[blockquote]
----------------
On 3/9/2003 5:54:44 PM DELLDUDE wrote:
AOG: we own the night in IRAQ..watch and see.
----------------
[/blockquote]
DELLDUDE,
That was exactly my point Sir. The absence of the Moon...or any other conditions will be of no real concern to us. Infrared only needs a heat source to work with.
Most navigation...if not all will be done by GPS....the desert is not easy to navigate by conventional methods...as noted in the 1991 war.
We will have some small issues to contend with in regards to laser guidance and optical oriented weapons....When Not If Saddam blows up his own Oil Fields. This to will be dealt with.
The issue of the northern most oil fields was a major reason for the need for Turkish bases as a jump off point. They of course use the ploy that it's about keeping the Turks and The Kurdish people apart....but it still boils down to having a clear shot at lessoning the damage to the oil reserves at Saddams whimsical disposal.
My bet is...Should Turkey continue to refuse the admission of our 4th US Infantry division for the northern jump off point? Look to see the 101st Airborne (Air Assault) be moved to the northern regions rapidly. This is already being discussed in the press....but the real trump card for a quick seizure is the less mentioned US 82nd Airborne division. The *2nd does not need the same time to mobilize , as do other conventional army divisions....18 hours puts them anywhere on earth. (Hince the motto...The world is my drop zone ).
They don't need a land based jumping off point other than Pope AFB N.C. The 82nd only has one battalion of approximately 1800 men in Afghanistan presently....that means that thier are give or take 16,000 other Paratroopers from the division waiting to go when called upon.
They final forced entry weapon will of course be the 3 battalions of Rangers at 1800 per battalion. The 75th Ranger Regiment provides a heck of a "Kick in the door policy"
Having played apart in such a forced entry siezure before....I can tell you that Airborne forces are a heck of a force multiplier.....and they are going to see plenty of use soon. You can bank on it!! Just don't count on banking 5% of your salary for awhile. Color it gone....and plan accordingly