You gotta wonder why they are not blowing up bridges

[ygsmilo]

Just seems odd that the Iraqi command structure would leave the bridges up on the main avenue of advance.  Would tell me that there is no command and control left.

[john9001]

they have no command structure left, with the whole chain of command broken no one knows what to do.

understand, these are not US/UK troops who are taught to think on their own and take command of the field, the iraq troops have been trained to follow orders or be shot or worse, when they get no orders they don't know what to do.

[Martlet]

Originally posted by ygsmilo
Just seems odd that the Iraqi command structure would leave the bridges up on the main avenue of advance.  Would tell me that there is no command and control left.

supposedly, many of the bridges the coalition has taken were rigged with explosives.  I'm guessing that due to lack of communication, the order to blow them was never received.

[Ripsnort]

Or, a late order was given to NOT blow them, allowing the Iraqi forces to take on the Coalition forces in an environment where Coalition technological advantages would be weakened in an urban warfare environment.

[Hortlund]

*blitz voice*

I zink they are attempting to draw ze coalition forces as far into Iraq as possbile before zhey spring ze trap...

[Modas]

Originally posted by Hortlund
*blitz voice*

I zink they are attempting to draw ze coalition forces as far into Iraq as possbile before zhey spring ze trap...

Unfortunately, I thought the same thing....

Get the coalition forces across the river, pop the bridges, and encircle them.  Not totally out of the relm of possibilities.  Not that the U.S. can't get back across if needed, but it would take a crapload more time/casualties...

[Turdboy]

OOOh! OOOh! I get to be the first!

They tried to blow it but they used Russian explosives and they didn't work!

OR

They tried to blow it but the French detonators kept sending the message back that there weren't any explosives there.

[Tuomio]

I have wondered this myself, something is really wrong with Iraqis forces right now. This awfully lot seems like flawed cunning plan. Without those bridges allied troops would be bogged seriously down. It would take weeks to build any reliable pontone bridge on such a wide river crossing.

[Hortlund]

Cunning plan:
1) Wait until battle of Baghdad is about to begin

2) take out the bridges

3) pop the dams on the Euphrat and the Tigris


I hope/think that those dams have been secured by special forces though. Otherwise that would be a rather scary scenario. Also I believe Saddam is dead, and that is the reason the Iraqis have not gone chemical or gone into scorched earth tactics.

[Rasker]

Saddam is saving the bridges for use in his inevitable counter-offensive

BTW, anyone else heard the rumor that Saddam's people asked the Russians for serious medical help for a brain-injured high official right after the first bunker raid?

Just in: Ukraine joins the coalition, must be over 50 public and a dozen or more informal members now.

[funkedup]

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Or, a late order was given to NOT blow them, allowing the Iraqi forces to take on the Coalition forces in an environment where Coalition technological advantages would be weakened in an urban warfare environment.

Or special forces popped a cap on the mofos holding the switches and disarmed the demolitions gear.

[koala]

Get the coalition forces across the river, pop the bridges, and encircle them. Not totally out of the relm of possibilities. Not that the U.S. can't get back across if needed, but it would take a crapload more time/casualties...

That makes no sense.

[Tuomio]

Once the bridges are crossed by the US troops, theres no such force in Iraqs arsenal, that could take them again and blow them up. They will be very heavily guarded.

The dams are very likely secured by specOps, it would be strategic stupidity to leave such element on your flank.

[Modas]

Of course it does.  US forces get across the river, Iraq military blows the bridges, US forces "trapped" on the other side due to the bridges not being there.

Why doesn't that make sense?  Will it happen?  Probably not.  I doubt the US would leave bridges undefended after capturing them.