Posted on 04/24/2002 8:46:56 AM PDT by codebreaker
DEKAfile's military sources provide details of the Iraqi troop movements.
The force Iraq started massing some weeks ago contains 3-4 of its 7 crack Republican Guard Divisions, which are stationed in the center of the country opposite the Jordanian frontier. They are fanned out across a 300 sq.km stretch of land, bounded by four bases:H-3 Main, H-3 Southwest, and H-3 Northwest-350 km. west of Baghdad-and the big al Baghdadi ground and air base west of town of Rutbah.
The Iraqi high command reckons the first American strike, carried out under the cover of bombing and missile barrage, will try and capture this area and take over the four bases-much in the way a main US base was set up in Kandahar, Afhganistan. From there the US forces will threaten the capital Baghdad.
The Iraqi response will be to divide their strength into two contingents. One leg by Saddam Hussein's son Qusay, will fall back towards Baghdad; the other will push into Jordan and sieze its eastern region, ready for an eventual move into the capital Amman. The Israeli troop concentration the Saudis are referring to-whose presence Israeli spokesmen deny-is poised to defend Jordan against this very Iraqi assault.
By his pincer movement, Saddam hopes to crush the American force, trapping it in a isolated pocket, vulnerable to a blitz of missiles carrying chemical and biological agents. Simultaneously, Iraqi missile barrages will be aimed at Israel and US military targets in the Jewish state, as well as American military facilities in the Gulf, Kuwait and Qatar.Iraq is also set to counter alternative US tatics. This week, Baghdad deployed heavy reinforcements of anti-air missile batteries in the southern and northern no-fly zones patrolled by US and British allied planes. This move was a preventative measure against a possible US attempt to sieze Iraq's northern and southern oilfields. The batteries are aimed not only against bombers but also large scale helicopter squadrons flying US and British Marines in from Kuwait, Oman or Turkey.
DEBKA.
Qusay?? The critter that has to disarm to see his old man?
I think they want to be first in line to surrender. ;)
Saddam's emnity towards Israel is well known. Capturing Jordan gives him a border with Israel and a base from which to attack. He will try to portray himself as the savior of the Palestinians, and by extension, the entire Arab world.
So... while I agree with the sigh and wish there was a way to avoid all this, I think we, as a nation, have to be prepared to protect our interests and our friends in the region, which happen to include both Jordan and Israel.
By his pincer movement, Saddam hopes to crush the American force, trapping it in a isolated pocket, vulnerable to a blitz of missiles carrying chemical and biological agents.
And I hope to take Anna Kournikova on a romantic cruise.
Perhaps Debka will cover that story when it doesn’t happen!
A figment of Debka's overactive imagination.
Stay Safe !
Bwahahahahahahah.... <thump>
Ooops. I just fell out of my chair.
It's more like Republican Guard Divisions on crack.
Bwahahahahah!
Anyway, I thought it was funny. (That and DEBKA.)
The problem with this analysis, is the IDF will attack Iraq the very moment they invade Jordan for 2 reasons: 1. Jordan & Israel have signed a peace deal; Israel will defend Jordan. 2. the IDF will, rightfully, consider such a move as an invasion of Israel itself.
Ask General Yellow Hair about this tactic.
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