Initial indications are that if Saddam were to be attacked, he will concentrate all of his forces around his capital, with as many as 100,000 of his men, including the Republican Guard.
There are estimates that if the street war were to erupt in Bagdad, the US dead could run into the thousands.
Aj, No way that is going to be the result. As soon as the Republican guard realizes the US is attacking, they flee! These soldiers are not the like the palestinian suicide bomber types. They know that no fleeing means death for them.
My feeling is that as soon as the US makes its intention clear that Sadam has to go (during the start of the attack), he will try to negotiate to be allowed safe passage.....and the "war" is over. His soldiers will know that it is time to give up..who wants to die for Sadam anyways.
At worst, the US suffers a few casualties (probably from friendly fire!).
The big issue is going to be how to deal with Iraq, post Sadam. The anti-US sentiment over there is not really that much to do with Iraq/Saddam...it is about the policies in general (present and past).
You will see a celebration in the streets of Baghdad that Saddam is gone...and their lives can finally start to improve. He lead them to a war with Iran that cost millions of lives...and got nothing as a result..same as with Kuwait.
They will thrilled he is history.
btw--the media focusses too much on certain people that think the whole region will erupt in war which I think is total BS. The opposite will happen. As for the markets, start of the attack with be one of the best buying opportunities of the decade. However, we probably go down ahead of it. |
