it turned out, harbored die-hard elements of Saddam Hussein's supporters, Baath Party loyalists and fighters from the militias associated with Mr. Hussein and his sons. In addition, the marines say, they have taken prisoners who appear to have come from other Arab lands, notably Jordanian Palestinians."

Jordan had better keep a lid on this...we should close the frickin' borders of Iraq before these guys get in, get settled, maybe wait out Saddam's passing, and begin the type of suicide bombing that's been happening in Israel and now to us.
11:03:30 PM    comment []  Google It!