Note:- This is a military not political thread ;)

For the coalition forces to be fighting in the area of Baghdad airport within 2 weeks of the start of the war has surely been the results of brilliant military tactics and flexibility. Capturing every bridge they needed from Kuwait to the outskirts of Baghdad. Isolating the Iraqi army by destroying their fighting capabilities (tanks and trucks ect) and leaving them pinned down while the main thrust continues. Is any one else as pleasantly stunned by the progress of the coalition as I am?

My only concern is that because of incredible (uncredible) media pressure for instant results they may be biting off more than the can chew regards Baghdad

Quote from the BBC "Despite the government denial of coalition forces being near Baghdad, Iraqi officials reportedly told Reuters they had captured five US tanks and downed a helicopter during fighting near the airport, and promised to broadcast video on TV shortly."

Slow down guys time is on our side, lets not blow it now
Lets hear it for the armed forces [img]graemlins/jumpclap.gif[/img]

[img]graemlins/happywave.gif[/img] I am!

[img]graemlins/thewave.gif[/img]

What worries me is that this is the end-game and that they are going to be facing the most desperate defenders in the dark. The lights are out in Baghdad and the pentagon says we didn't target their electricity...speculation is that the switch was thrown by Iraqi government officials and that this is where it gets really ugly. It is completely beyond me how any Iraqi with a weapon would go up against coalition forces after what they've seen them do in such a short period of time. Let's hope for the best.

Turning out the lights is not going to help. I mean for all purposes we can see in the dark.

I hope it goes as easily as possible

oh and they have done a VERY VERY good job, this has been the most un war like war ever thanks to superior training and weaponry

[ 04-03-2003, 08:45 PM: Message edited by: Mordenheim ]

I don't believe that night vision goggles and gas masks can be worn at the same time. This puts the coalition forces at a disadvantage during the night-time hours but its not as if the sun will never rise over Baghdad again. ;)

Iraqi officials have been using loudspeakers throughout Baghdad, telling their citizens to leave their homes and to head in the direction of the Saddam International Airport. Whatever success they gain by having a human wave in between them and the coalition forces moving in is going to be short-lived and says a lot about what they think of the lives of their people. It isn't known how many, if any, of Baghdad's citizens are following their government's directions.

It HAS been a very un-war like war...as much as I opposed starting it, I can not say that I am not impressed. It has made me more secure knowing that our military is perfectly capable of protecting us on our own soil, if it should ever come to that in my lifetime...something I could not say with honest confidence prior to these past two weeks.

Yep! So far the standards set in TRYING to minimilise damage to Iraq and to try and keep civilian deaths to a minimum has not got the coverage or credit I think it deserves. With the press trying to sensationalise every minor thing that has gone wrong without stepping back and looking at the overall situation.

Though General Tommy Franks has not become the media darling like "stormin" Norman @1991. I think time will, if the war continues the same way, see Franks name be mentioned in the same breath as Patton, Wellington, Monty ECT.

Is that right? I would be suprised if there was not some combo but you might be right. Having said you are right but also the use of flares and other unknown toys I am sure could be used.

War like WWII etc are pretty much over. I mean with the power of sophisticated bombs and the scary threat of a nuke it really makes a world war different. Something like normandy will never be repeated. On a smaller scale like the Iraqi conflict it is really overwhelming. The hardest part is still to come and no war is without tragedy. It could have been MUCH worse. More have died in accidents of faulty equipment then by the enemy. With them trying to get us to massacre their own people they can only hold up a handful of cases. We have bombed day and night and people are still riding around because the weapon strikes are that on target. It has been very impressive. I am sure others have taken notice.

It just may come to that in our lifetime but if it does I would rather be no other place.

Nice cats btw , I got three myself.

I don't believe that night vision goggles and gas masks can be worn at the same time. This puts the coalition forces at a disadvantage during the night-time hours but its not as if the sun will never rise over Baghdad again. ;)

Iraqi officials have been using loudspeakers throughout Baghdad, telling their citizens to leave their homes and to head in the direction of the Saddam International Airport. Whatever success they gain by having a human wave in between them and the coalition forces moving in is going to be short-lived and says a lot about what they think of the lives of their people. It isn't known how many, if any, of Baghdad's citizens are following their government's directions.

It HAS been a very un-war like war...as much as I opposed starting it, I can not say that I am not impressed. It has made me more secure knowing that our military is perfectly capable of protecting us on our own soil, if it should ever come to that in my lifetime...something I could not say with honest confidence prior to these past two weeks.</font>[/QUOTE]Miss Lil Lil Ma'am,
Welcome to the darkside ;) [img]graemlins/starwars.gif[/img]

Same Same [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] One only has to think back to president Carter's well intentioned but embarrassing attempt to free hostages in Iran :rolleyes: The U.S. military has come a long way [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 04-03-2003, 09:49 PM: Message edited by: wellard ]

*curtseys*
Why Thank you, Suh!
[img]graemlins/starwars.gif[/img]
;)

Same Same [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] One only has to think back to president Carter's well intentioned but embarrassing attempt to free hostages in Iran :rolleyes: The U.S. military has come a long way [img]smile.gif[/img] </font>[/QUOTE]That had more to do with Carter then the American military lol [img]smile.gif[/img]