[Cicero]

I confess I am more nervous about this northern area than I am about Baghdad. Presumably our forces have had time to correct for the betrayal by Turkey, but I won't feel confident about "Plan B" in the north until we control the northern oil fields at Kirkuk and Mosul. That means occupation by American forces, because if the Kurdish forces capture them that might tempt the Turks to come in.

Turkey badly miscalculated by listening to France and refusing us passage of our northern forces. They may yet hope to recoup this gross political error with a quick invasion of northern Iraq. I hope not.

[Grampa Dave]

Don't be nervous about this area. The ones who need to be nervous and worry about staying alive are the Baath Party Members and the Fedayeen.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Without tank columns we will not see the kind of advances that have ben so successful in the south. But the USAF will keep them pinned down until mechanized forces arrive in the next week or so. If they are stupid enough to break from the cities, they will suffer the same fate as the Medina and Nebuchadnezzar RG divisions (= wiped out).