The Hindu : U.S. employs psychological tactics

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 07, 2003

International

International

U.S. employs psychological tactics

By Atul Aneja

AS SAYLIAH (Qatar) April 6. After 18 days of war, the urban battles for the cities of Iraq have begun. While Baghdad remained the focus of the U.S. attack, major incursions were also staged in the southern Iraqi city of Basra today.

Besides, heavy street-to-street fighting was reported from Karbala, a Shia spiritual stronghold.

In both Karbala and Basra, the Anglo-American troops were mainly targeting the Fedayeen irregular forces, who are fiercely loyal to the Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein. But in Baghdad, the invading troops are contending with a combination of Iraqi Republican Guards, special Republican Guards as well as Iraqi militia.

In Baghdad, the U.S. forces reinforced their tactics of seeking the capitulation of Mr. Hussein's military through intense psychological operations, backed by a demonstration of military capability and coupled with selective commando raids.

Seeking to sap the will of the Iraqi troops to fight, the U.S. forces brought in their air force fully into play over Baghdad's skies.

While the utility of fighter aircraft in urban warfare is debatable, the invading forces could be counting on the psychological value of this move. Backed by the pounding of artillery guns and probing armoured attacks on the ground, which persisted for a second consecutive day, the noisy sweeps of fighter aircraft can have a debilitating effect on the Iraqi will to fight.

Avoiding a full-scale storming of Baghdad, the U.S. Central Command is hoping that Baghdad would implode from within in the face of relentless U.S. military and psychological pressure.

Notwithstanding the U.S. approach to avoid a head-on urban clash, both sides looked set for a major confrontation. U.S. Marine reinforcements have been brought into Baghdad and the Republican Guards also appeared to be preparing for battle.

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