Will a wall and trench security system really help Baghdad?

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 21:40:31 -0500

The aim is to prevent the infiltration of "terrorists" and car bombs into the city, Brigadier General Saad Maan said. "We began constructing a three-metre-high (10 foot) concrete wall and a trench around the city of Baghdad," he told AFP.

http://news.yahoo.com/iraq-building-security-wall-around-baghdad-005504080.html

Iraq building security wall around Baghdad

Iraq is building a three-metre-high security wall and trench defences around Baghdad in an effort to thwart jihadist attacks, a security official said on Thursday. The aim is to prevent the infiltration of "terrorists" and car bombs into the city, Brigadier General Saad Maan said. "We began constructing a three-metre-high (10 foot) concrete wall and a trench around the city of Baghdad," he told AFP.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Feb 4 at 2016 9:46 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 21:46:16 -0500

CPT Aaron Kletzing They will build a wall and not accept additional US troops to save their
Axx? Kipling was correct!

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Feb 4 at 2016 9:46 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 21:46:50 -0500

CPT Aaron Kletzing this is a great start to protect and defend the citizens of Iraq and defeat ISIS and the enemies of Iraq far and near!

Response by MSgt John Carroll made Feb 4 at 2016 9:52 PM

MSgt John Carroll — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 21:52:06 -0500

Only if you build a water tight wall 50 feet high around the whole city... and then fill it with water.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2016 9:58 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 21:58:40 -0500

CPT Aaron Kletzing This is a difficult question. It is tactically a good idea, but there are draw backs to building massive defenses at the expense of offensive action.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2016 10:08 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 22:08:46 -0500

This is the same thing we did with the neighborhoods in Iraq. We got it to work but I don't think the Iraqis will have the ability to do this. It will require constant monitoring. We all know they aren't capable of this. What really bothers me is that they think this is good idea. How about you go on the offensive so you don't have to go on defensive. When ISIS attacks Baghdad the government will collapse. To me they are just running through options. Now they are on Option Z-300. They just want to do something and it doesn't matter if it will work or not.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Feb 4 at 2016 10:23 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 22:23:01 -0500

It depends upon how large the attacking force is and whether they bring artillery or not.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Feb 4 at 2016 11:30 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 23:30:17 -0500

I was in Iraq just north of Sadr City (bordering that AO from the north side) -- and I remember when we had built some walls for similar reasons in and around Sadr City. I can't recall for sure, but I thought results on this were mixed?

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Feb 5 at 2016 12:20 AM

Capt Mark Strobl — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 00:20:47 -0500

In days of old when knights were bold, this system worked quite well... at least against the enemies on the OUTSIDE of that wall.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2016 9:03 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 09:03:55 -0500

I think the major thing they are trying to stop is VBIEDs. The goal of the wall would be to funnel people from outside of Baghdad through checkpoints in hopes of stopping VBIEDs from getting into the city, and then blowing up in predominantly Shia areas. The problem is now the Iraqis actually have to be vigilant and do their job at the hundreds of choke points the wall will create. Also, as long as Daish has safe havens throughout the country they will continue to modify their tactics to blow stuff up in Baghdad.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2016 9:31 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 09:31:08 -0500

Silly. It may temporarily reduce attacks while they adjust fire and make new contingency plans. Nothing changes.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2016 11:27 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 11:27:01 -0500

Who cares, this means that we are going back to wall cities and moats. Break out the catapults and trebuchets to start the siege.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2016 12:20 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 12:20:38 -0500

I don't know if it will work or not. I was stationed at Taji in 04-05 and I liked that wall.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 5 at 2016 1:15 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 13:15:14 -0500

It will slow them down.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Feb 5 at 2016 4:14 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 16:14:58 -0500

This seems like a medieval project which might fit well with those who believe the enemy is the kind who fought in the Koran CPT Aaron Kletzing. In modern warfare a three-metre-high (10 foot) concrete wall and trench system reminds me of the Maginot line. Linear defense systems make great targets but defence in depth with electronic surveillance and interdiction which supplements overlapping direct fire and indirect fire might present a more robust defense.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Feb 5 at 2016 5:47 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 17:47:13 -0500

Fortifications are nice to have, but you still have to man and monitor them.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2016 3:28 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 15:28:07 -0500

We have a political party and a large portion of citizens who insist we can secure the US from terrorists by building a wall between Mexico and the US. So If you think that one will work and be worth the money, then obviously protecting just one city with a wall will be a sure thing.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2016 5:10 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Feb 2016 17:10:00 -0500

It will help with VBIED's but not exclusively.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 7 at 2016 11:38 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 11:38:01 -0500

What happened to the miles and miles of T-walls and other barriers that we emplaced?