Baghdad To Be Hit by Paratroopers; attacks from Riverbank sites; Looks like Israeli Plan to Me.

debka | 1-8-03 | crystalk/debka

[crystalk]

Large American contingents, airborne and heavy mechanized divisions, Marine task forces, aircraft carriers, helicopter fleets and hospital ships are speeding to jumping-off positions around Baghdad.

The US is expected to launch the coming war against Iraq with parachute drops on Baghdad, together with commando landings in the city from the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers.

A large-scale force will meanwhile encircle the Iraqi capital, while a mighty tank force dashes north from Kuwait and Qatar, bypassing the southern Iraqi Shiite cities of Najef and Karbala and circumventing the Iraqi army defending Baghdad. Those tanks will join the encircling force.

The object of this colossal movement of military strength is to lay Baghdad to siege.

[crystalk]

HQ already being/been moved from Tampa to Gatar.

Strategery from top to bottom bears a made-in-Israel look to me.

Never look to Reuters etc for what is actually being done, look here.

[r9etb]

Considering the stories about Saddam building a two-ring defense of Baghdad, this article basically describes a frontal assault. I don't buy it.

[AshleyMontagu]

Israeli troops then?

[Arkinsaw]

I doubt we want a siege. Sieges are for those who have the will to starve out a population and I doubt that we, or our erstwhile allies, have the will for a "Vicksburg on the Euphrates" with civilians eating vermin and hiding in holes. One can imagine the press corps during a multi-month siege of Baghdad.

[crystalk]

No, that would be just TOO much for the so called Arab street, though something tells me that if Iraqi troops cross by one yard into Jordan or Syria, Israeli troops will also enter those countries, and by a greater distance.

If we assume that this war is an American priority, which would be done in any case, then Israel is easily paying for the entire package it is requesting, in what it is saving the USA right here, entire west flank safe. Massive reinforcements if needed, etc.

[section9]

This is disinformation and crap.

Period.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[crystalk]

But this says the paratroops will BEGIN by going in behind the lines, within the rings...the riverbanks also are within at least one of the rings...

Am I missing something?

[spqrzilla9]

DEBKA credibility remains very low. This article is a good example, there will be no parachute drops on Baghdad in this war. The era of paradropping troops into combat ended long ago. In fact, this article sounds sourced in the Tel Aviv insane asylum.

[dirtboy]

This is disinformation and crap.

It's from Debka. Same thing.

[dirtboy]

The object of this colossal movement of military strength is to lay Baghdad to siege.

Just like we laid siege to Kuwait City? What a joke. Plus, we're gonna have a smaller force this time, and the tactical emphasis of the American military is on movement and surprise, the exact opposite of a set-piece siege.

The creative writers at Debka do get a bit carried away at times with their adjectives. And adverbs. And nouns. And verbs. And participles. And...

[crystalk]

No, I agree no prolonged "siege" is planned. Perhaps a bit of Hebrew translation problem. The inner-city is in-a-vise surrounded, with US (& allied?) troops already within the Iraqi rings of defense.

The nut is then more or less ordered to surrender or be pulverized, it is surrounded. The long time-frame implied by the English word "siege" is not there, the meaning is more like, your position is hopeless, give up now.

[Khurkris]

It is so convienient having ones battle plans readily available for perusal. Any mention of DIA/MIA count? Perhaps the BDA's could be listed with the AAR's. I do so like a tidy war. (/~sarcasm off)

[r9etb]

But this says the paratroops will BEGIN by going in behind the lines, within the rings...the riverbanks also are within at least one of the rings...

Paratrooper casualties at Normandy were something like 60%. A drop into an urban area with hostile civilians, and surrounded by Saddams best and most loyal troops, would be suicide.

Meanwhile, this description of a mad tank-dash onto the outer defenses....

The real attack would involve carpet-bombing the fixed defensive positions, just like last time.

[brooklin]

It ought to be tough driving the tanks north into Iraq from Qatar. Alot of water to go through, but maybe they have tall snorkels.

[crystalk]

HQ is said to be in Qatar; the tanks are in Kuwait.

[OPS4]

Speculation and rumors, is someone hunting for information?
at Debka? Only on a need to know and it best stay that way!

Ops4 God Bless America!!!!!!

[per loin]

Concentric circles of defense are fine against attacking hordes of footmen or knights on horses. For us, they are more like the rings surrounding the bullseye.

[lavaroise]

Concentric circles of defense are fine against attacking hordes of footmen or knights on horses. For us, they are more like the rings surrounding the bullseye.

bingo... Maginot line bump!!!! Can Saddam run around like a rat? Not if he depends on the lines and the lines depend on him!

[mikegi]

Did anyone read the whole story? It claims that we'll bottle up Saddam in one of his palaces like the IDF has bottled up Arafat occasionally. What a bunch of baloney! Whenever we think we've pinpointed Saddam we're going to drop scores of 2000lb JDAMs on that location.

[Britton J Wingfield]

Seabees can build some really long causeways.