The Big Show...

[Arizwx]

...is about to begin.Last evening our Forces engaged the vaunted 'Medina' Brigade.Results are sketchy...however it is thought that most of the Republican Guard in Central Iraq has been called in to dig in.The siege of Baghdad is about to begin,as our Ground Forces are within 60 Miles of the 'Big B'...and already engaging some Rep Guard on the outlying areas of the Ancient Metropolis.I would expect a heavy air assault of specific C&C targets that are beleived to be still quais-operational.Again,we may have underestimated the Iraqi Comm Systems(State of the Art Russian).
We MUST disable the Communications abilty to ensure an isolation of C&C.
Unfortuantely,as we witnessed earlier by the In the Can Saddam Statement as well as the Info Minister,the TV/Radio Sat Dishes and Comm Tower infrastructure is functioning well.IMHO,a blunder on our part...well intentioned to protect the Iraqi infrastructure...however...a blunder just the same..The Army Corp of Eng could have a Communications infrastructure up and running within a few days if need be..therefore,we should remove Saddam's ability to spew his 'Kill an Infidel for Allah' rhetoric.
This appears to be a potentially bloody confrontation setting up.Gen Franks admitted such as did Tony Blair and Pres Bush.
We must take Baghdad.We must be aware of WMDs.We must not aasume supposed freindlys are as they may appear.We are fighting 4 seperate regions of Iraq including Baghdad,which is the Prize.I trust we have the ability to employ appropriate resources to call upon when(not if) the going gets nasty.
The warning Sirens in Kuwait continue to blare,with the Patriot Intercept Missiles doing an incredible job.Let us pray that an errant or lucky strike does not occur,esp with the threat of WMDs.
Isreal has been eerily quiet.Iran has threatened to shoot down any more incursions of aircraft into thier airspace.
Meantime,Mines litter the S Seaport we need to deliver releif.
*****MAJOR Explosions Have commenced in Baghdad...4 thus far*****
Let us pray this day is productive and as forceful and to the point as Tony Blair's oration style!

[streetsoldier]

Don, this former USAF 1 LT agrees fully with your assessment of the situation...and I took interest in blacking OUT Baghdad (inclusive of commercial/public TV and radio), employing paratroops (US, UK and Polish, the very best in the world) to secure a ring INSIDE and fight their way OUT, while our armor and heavy infantry keeps the Hammurabi, Medina and Nebuchadnezzar Divisions busy outside the defense ring.

We can let the Shi'ite majority deal with the Ba'ath Sunni "fedayeen", Security Services and police after we have finished, IMHO...tribal justice is swifter than the World Court, and there's NO "appeal process".

[Arizwx]

Don, this former USAF 1 LT agrees fully with your assessment of the situation...and I took interest in blacking OUT Baghdad (inclusive of commercial/public TV and radio), employing paratroops (US, UK and Polish, the very best in the world) to secure a ring INSIDE and fight their way OUT, while our armor and heavy infantry keeps the Hammurabi, Medina and Nebuchadnezzar Divisions busy outside the defense ring.

We can let the Shi'ite majority deal with the Ba'ath Sunni "fedayeen", Security Services and police after we have finished, IMHO...tribal justice is swifter than the World Court, and there's NO "appeal process".

To answer VbHouTex's earlier Query,
What you described is indeed what I would have envisioned as an Urban Battleplan.I am confident that Gen Franks has reassessed the situation and made the proper adjustments.Hopefully,the Fedayeen will have thier comm cut off from Badgdad.They are the gnat..the Republican Guard,the Wasp.Both must be vanquished with cold and direct precision.