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| Axis of Evil |
| U.S. Sees Hints of ’Unrest’ in Iraqi Leadership |
| 2003-01-22 |
| U.S. intelligence has picked up "indications about unrest" among Iraqi leaders faced with possible war with U.S.-led forces, the Pentagon's top general said on Wednesday, without offering any evidence. Myers, chairman of the military Joint Chiefs of Staff, said there were hints some of Saddam's senior supporters might be cracking under the pressure from the United States and Britain for Iraq's president to step down. "There are some indications about unrest in some of the Iraqi leadership. But just hints. We have not seen anything (about) purges" by Saddam, Myers said. More stories like this that are floated, and there will be. And isn't that the point of the whole exercise? Bwahhahaha! Declining to provide details or to say how Washington had obtained such hints of any unrest, the general said the United States had seen only small troop movements in Iraq but nothing unusual "and nothing to show that the military hierarchy isn't responding to orders." Hint! Myers said Saddam had taken steps to ensure support among military leaders. "We know, I think, that the regime has taken measures to enforce loyalty ... extra measures by populating some of the major (military) units with people they consider loyal," he told reporters. Saddam's close relatives and clan members. He falls, they swing. Myers, speaking as the U.S. and British militaries continued to send tens of thousands of troops, warships and aircraft to the Gulf, cautioned against assuming that the United States would not launch an attack in Iraq's brutal summer heat beginning in late April or May. "No. Weather is not a factor. We have talked about this a great deal," he said in response to questions. He noted that such combat would be difficult, particularly if U.S. and British troops had to don restrictive suits for protection against potential biological or chemical attack. "We have discussed this at great length with General (Tommy) Franks and the service chiefs and the combat commanders and there is no doubt that -- no matter what time of year -- we can fight and prevail," Myers said. Franks is head of the U.S. military's Central Command and would preside over any war with Iraq. "We will do better in that (summer desert) environment than any potential adversary. Not that we're going to wait that long. And part of that is enabled by the fact that we can fight at night," said Myers. "We are as good at night as we are in the daytime. That is not true of most forces and it would give us a tremendous edge." One week from now, two at the most. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #2 TJ, try this for a timeline: Feb. 2 -- coordinated air attacks begin Feb. 2, five minutes later -- we have air supremacy Feb. 2 through 21 -- ground forces arrive and move to their start lines. Think of it as "just in time" infantry, just like General Motors uses. Feb. 21 through 25 -- ground forces move into Iraq and establish key positions in countryside Feb. 25 through Mar. 3 -- Allied forces consolidate hold on countryside; air attacks start to focus on hard-core Republican Guard units in Baghdad Mar. 3 through 10 -- Tikrit falls Mar. 10 through 24 -- encirclement of Baghdad complete, civilians stream out to holding/relocation centers Mar. 24 through Apr. 5 -- assault on Baghdad, strangely reminescent of WWII assault on Aachen Apr. 6 -- VI day. How's that? |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-01-22 21:55:46 |
| #1 Your comments are excellent! This is propoganda pure and simply. There will be no coup until US troops are in Baghdad. As far as fighting in the summer, these comments are misleading. The average temperature is about 120. Try fighting in a chem suit in that! Best bet for an attack will be the last week of Feb. But where's the beef? The 1st Armored, 1st Cavalry, 82nd and 101st have not deployed. Unless a radical new strategy is being used where are the ground forces? All troops will require about ten days to get used to the climate. Watch for the use of an electro magnetic pulse weapon and carbon fibers to disrupt power grids. Finally watch for the deployment of F-117s and B-2s. |
| Posted by: TJ Jackson 2003-01-22 21:48:55 |