I want to start this thread as a place to discuss the MILITARY aspect of the war, a place for comments on battles, tactics or the like. Please keep political ideology to a minimum.

I would like to start off by saying I think the war is going good. We are advancing into the country rapidly, and engaging the enemy when he makes himself present. In these engagements we are decimating the Iraqi army, while at the same time keeping our own casualties low. The sand storm has been a bit of a hinderance to our advance, but it seems it is working in our favor a number of ways. First, it is giving our men the time to rest and refit and regroup. Secondly it is giving the Republican Guard a false sense of secuirity and is drawing them out of their fortified positions in a suicidal attemp to engage us or attempt to hit our flank, guess they never heard of satellites. This sand storm will go away, and the Republican Guard will be left with their asses in the breeze stretched out from Baghdad to nasahria. Latstly, I wonder why in all the time we have had to build up we only have 1 division of mech infantry from the army? The 4th is floating around on the ocean thanks to Turkey, were are the 1st I.D. and 1st cav? wherse the 24th? Wheres the 1st armored? Seems we have 250,000 troops but only 1 heavy mech division. We need more fire power, and I am dissapointed in the military for thinking thy could do it with 1 mech division, 1 marine division and an air assault division. Any thoughts?

Seems like they've been saying we're close to Baghdad for days. When are ground troops expected to go in?

we probalby wont go in until we have engaged and destroyed the target of opportunity that has appeared before us, that being the 1000 Republican Guard vehicles moving towards us.

The 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) from Ft. Hood, TX is finally getting into the battle. They were slated to go into Iraq from Turkey,...well, you know what happened there. Their equipment is (has?) moved through the Suez Canal, and is heading to port. The Division, still at Hood, has been alerted, and may even be moving out as this is written. The 101st Airborne(Air Assault) is on the ground, as are elements of the 1st Cavalry Division (Mechanized).
The forces need to slow their progress just a bit to allow them to get into better proximity to one another in preparation for an all around assault on Baghdad. The logistical convoys have to move into more favorable locations as well. It is only 4 days into a land battle, and while their movements have taken them remarkable distances, the heaviest battles will take place in the coming days as the republican guard is confronted and pulverized. This is probably when the world will begin to see the use of bio/chem weapons by the iraqi forces.

So if they use chemical weapons on us, does anyone think we will retaliate with either chem or maybe small tactical nukes on Republican guard troop concentrations or fortifications outside of baghdad, or will we just suit up and fight through the chemical cloud pissed off to no end?

The US will not use bio/chem weapons or nukes in this conflict. The MOAB (remember that? the 21,000 lb gorilla?) seems to be well suited for large concentrations of troops. Quite simply, we don't need to use those 'dirty' weapons in this conflict. Through the continued use of our more 'conventional' weaponry the victory will be complete.

The real fight starts in the cities. We haven't seen any of the ugly parts of this war yet. That's when Americans and civilians will die.

I also think we are doing very good. We do need to be careful while entering Bagdad Sadam said he would use chemical weapons when the forces get within a certain distance. We need to worry about are troops and also the civilains. Sadam doesn't care who he is killing he is just happy when he his killing. I do believe we are getting more and more support from the Iraqi people, some of them are starting to see a chance at life instead of just a big dark cloud.

Our men are very well trained in NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) warfare. When I was in the Army we went over it a lot and we didnt even have a threat of getting hit with anything chemical, I can only imagine the amount of NBC training they are going through now and leading up to this war. As for the street fighting, it is always the hardest and most dangerous way to fight,but, like the NBC training, the men train heavily for MOUT (Military Operations in Urban Terrain) operations and will do well. The unfortunate thing is that we are so serious about not inflicting civilian casualties we will probably put our men in danger by changing the MOUT doctrine to spare civilian collateral damage. I know the liberals would be "shocked and sadened" if they knew the way US Infantrymen are taught to fight urban wars. That being tossing grenades into every room and going in spraying, in every room of every house of every block until the whole city is cleared. Doubtless to say we wont be doing it like that, for if the US Army is anything its flexible (on the battlefield that is).

Longest I ever wore MOPP gear was about 8 hours. Urban warfare is no picnic. Urban warfare in the midst of ragheads is going to be downright ugly.

I would like to start off by saying I think the war is going good.

I also think we are doing very good.

Oh ! Look ! "The iraqis are overjoyed".

http://eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/xp/reuters_ids/20030326/i/210731735.jpg

hey idiot, put that in the "Iraqis are overjoyed" thread. This is the thread to talk about military aspects of the war, not propaganda. If you want to tell us how well your side is doing, go ahead, but honostly we really dont think faking surrender then opening fire is very honorable or a good tactic, and it will probalby be met with heavy resistance.

What are you going to do, regale us with exciting tales of french strategic decisions? The last french victories were.....ummm...don't tell me ...the answer is on the tip of my tongue.....what...the early 1800s??