America's 'Digital Division' (4th ID) Heads For Saddam's Stronghold

Independent (UK) ^ | 4-7-2003 | Donald Macintyre

[blam]

America's 'digital division' heads for Saddam's stronghold

By Donald Macintyre in Qatar
07 April 2003

Units from the hi-tech US 4th Infantry Division, which was blocked by a decision of the Ankara parliament from entering Iraq from Turkey, have begun a 350-mile dash north from Kuwait towards Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's home stronghold some 100 miles north of Baghdad.

Deployed in combat for the first time since the Vietnam War, the 4th Infantry is seen as a counterweight to Iraqi forces to the north of the capital and could be used if pro-Saddam forces tried to stage a last stand in Tikrit after the fall of Baghdad. Allied special forces have already set up checkpoints on the road between Baghdad and Tikrit to prevent members of the regime or its forces moving between them. Brigadier General Vincent Brooks, the US deputy chief of operations, said last week that Tikrit, which has been heavily bombed, was known to have housed command and control facilities for the regime.

The Republican Guard's Adnan Mechanised Division is based at Tikrit. The town also has a symbolic importance as the birthplace, in 1138, of Saladin, the legendary Muslim leader who defeated the Crusaders by seizing Jerusalem from the Christians.

The 4th Infantry, whose equipment began to be unloaded at the Kuwaiti port of Shuaiba last Tuesday, is known as the "digital division" because of its ultra-sophisticated communications systems. It is equipped with the M1-A2 SEP Abrams, the army's most modern tank. It is fitted with digital and thermal imaging and steel-encased depleted uranium armour, and is protected against nuclear, biological and chemical warfare. The division also uses Bradley fighting vehicles.

The division was the first to land at Utah Beach in Normandy on D-Day in the Second World War.

Unloading of the division's equipment began last week at a breakneck pace, despite the stifling heat, immediately after the first of its ships, the Houston-based Cape Texas, arrived at the port. The 4th Infantry's 2nd Battalion Field Artillery unloaded 550 vehicles in 12 hours, instead of the normal two days. Meanwhile, round-the-clock flights to Kuwait have been bringing troops from the division's base in Fort Hood, Texas.

The 4th Infantry was expected to form a northern front but the unexpected decision by Turkey last month to refuse a US request for its ground forces to use its basescaused US generals to rethink their strategy for the north. After a visit to Ankara by Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, last week, the moderate Islamist government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to allow the use of Turkish bases for search and rescue and medical repatriation.

[fooman]

We are worried that the Kurds will take too much territory too fast and make the turks jump in.

Methinks we want them to wait until the 4th ID fills in the vacum.

[x1stcav]

Probably lots of martyrs still to go around.

The 3ID amd 1MEW probably need a little standown. They've got to be pretty weary after 18 days of this.

Has anyone heard where the 3ACR is?

[leadpenny]

I've got several fond spots in my heart for the 4th.

Me too. During the first week of 67 I went over with A Co, 4th Avn Bn, 4th ID out of Lewis. My son deployed to Haiti with one of their Engineer Battalions out of Carson in 94.

Godspeed, Ivy Division.

[Gamecock]

God Bless All of You!

[Sam Cree]

Me too.

My Dad was in the 4th, went ashore with the first wave at Utah, then went all the way into Germany. The 4th was in the Battle of Normandy, liberation of Paris, Hurtgen Forest, the Bulge, endured over 200% casualties by war's end.

[Cicero]

Are the Turks and Russians allies?

Not that I know of. My first thought was that the French had gotten to the Turks, and several commentators have said the same thing. Most likely they told Turkey that if they didn't refuse to let us go through they would block Turkey from ever getting into the EU.

I also wonder if they didn't have some arrangement with the Turkish generals to seize the northern oil fields and split the profits, promising to cover for Turkey in the UN if anyone complained.

[blam]

We ought to run the 4th ID straight up the highway through Baghdad on the way to Tikrit.

[TommyDale]

"Wonder if the digital capabiliy will help us that much?"

The 4th ID will reduce the Iraqis to mere bits.

[blam]

Geraldo is presently covering the 4th ID on Fox News. Looks like it could be interesting.

[goldstategop]

The Baathists will live on in digital bits. ;-)

[FreedomPoster]

>>If this is true, I find it wonderfully ironic that it will be the 4th the Turks are confronted with as they eye the northern oilfields

My take is that the 173 Airborne Brigade was dropped in to be a speed bump in case the Turks decided to get frisky.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Watching right now!

[blam]

"My take is that the 173 Airborne Brigade was dropped in to be a speed bump in case the Turks decided to get frisky."

I think you are correct.

[linn37]

dang it just tuned in and missed it,two nephews in the 4th!!

[TXBlair]

"I've got several fond spots in my heart for the 4th."

Thanks for your service, guys. I have no family-connection to the Army, just a cousin in the Air Force (please keep him in your prayers), but I do have a 4th ID connection in that I live in a town adjacent to Fort Hood. Most of my Sunday School class members went out with 4th ID last week. Many of my students at school have parents serving with this group. I feel so proud as I watch Geraldo talking with our 4th ID troops.

Thanks again for all you have done for this incredible nation of ours!! God bless y'all!

[Sam Cree]

Oh, it was Dad who was in the IV, speaking for myself. But he'd appreciate what you said if he were still with us. Thanks.

[LonePalm]

A 3 Corps BUMP! Now all we need is the 1^st Cav.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[finnman69]

Whorealdo is back being his usual smarmy self with the 4th in Kuwait now on Fox

[Ronin]

It's interesting that whenever the liberals talk about this war, and make reference to Saladin and Saddam, they always ignore one fact -- Saladin was a Kurd.

[SamAdams76]

This should be absolutely scaring the poop out of ALL of our enemies.

You got that right. Look at what we have accomplished in Iraq these past 15 days and we haven't even brought our best infantry division into the field yet. (No offense intended for those fine divisions already in the field.)

Maybe as consolation for missing most of the action, we can send the 4ID into Syria once they get down mopping up in Tikrit.