Description
This episode will only cover the period between March 2003 and May 1 2003.
Reasons for Invading Iraq:
Iraq's possession of WMDs
Saddam's link to Al QaedaIraq's failure to respect no-fly zonesTyrannical part of the Axis of Evil
The
United States Congress supported military action against Iraq, but the
UN did not approve of it. The US launched Operation Cobra II with the
coalition of the willing (consisting of 49 countries) and many military
contractors. The main invasion was in the South, where there were
three fronts:
Western Front: US's 3rd Infantry Division goes through Najaf and Karbala towards BaghdadCentral Front: US's 1st Marine Expeditionary Force goes through Nasiriyah towards BaghdadEastern Front: UK's 1st Armored Division goes through Basra towards Baghdad
A secondary invasion in the North was led by the 10th Special Forces
Group and the Kurdish Peshmerga. This force pushed through Mosul and
Kirkuk towards Baghdad.
The actual invasion of Baghdad took place early in April, when Colonel
Perkins invented the concept of Thunder Runs--rapid mechanized thrusts
into the city to inspire shock and awe. Two thunder runs were sent
into Baghdad and eventually the city (minus Saddam Hussein) was taken.
On May 1st, 2003, President Bush declared Mission Accomplished (excerpt in episode).
Sources:
http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/world/daily/graphics/iraqMap_040103_2.gif
http://www.military.com/NewContent/0,13190,011805_Thunder_Run,00.html
Foreign Affairs (May/June 2006): Saddam’s Delusions
http://geocities.com/saberoca/
http://icasualties.org/oif/
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/iraq/casualties.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh4U-Tbqbx4
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/invasion/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soohikNdbWs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdlEcFfYZ2k
http://www.mongabay.com/igapo/Iraq.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFijzDyJnVE
Military History Podcast is sponsored by Armchair General Magazine
US Special Operations Command, or SOCOM, is divided up into the following. I will talk about each individual unit listed.
Army: 75th Ranger Regiment, Special Forces (Green Berets), 160th SOAR (Night Stalkers)
Navy: SEALs, and SWCCs (Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen)Air Force:...
Published 05/04/09
This episode answers four basic questions:
Why were both North and South so unprepared for war?Which side had the initial advantage?Did the South have to secede? Did the North have to respond with military force?Was Northern victory inevitable?
For information on sources, email me.
Published 04/24/09