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U.S.-led coalition forces are at the door of Baghdad.
By any reasonable expectation, the war in Iraq has gone well for American troops.
But the ugliest part of the fighting is about to begin.
It’s time for a gut check, America. Are you ready to do what is necessary to win this war? Or are you going to wimp out, cut and run?
Personally, I don’t think there is any substitute for victory. Backing down is not an alternative. Anything less than achieving the original goal of regime change would be a disaster for our country and the Middle East.
It is very likely Iraq will unleash its weapons of mass destruction soon. It is very likely we will face high casualties as we move to an urban siege. It is very likely many innocent Iraqis will die.
This is war.
As G2 Bulletin and WorldNetDaily first reported weeks ago, Saddam Hussein’s strategy all along has been to draw U.S.-led coalition forces into an urban guerrilla war in Baghdad. It his is so-called “Baghdadograd” strategy.
G2 Bulletin and WorldNetDaily also first revealed Iraq’s plans to use burning crude-oil trenches to block the vision of U.S. aircraft and the movement of forces in Baghdad.
Baghdad is a heavily armed city – with some 1 million weapons ranging from heavy artillery and missiles to individual firearms and rocket-propelled grenades. You can be sure all of those arms are in the possession of Baath Party members and others loyal to the regime.
It’s no secret that the coalition forces do not have overwhelming numerical superiority as we did in the first Persian Gulf War. Thanks to debilitating and unwise cuts in military spending through the Clinton years, the 250,000 troops we have on the ground represent the best we can do.
In addition, as U.S. forces get closer to Baghdad, the more problems they have with securing supply lines and carrying out other missions – where infantry is needed more than armor.
New rules of engagement need to be considered. It’s time to stop worrying about minimizing civilian casualties in Baghdad and to start worrying about minimizing the casualties of U.S. and coalition forces.
The battle of Baghdadograd will demand the employment, not only of the “Shock and Awe” model as in the beginning of the war, but also the firepower of small units, which will have to break into the heart of Baghdad. At times these units will have to fight from street to street, shoot at homes, buildings and other targets, which definitely will be used by the Iraqis as positions, shields and strongholds.
We’re about to learn what the Israelis face on a daily basis.
In Baghdad every soldier or militiaman loyal to the regime will fight from behind civilians, a lesson forgotten by the Americans since Vietnam. This is a well-known experience of the Russian army in Chechnya and Israeli forces operating in Palestinian cities.
The goal of Saddam Hussein remains to prolong the war in hopes of achieving a political solution.
Therefore, the option of restraining firepower should not be regarded as feasible. Those who want to see Saddam fall will have to declare the entire city of Baghdad a legitimate military target.
Do we have the stomach for what is ahead? I hope so. We have the weapons. We have the superior training. We have the might. We have the moral high ground. But do we have the national will?
I hope so. It’s time to wave those flags, America. It’s time to rally around our brave troops. It’s time to do what it takes to win.
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