As the United States prepares for the armed struggle against Saddam's Iraq, what do you think about the United States going to war against Iraq?
Despite the overwhelming loss in the Gulf War, losing 40 % of its forces, Iraq still has an army around 424,000 men, estimated in one report. Another one, a USCENTCOM report states that Iraq can activate 700,000 men including the country's reserves.
The Army has 2,200 main battle tanks along with 3,700 other armed vehicles. The Army is too said to enjoy 700 fairly modern T-72 tanks along with 900 BMP 1/2 AIFVs, 150 self-propelled artillery weapons, and 200 multiple
rocket launchers.
The Iraqi Air Force has some 316 aircraft in its inventory, although only 50-60 % of the aircraft is ready for action. Iraq is the only country in the region to have bombers, a risible total of 6 bombers. The total fighter aircraft available is 180. This includes several types, mentioning some of them: 38 Mirage F-1, 12 MiG-29 Fulcrums, 19 MiG-25/MiG-25R Foxbat Bs, 12 Su-25 Frogfoots, 1 Su-24D Fencer capable of inflight refuelling, 30 Su-20/22 Fitter.
Regarding gunships, the Air Force has 24 Mi-24 Hinds, most likely the Mi-24V/Hind E version, somewhat similar to our AH-64 Apache, but though capable of transporting a maximum of eight troops. Another attack helicopter is the PAH-1 BO-105 produced by the joint European company, Eurocopter. Not comparable with the Hind in both firepower and strenght, the BO-105 is a fast and flexible chopper. The Air Force too has 15 French-British SA-342 Gazelle attack helicopters which is better than the BO-105, for instance armed with 2 SA-7 AAMs. Iraq has some 400 of the Russian-built SA-2, SA-3, and SA-6 SAM batteries in the inventory, which have time after time proven rather efficient.
The Iraqi Navy has 1 Missile Patrol Boat, 5 other Patrol Boats, 3 Mine Warfare Vessels, and 3 Landing Craft Vessels. Iraq only has one single Patrol Boat equipped with a SS-N-? anti-ship missile.
Compressed into a short phrase: Iraq will have a difficult time defending themselves. This comes in spite of the Republican Guard which has fought rather well compared to the regular army.
The military decay is pervasive, and a recent U.S. estimate on how much Iraq would have to spend to bring back the military in a decent shape, numbers $20 billion. Although no official reports or papers have been released, there are several ways to invade the country. It would be obvious to think of an invasion through Kuwait, but foremost through Saudi Arabia. What one should keep in mind, is that a large transportation of troops that would be required in such a campaign would not move to the region without being spotted immediately by Iraq. One would say that such a campaign of this scale would require 500,000+ men, if a 100% victory is requested. The United States can draw upon several bases in the region, such as the Sheik Isa Air Base which proved very important during the Gulf War, along with numerous other air bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.
Personally, one thinks that the U.S. plan to invade Iraq could be a deliberate deception, and then we would attack some other country like the Sudan or Somalia. But the world will immediately see which country the U.S. chooses, because either of the operations would require the manpower that would not be invisible to either friend or foe.
But an invasion after the new year is more likely. The question is also whether Saudi Arabia and Kuwait would lay ground to such operations. Although, the Saudis have said that they will maintain the oil export, Saudi Arabia cannot be considered reliable.
One is of course a personal supporter of armed action against Saddam. It would be a big step towards eliminating outspread terrorism if Iraq fell. At the same time, the United States should make every possible effort to support coalition forces in Iraq which might become an important element in a U.S. assault. The question is not whether the United States would win a war against Iraq, which no sane man can argue, but how the United States is gonna do it.
But if I were you, Saddam, I'd start counting the days.
Despite the overwhelming loss in the Gulf War, losing 40 % of its forces, Iraq still has an army around 424,000 men, estimated in one report. Another one, a USCENTCOM report states that Iraq can activate 700,000 men including the country's reserves.
The Army has 2,200 main battle tanks along with 3,700 other armed vehicles. The Army is too said to enjoy 700 fairly modern T-72 tanks along with 900 BMP 1/2 AIFVs, 150 self-propelled artillery weapons, and 200 multiple
rocket launchers.
The Iraqi Air Force has some 316 aircraft in its inventory, although only 50-60 % of the aircraft is ready for action. Iraq is the only country in the region to have bombers, a risible total of 6 bombers. The total fighter aircraft available is 180. This includes several types, mentioning some of them: 38 Mirage F-1, 12 MiG-29 Fulcrums, 19 MiG-25/MiG-25R Foxbat Bs, 12 Su-25 Frogfoots, 1 Su-24D Fencer capable of inflight refuelling, 30 Su-20/22 Fitter.
Regarding gunships, the Air Force has 24 Mi-24 Hinds, most likely the Mi-24V/Hind E version, somewhat similar to our AH-64 Apache, but though capable of transporting a maximum of eight troops. Another attack helicopter is the PAH-1 BO-105 produced by the joint European company, Eurocopter. Not comparable with the Hind in both firepower and strenght, the BO-105 is a fast and flexible chopper. The Air Force too has 15 French-British SA-342 Gazelle attack helicopters which is better than the BO-105, for instance armed with 2 SA-7 AAMs. Iraq has some 400 of the Russian-built SA-2, SA-3, and SA-6 SAM batteries in the inventory, which have time after time proven rather efficient.
The Iraqi Navy has 1 Missile Patrol Boat, 5 other Patrol Boats, 3 Mine Warfare Vessels, and 3 Landing Craft Vessels. Iraq only has one single Patrol Boat equipped with a SS-N-? anti-ship missile.
Compressed into a short phrase: Iraq will have a difficult time defending themselves. This comes in spite of the Republican Guard which has fought rather well compared to the regular army.
The military decay is pervasive, and a recent U.S. estimate on how much Iraq would have to spend to bring back the military in a decent shape, numbers $20 billion. Although no official reports or papers have been released, there are several ways to invade the country. It would be obvious to think of an invasion through Kuwait, but foremost through Saudi Arabia. What one should keep in mind, is that a large transportation of troops that would be required in such a campaign would not move to the region without being spotted immediately by Iraq. One would say that such a campaign of this scale would require 500,000+ men, if a 100% victory is requested. The United States can draw upon several bases in the region, such as the Sheik Isa Air Base which proved very important during the Gulf War, along with numerous other air bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.
Personally, one thinks that the U.S. plan to invade Iraq could be a deliberate deception, and then we would attack some other country like the Sudan or Somalia. But the world will immediately see which country the U.S. chooses, because either of the operations would require the manpower that would not be invisible to either friend or foe.
But an invasion after the new year is more likely. The question is also whether Saudi Arabia and Kuwait would lay ground to such operations. Although, the Saudis have said that they will maintain the oil export, Saudi Arabia cannot be considered reliable.
One is of course a personal supporter of armed action against Saddam. It would be a big step towards eliminating outspread terrorism if Iraq fell. At the same time, the United States should make every possible effort to support coalition forces in Iraq which might become an important element in a U.S. assault. The question is not whether the United States would win a war against Iraq, which no sane man can argue, but how the United States is gonna do it.
But if I were you, Saddam, I'd start counting the days.
Sure buddy 
