Monday, October 11, 2004
It's not that what this article discusses is "wrong," necessarily. It's just that the emphasis is a bit odd. The idea that Saddam may have considered withdrawing forces to do a city battle and then pursue an insurgency after that is hardly news. And commanders like Tommy Franks who cut their teeth as young troopers on the ground in Vietnam are hardly unfamiliar with the concepts. I'd also be interested in where the Globe's front page stories on Saddam's intention and ability to reconstitute his weapons programs and his successful bribing of countries like France and Russia are - issues that strike me as far more interesting and newsworthy than the fact that Saddam suspected he might not be able to beat the Coalition in the open desert so he explored other options.
Boston.com: Study ties Hussein, guerrilla strategy:
The report last week of the Iraq Survey Group, based partly on interviews with captured leaders of the secretive Iraqi regime, said Hussein planned to have his troops and loyalists pull back after an initial US thrust and engage the Americans under terms more favorable to the Iraqis...
It all strikes me as an odd lede given the images like this which spring immediately to mind:
Somehow I don't think he planned that.
