War vs. Iraq - Ousting Saddam?

[David Floyd]

US officials have said several things recently regarding Iraq, the implication being there are plans in the works to invade and oust Saddam.

Given that most-all Arab States won't let the US stage military forces out of their country, how will this be done, in your opinions?

[Az]

turkey.

[Ecthy]

that'd mean marching through Kurdistan... that likely?

[David Floyd]

Also, an invasion over the mountains? We'd take large numbers of casualties, which is usually politically unacceptable. It would be an infantry fight - we'd be largely unable to exploit our advantages. We'd certainly win, but would it be worth 5-10,000 casualties? I think not.

Also, Turkey doesn't have to let us invade from there.

[Garth Vader]

I think they will come up with an offer that the Saudis will accept.

[Ecthy]

Terrain is not that much of a problem, Turkey tends to cross the border with tanks (German tanks ) in order to persecute Kurd warriors. Plus, you could take out the Iraqis with air force, but then that wouldn't be 100% effective. So terrain wouldn't be that big a problem, but Kurdish resistance against anything non-Kurdish might become one

[Ecthy]

Originally posted by Garth Vader
I think they will come up with an offer that the Saudis will accept.

That would have been a reasonable answer 10 years ago, but not anymore I'm afraid.

[Kropotkin]

Attacking from turkey would possibly give the US a chance to link up with the anti-saddam forces that stil seems to survive there but it's hard to say if they can fill the ranks to such a degree that the US army can avoid causalites. Also, they would probably not like the fact that the US gets there with turkish help considering what turks have a tradition to do with minorites.

It would in any case be a gamble so it's not likely...

How about Kuwait? They do have a favour to return.

[David Floyd]

The Kuwaiti people recently demonstrated against the US.

Just because Turkish tanks go after Kurds doesn't mean it's good terrain for mobile warfare.

[Kropotkin]

Who cares about the people?

[Ecthy]

Are your tanks worse than theirs then?

[David Floyd]

Certainly not. But what we did in 1990 - with the huge flaking maneuver, US Marines threatening an invasion tying down the Republican Guard, etc., could not be repeated.

[Az]

as far as I know , the mountains end in Turkish territory. the Iraqi side of the border is a plateu.

I think that this might be a good opportunity to settle once and for all the issue of the kurd people , and create a homeland for them in northen Iraq.

since there is no Iraqi nation, but rather simply an iraqi state, this could be done. Turkey could also contribute a small parcel of land.

Then , all the kurds in the world will have a place to call their home.

[laurentius]

First we should oust PM Sharon and his fellow war criminals

[Kropotkin]

Yeah just like the palestinians

oh sorry couldn't help myself....