OK, I will spell the plan out more clearly. Here are the assumptions:
1. 14 of 18 provinces pretty much secure
2. Terrorists number approx. 20,000 actual fighters
Here are the needs:
1. Secure borders to fence in the terrorists and keep out the support.
2. I prefer a numerical superiority of 10:1 when fighting indigent terrorists. That means the Iraqi Armi MUST have 200,000 reliable fighters, included in that number ought to be 5,000 or so "death squads" as they are currently being called.
Here is the Plan:
The Coalition has approx. 200,000 soldiers, unlimited airpower, drones and access to many different kinds of sensor devices. These soldiers would FIRST establish a perimeter where necessary along the border between Iran/Syria and Iraq.
Most of the manpower would be along highways and sensors would be relied upon, as well as drones to patrol the vast desert borders.
Second, the Coalition forces would estabish a second perimeter around the 4 provinces in particular the Sunni Triangle. No one would be allowed IN or OUT without proper authorization.
The Iraqi forces would invade within the 4 provinces, I would suggest a pincher movement from South to North and North to south using Kurds in the North and Shia's in the south. The "death squads" would be free to roam within the perimeter meting out terror and justice as is necessary to keep the enemy off balance and constantly on the move. As the pincer moves in and secures the area, the Coalition moves in behind with the perimeter. Ultimately all would be left to finalize would be Bagdad. In the interim I would move the capital of the Country to Basra or some rather secure location. Bottom line DONT GIVE THE TERRORISTS a target and make the Terrorist THE TARGET not only by the armed forces but by the local populance.
During all of this the Coalition would supply air cover, logistical support and whatever needed to move the Iraqi forces inward.
Thats my plan, and I think it a better one the wiley niley running amok and trying to protect all sorts of isolated positions. This also would significantly reduce Coalition casualties IMHO. JDN |
