[Congressman Billybob]

Everyone is talking about the impending invasion of Baghdad. But no one seems to have thought to pull an atlas off the shelf and see what Baghdad is like.

There cannot be "house-to-house warfare" in most of Baghdad (as in Berlin, etc., in WW II), because there's not a lot of "house-to-house" in Baghdad. The city is twice the size of the state of Rhode Island. Large parts of it consist of lots of camels and an occasional mud hut. But reporters who haven't done their homework don't have a clue about that.

Billybob / John

[Keith]

Thanks John, good research...I still think there is a possibility for the Kabul solution...it just falls as the "enemy" runs for the hills...or Syria.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Your scenario sounds a lot like what is happening in Basrah, so it's logical we would follow a similar course. Thanks for the refreshing logic and common sense. I hope this course or another one equally simple is followed.

[Common Tator]

When a dictatorial government is defeated the people do not challenge the new power that takes control. They are never quite sure the new government will not be as repressive as the old one. If they did not rise up against Saddam, they will not rise up against us.

For 30 years every Iraqi has been trained to obey the ruling regime. They have done so. They will not break that habit just because the US and Britain become the new ruling regime.

When our tanks run the streets, and the remaining Saddam followers try to hide and snipe from buildings, the population will do to them what they did to those that opposed Saddam when he held power. They will point and say .. they are hiding over there.

[capitan_refugio]

BB -

In 1801, the Bey of Tripoli declared war on the United States. We wouldn't pay him enough "tribute" to avoid commerce raiding. We fought a protract naval war that included a few land engagements. We kicked his butt. A treaty was negotiated in 1805.

At the time, this was a pretty big deal, because we were still an emerging county and not yet a world power. The Barbary States were considered touogh enough regional powers, that the Europeans madea habit of paying tribute. Our response was, "Millions for Defence - Not One Cent for Tribute!" This is an aspect of the American character tha has not changed.

[genefromjersey]

Hohn, I'd say some of the outcome depends upon whether Saddaam and his family are still in any sort of power.

I read a bio of Saddaam today, and the author made clear Saddaam is a great admirer of Stalin, and studied the late, unlamented one's rise to and maintainence of power.

If Saddaam pictures himself as the resilient hero of a new "Stalingrad", there could be quite a dust-up before he gets to meet his 72 ugly and wrinkled virgins !

[Enduring Freedom]

Nice job!

[Lockbox]

From the title “The Berlin Solution to the Baghdad Problem”, I thought that this article might be about the fall of Berlin in WWII. When the Germans had a choice of surrendering to either the Americans or the Russians. Of course they chose the Americans out of fear of what the Russians might do after years of German treatment of Russians.

Maybe we need the "Russian” solution to Baghdad. Might the Kurds be our "Russian” hammer on Baghdad? Interesting solution to the problem of taking Baghdad.

[Melinator]

Gas and germs would greatly complicate things.

[okie01]

In other words, Free Baghdad equals Rhode Island plus a good chunk of Massachusetts and Connecticut. Saddam's Baghdad equals Woonsocket...

Amazing what one can learn from a map. And a book.

I'm convinced that most contemporary journalists are not familiar with either.

[jonascord]

In 1864, reporters asked U.S. Grant, just before he moved his army across the river into the Wilderness, how long it would take him to get to Richmond, and Grant said, "Three days."

While they were still puzzled, Grant added, "However, General Lee will have to cooperate..."

Same thing for Baghdad, and the reporters haven't gotten any smarter in 140 years...

[fight_truth_decay]

However, this time through 24/7 informational technology; we have a twisted analysis of war crimes committed by the Republican Guard. The U.S. is said to be the tyrants of murder, mayhem and mass destruction by Anti-American/Bush news channels and other unfriendly media outlets (often state owned) throughout the world. Propaganda runs wild!