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| Iraq |
| British troops given higher profile in ground invasion |
| 2003-03-18 |
| First, says a senior military adviser to Tony Blair, there will be massive air strikes by US and UK warplanes - bombing, he readily concedes, which "will play badly with the public". According to leaks believed to come from the Pentagon, 3,000 missiles and precision-guided bombs will be dropped on Iraq, some of them from giant American B-52 Stratofortresses based at Fairford, Gloucestershire, some from B-2 stealth bombers based on Diego Garcia, part of the British Indian Ocean Territory. RAF Tornado and Harrier bombers are likely to play a part, as will two Royal Navy submarines armed with US Tomahawk cruise missiles. But British forces will play a relatively minor role in an air bombardment. More significant will be Britain's part in the ground invasion. This is partly the result of delays in deployment of US forces - these, sources said yesterday, meant that on military grounds it has suited President Bush to delay a decision to attack, just as, until now, it has suited Tony Blair on political grounds. The 120 Challenger 2 tanks of 7 Armoured Brigade, the Desert Rats, represent between a quarter and a third of the number of US tanks. There are some 15,000 combat troops ready to invade Iraq, against 130,000 or so Americans. This, say analysts, is the highest proportion of British troops fighting with the Americans since the second world war. Diplomatic machinations in the UN have enabled US and British military commanders to refine their plans and further integrate their forces. The British army is "much better equipped, much more capable and integrated" into the American war plans than in the 1991 Gulf war, says General Sir Roger Wheeler, former head of the army. In a symbolic move not seen since the second world war, up to 2,000 US marines are expected to be commanded by the British in a joint operation to take the key southern Iraqi city of Basra. Under plans being drawn up at the US central command in Qatar, the US 15th marine expeditionary unit will join about 4,000 Royal Marine commandos in an amphibious assault to seize Iraq's only port and protect nearby oil wells. Edward Luttwak, strategist and fellow of the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies, this week reinforced the point about the British contribution. "The US marine expeditionary force depends heavily on British armour, while the US army's advance to Baghdad would be much too slow without the advance guard of air-landed forces that includes the British air assault brigade". Soon after the air strikes, according to plans drawn up by US and British commanders over the past weeks, Royal Marine commandos, supported by the heavy armour of the Desert Rats, will take Basra and seize the oilfields in the Faw peninsular. Soldiers in Britain's 16 Air Assault Brigade, including paratroopers, will be helicoptered in, to seize Iraqi bases and key positions, including bridges, as the main US armoured force races towards Baghdad. "Basra is a prime target; it would give a clear message to the regime - we've got your oil and commercial centre," says Christopher Langton, defence analyst at the London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies. Like Mr Luttwak, he points to the potentially important task of the British helicopter-borne air assault brigade in seizing key points such as bridges and oilfields. Initially, the US asked Britain for light forces - the SAS, some marine commandos, air-to-air refuelling tankers, minesweepers. But British military chiefs agreed with ministers that Britain's contribution should reflect the risks involved. One senior military source put it: "If there are risks and you want the political benefit, you really must share the burden." I really like these guys. Britain's special forces are already involved. More than 200 SAS and special boat service (SBS) troops are believed to have been operating inside Iraq from Jordan over the past weeks with American special forces. Their tasks have been to look out for Scud missile sites which could threaten Israel from western Iraq. The SAS has also been gathering intelligence on the ground in Iraq on military bases and other threats that would face invading troops. They have been carrying out reconnaissance and have been reported to have sailed up the Euphrates in dhows, also looking for possible river crossings. "Nigel, bring up the yacht." "Brittania, sir? Rather large for these waters." "Don't be a sot, Nigel. The dhow will do nicely." "Picnic at midday, sir? Perhaps a glimpse of the fair maidens on yonder shore?" "Nigel ..." Once the war starts, they can be expected to lead bombers on to targets on the ground. SAS and SBS may already be leading US and British bombers patrolling the southern no-fly zone on to Iraqi targets. Major-General Sir Patrick Cordingley, commander of the Desert Rats in the 1991 Gulf war, points to a "curious contradiction" between then and now. In 1991 the chances of Saddam Hussein using chemical weapons were slight and coalition forces were not equipped to take adequate precautionary measures, he says. Now, if British and US forces go in to disarm Iraq, the chances of President Saddam using such weapons are strong, though invading forces are well-prepared for dealing with them. British military commanders hope the regime will collapse soon after a bombing campaign based on America's "shock and awe" tactics. "The last thing we want is industrial warfare," a senior army source said. "We are looking for a political outcome, not primarily a military outcome." He said for a stable post-Saddam Iraq, the bulk of the armed forces should remain in one piece. Stay safe, lads. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 I really like these guys. Ditto, Steve. It's in true times of crisis like this that you discover who your real friends are. God save the Queen! |
| Posted by: Dar Steckelberg 2003-03-18 08:33:17 |