Grim's Hall

The Agonist is reporting "unconfirmed" Israeli reports that the 3rd Infantry is bypassing the sites of resistance. The 3rd Infantry, Mechanized, is out of Fort Stewart, Georgia, not far from Savannah. They are called "the Rock of the Marne" due to their performance in a battle not well remembered by the president of France, who seems to think that military control of an area comes from bureaucrats rather than forces on the ground.

Unconfirmed reports are just that, but it sounds plausible to me. There is no possibility that the 3rd would leave an active enemy at its back, however, with access to its supply lines. What this likely means is that an envelopment of the resisting forces is in progress. There are two ways to go about this, and I don't know what the current plan calls for. The usual fashion is to invest on three sides, leaving open a way for an enemy to retreat. This isn't an act of kindness. The notion is to hit them until they are forced to abandon their defensive positions, withdrawing in the only way that is left available. Since you know which way they are going, you can set ambushes (or, in this case, use air power) to rout and slaughter them along the way. Recall here the "highway of death" from Gulf War I.

It is also possible to perform a complete encirclement. Usually this is not done, unless your forces are so superior that you do not fear having to defend all points against a breakout attempt. The three-sided investment allows for greater predictability of enemy actions. However, in this case, it is entirely possible the 3rd might attempt this, completely investing the resisting forces and destroying them with airstrikes, mopping up later.

Although most of the reported airstrikes are in cities just now--as that is where the reporters are--it appears that this tactic is in fact what is being used in the Western campaign.