This limited his ability to defend Baghdad and led to the Fall of Baghdad.

Their objective appears to be to attack the allied forces before they can bring their full weight against the Republican Guard divisions defending Baghdad.

The missiles have a range of about 700 miles and are a weapon of choice against targets in heavily defended Baghdad.

In this way, the allies would avoid a costly battle to subdue the hardened divisions defending Baghdad.

To defend Baghdad, the Republican Guard has established two defensive rings: one about 50 miles from the capital, and the other just on the outskirts.

The American command's call for a mere 3,000 more Iraqi troops to help defend Baghdad has gone unanswered.

What if Saddam never intended to defend Baghdad?

"We're going to continue to work against the Republican Guard forces that are defending Baghdad," General Brooks said today.

That would draw the Republican Guards out of Basra and Kuwait to defend Baghdad.

He neither raised an army to defend Baghdad nor did he attempt to negotiate with Hulagu.