Posted on 03/25/2003 7:13:58 AM PST by conservativecorner
Military might ... 450 tanks are bearing down on Baghdad
A MASSIVE Allied army began doing battle with Saddam Hussein’s elite Republican Guard outside Baghdad early today.
American army choppers tore into the crack Iraqi troops as they made a desperate last stand around the capital.
Around 60,000 infantry, 450 tanks and 100 Apache attack helicopters were lining up against 36,000 enemy soldiers with 500 ageing tanks.
Lieutenant General John Abizaid of the US Central Command said: "There has not been a more powerful military force than this put together on the planet earth."
Meanwhile, Allied bombers stepped up raids on Baghdad after US warplanes hit the city in daylight.
Throughout yesterday huge explosions were heard across the city in round-the-clock bombing.
At dusk air raid sirens began to sound as the city came to terms with the fifth night of attacks.
Troops closing in on Baghdad were spread out in an arc spanning several dozen miles, from the west to east.
And the US Army’s 5th Corps was this morning massing near Karbala, 50 miles south west of Baghdad.
It had been racing northwards from Kuwait since the war began last Thursday.
The first unit to arrive was the 3rd Infantry Division, led by the famous 7th Cavalry.
They were being joined by the 101st Air Assault Division - the Screaming Eagles - and the 1st Marine Division.
A brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division was also being helicoptered into action.
Apache helicopter gunships will offer close air support.
Early this morning a huge convoy of M1 tanks, armoured personnel carriers and multi-barrel rocket launchers commanded by Lieutenant General William S Wallace was gathering for the impending battle.
Pressing on ... Humvee scout cars of US 3rd Infantry Division race through southern Iraq
They were given air protection on the march by helicopter gunships, which have knocked out an entire Iraqi armoured unit.
Saddam’s Medina Division was bombed by B52s, RAF Harriers and Apache helicopter gunships for 24 hours.
Thirty surface-to-surface missiles were fired at Republican Guard artillery, which could fire chemical shells. Breaking the spirit of the unit’s 12,000 men could force the dictator’s other two divisions to surrender.
Britain’s Desert Rats, with 100 tanks, are being held as the battle reserve unit.
City under siege ... children peer over Baghdad. Smoke from oil fires lit to confuse Allied pilots hangs on the horizon
There were also indications last night of a US troop build-up in Kurdish areas of northern Iraq around the city of Mosul where heavy bombing was heard.
That could open up another front against Saddam.
Meanwhile the despot appeared TWICE on Iraqi TV yesterday - once to speak to the terrified population and in a second clip he was seen with son Qusay and other henchmen.
But sceptics claimed the films were recorded several days ago.
Millions of TV viewers in America were warned by US Secretary of State Colin Powell that the war they watch on their screens is NOT a video game.
He told Sky TV: "There’s always that initial letdown in this kind of operation when everybody sees what looks like a video war and then they realise it’s a real war with real people being captured, killed and wounded."
British, Australian and US special forces are already in Baghdad.
They are targeting Saddam and his senior lieutenants. They will also feed vital intelligence to the Allies about enemy positions.
Experts say coalition forces will face intense street fighting against the Special Republican Guard when they enter Baghdad.
But they believe Saddam’s regime may have fled or collapsed by that time. They may even have been assassinated by special forces.
The Sun’s military adviser Major General Ken Perkins said: "In street fighting defenders have the upper hand.
"But the coalition have the advantage of more sophisticated equipment. Intelligence gathering from satellites to drone aircraft will pinpoint defence. Night vision devices will give the Allies the edge when darkness falls.
"But gunmen can be lurking in any of dozens of windows with no need to show themselves until they open fire. They know every alley.
"The streets are the killing grounds and the Republican Guard will know how to avoid them as they are forced from building to building."
US officials said early today that Iraqi chiefs had drawn "a red line" around a map of Baghdad - and once US troops cross it, the Republican Guards have been ordered to use chemical weapons, according to American TV channels.
NBC said: "It’s believed once US ground troops cross the line drawn roughly between Karbala and Al Kut, the Republican Guards are under orders to attack with chemical weapons."
The channel based its reports on information from intelligence sources who had intercepted Iraqi messages.
But CNN said the fact that the use of the weapons had apparently been authorised did not mean they would ultimately be fired. A senior Pentagon source said he could not confirm the reports.
Of course, we are hoping the reverse is true also.
William Wallace?
Erin Go Bragh!!!
I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that Rupert Murdoch is a one-man international patriot for Western civilization. I don't know what we'd do without him.
"He chose poorly."
Hey Saddam! Say your prayers.
Hell is coming to breakfast.
Uh---I hope that "SF" is "Special Forces" and not "San Francisco."
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