March 31, 2003

Adaptable War Plans

USA Today reports on when the Republican Guard will be attacked by U.S. forces. In the story, Dave Moniz and John Diamond ask the question that's been on many armchair generals' minds:

By the time American ground forces engage the Republican Guard, the 3rd Infantry Division will have been sitting in place nearly two weeks, leading to an obvious question: Why the race to Baghdad in the first place?

In the next paragraph, Moniz and Diamond offer an answer:

Military officials say one reason is that the Pentagon's war plan factored in the possibility that Saddam's government might collapse in a matter of days. If that occurred, the military wanted a large, powerful unit nearby to take advantage.

This was based on government officials' beliefs that Iraqi officers would give up without a shot or even turn on Saddam when war broke out. As it's turned out, the mass defections haven't happened, and the Pentagon isn't relying on that anymore.

Having a military presence at the ready in case of an implosion in Baghdad makes sense. You know the critics would have been screaming if Saddam's government would have collapsed soon after the bombing started but no U.S. troops were in the area to fill in the void.

I may know little about war tactics and strategy, but I do know that winning requires adapting to the unexpected. Allied forces seem to be doing that. The lack of Iraqi defections and guerilla attacks on their supply lines haven't stopped them from dishing out punishment on the enemy. The 3rd. Infantry Division has paused so supply lines can be secured while air power bombs the hell out of the Republican Guard. In Basra, Great Britian could have stormed into the city to squelch unexpected resistance. Instead, they're targeting Baath Party positions hoping to gain the confidence of Iraqi civillians.

"Attack on Guard May be Days Away"