[No Truce With Kings]

Money quote:

"Weeks before the war, American military officers learned from their Turkish counterparts that Turkey was unlikely to allow the U.S. 4th Infantry Division to invade Iraq from Turkey in the north. Such an attack was a critical part of the Franks plan. But absent a northern front, Franks wanted Saddam to think an invasion from Turkish soil was still likely and that the war couldn't begin until weeks after the Turkish issue was resolved. So Franks insisted ships with the 4th Infantry's tanks and equipment remain off the shore of Turkey for weeks, as if awaiting the Turkish okay to unload. In fact, disinformation that the Turks would ultimately permit American troops to operate from their soil was slipped to Saddam's inner circle."

Franks not only had Saddam's inner circle fooled, he had all of us fooled, too. (Admit it now. Honesty is good for the soul.)

And when I reread David (The Hack)sworths's columns criticizing the US for not having enough forces on the ground because we attacked without the 4th ID. . . . well, they now look pretty funny.

Franks would make a great stage magician -- he has already mastered the art of misdirection and sleight of hand necessary. Glad he is on our side!

[JusPasenThru]

Bump for later read.

[maica]

Franks would make a great stage magician -- he has already mastered the art of misdirection and sleight of hand necessary. Glad he is on our side!

I always thought that the true "Shock & Awe" were all the events that we did NOT see, such as taking out the Scud launchers sites before March 19; such as Marines going 300 miles on amphib vehicles; such as virtually instantaneous communication between identification of a bombing opportunity and a bomber flying onto it.

You get my drift? The media kept saying "Where's the Shock and Awe" "I don't see the Shock and Awe" etc. And it was happening under their noses.

Remember - the troops are moving too fast, they are outstripping their supply lines -

Next day - the troops are in a quagmire, they are not moving -

Vice President Cheney said on a Sunday morning show that Baghdad would fall from within. Of course, the pundits disregarded what he said. I believed him, and I was still shocked and in awe at the speed with which it happened.