posted on February 7, 2003 09:17:50 PM new...The soldiers Abbas left behind, meanwhile, sit in their hilltop bunkers, pondering an unenviable fate. "We are all very tired," Abbas said. "I haven't heard of Tony Blair. But if George Bush wants to give us freedom then we will welcome it."
posted on February 7, 2003 11:11:07 PM new
Defectors are common from any conscripted forces, especially those pressed into service as human shields and cannon fodder. Saddam uses his people that way I think, because once the War is over, there will be less troublemakers sitting idly around to cause him trouble.
That is exactly what happened during the Gulf War. Those were the soldiers who were wandering about, looking for anyone to surrender to - even reporters.
When you start to see defections from his special elite guard troops, THEN you can talk about poor moral. Those folks are highly trained and well fed and are said to have a high morale.
posted on February 8, 2003 01:48:13 PM new
That's right. The regular Joe has nothing to gain. The Republican guard however loses if Hussein loses. They fought the last time. The 3 Guard divisions that faced our forces that swept the left flank of Iraqi defenses were supposed to be surrounded and destroyed. 1 was completely destroyed, 1 mangled, and 1 untouched. The one that was untouched was used to suppress the uprisings in Iraq. But the question is whether they would choose to fight us again.
posted on February 8, 2003 02:19:39 PM new
The Republican Guard has had tweleve years to become better equipted and trained. Saddam has a bad habit of over-estimating his strength and that's not just the Gulf War. But one thing he does do is to learn from his mistakes and keep on doing whatever he has been successful at. I thik that should we encounter the Republican Guard troops again, we will find them much better prepared to fight us.
posted on February 8, 2003 02:25:05 PM new
They're still cannon fodder.
The Guard divisions had the best Russian tanks and the M1s took them out at double their range. The Russians have nothing better and unless they're buying British Chieftains or French tanks they better have a lot of chaplains.
