<I disagree with your assertion that we could not build up longer for fear of international opinion derailing our attack. I don't think anything could deter the attack, and I don't think the administration gave it much thought.

I don't think this administration would have halted the attack either. Their was only one choice given to Saddam, exile, and that was about as likely as a snowstorm in Baghdad in July. I suppose you could also count the numerous calls on Saddam by Bush and by the Security Council's "last call" to disarm, but those also had a snowball's chance in Hell of working.

Another factor which I failed to mention in my previous post with regards to timing, was getting this thing going before summer. Add the temperatures of the middle east, to having to fight in chemical suits, plus the fact that delay would keep our military on edge for a very long time as we massed troops, and I think you get the idea of why they needed to get the show rolling.

I'm sure those were but some of the factors that went into planning. I'm admittedly not a military stretegist, so I have no real idea what the hot button items were.

One other big difference between Iraq and Market Garden. In market Garden, the Germans had free room to maneuver and could attack the highway in force. In Iraq they are seeing onsies and twosies as General Franks put it. Onsises and twosies can inflict some damage, but can hardly stop an army cold.

Possibly a better analogy would be Vietnam (ok quit throwing stuff Tom) where the Vietcong melted into the local population and attacked convoys in cells, then faded into the jungle via their tunnels. Where the analogy fails is that there is no jungle. This is the desert and our vision capabilities make it impossible to melt into the desert (as you mentioned in your post).

-Steve G.