Here is a satellite photo:
The attack started from the north. It appears that the Americans advanced south on a broad front until they reached the major east-west highway (the horizontal green line). As best I can tell, now the American right is slowing while the left keeps on going. In effect, the American right (in the west, against the river) is acting as the hinge on a great door-like swing of the American forces to the west, meant to drive the terrorists into the river.
I know everyone wants to make comparisons to street fighting in Vietnam, but the analogy just does not fit. I just got finished reading Tommy Franks' memoir, and I'm now convinced that the tactics and technology in Vietnam were much closer to World War II than the tactics and technology of today are to Vietnam. Our troops on the ground, the grunts, are using satellite guided artillery. Not air dropped bombs or missiles. Artillery.
This is not Stalingrad. This is not Hue during Tet. The enemy had no idea what they were getting themselves into.
It will be interesting to see why we waited this long.
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