Stardate 20020216.0537

(On Screen): Douglas Turnbull suggests that if the Iraqis do adopt the urban-fighting defense, that rather than go in and root them out the US could lay siege. Surround the cities, permit food in but nothing else, and wait until the forces inside exhaust their combat supplies.

That plays into Saddam's hands. Such a siege might take months, and during that time there would be a steady stream of American casualties with no apparent progress to show for it. It would make the US look gutless due to being unwilling to really fight, and the cries of "Quagmire!" would begin all over the world. CNN would show pictures of dead children in Baghdad. We would lose the TV war.

I think that the American public is willing to accept American casualties, but only if there is perceived to be progress in exchange for doing so. Siege is very frustrating; people are dying but no-one seems to be moving.