On to Baghdad: What Will Coalition Forces Face Next?

Transcript

MR. MICHAEL E. O'HANLON: I just want to make a couple of comments. I just have one theme this morning and we'll have a lot more time for discussion. My one theme is that there's always the most recent analysis, the most recent fad in how people are thinking about this. Today I want to say things are actually going reasonably well despite the fact that the last 24-48 hours have been characterized by some setbacks and a lot of negative coverage in the last couple of days in the newspapers and television about how Mr. Rumsfeld perhaps was too cavalier, too caught up in new theories of warfare, too arrogant in his game plan and how we're really suffering some major setbacks.

I do not agree with that assessment. I think one can critique specific parts of the battle plan and certainly not having the 4th Mechanized Infantry Division in the fight right now due to the problem with Turkey is a major setback. I personally would have waited another month to start the war on both military and diplomatic grounds, try to provide one final ultimatum along the lines of what Canada was proposing, and give the 4th Mechanized Infantry time to get in position. But I don't think it's a major problem that they're not yet there. They are coming, they will be there, and if we need their help we will be in a position to have it within a fairly short time.

In that sense the sandstorm may actually be just as well to go through right now because we're going to have to wait a few days perhaps to have the real combat punch we may need in the end.

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