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| Iraq |
| Four ranking Iraqi officers surrender to PUK |
| 2003-03-30 |
| An Iraqi Kurdish opposition group reported on Sunday that four high-ranking Iraqi officers had surrendered to them after Baghdad had withdrawn troops to Kirkuk, northern Iraq. Officials of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in a news conference showed the Iraqi officers who had covered their faces to reporters. However, the reporters were not allowed to interview the officers,and this immediately cast doubts over the PUK claim. The officers were moved to an unknown place and efforts to interview them have so far failed. The Iraqi army retreated as long as 50 kilometers from its positions in northern Iraq in two phases and stationed 10 kilometers from Kirkuk. If the Baathists figure out who they are, guess what happens to their families? Shouldn't have put them on display in the first place. But it's nice to know they're hanging it up. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #6 "What with recent headlines, the word "surrender" is taking on a positively civilized glow" Goat-eating surrender heroes?? |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2003-03-30 19:41:57 |
| #5 Any Iraqi soldier with a score to settle can now surrender to the opposition, claim to be one of his superiors, and hide his face when he's put on display for the media. Then his superior might as well surrender. |
| Posted by: Tresho 2003-03-30 14:57:46 |
| #4 It's a good sign that these guys felt they could safely surrender to the Kurds, especially in light of repercussions to their families. What with recent headlines, the word "surrender" is taking on a positively civilized glow. |
| Posted by: (lowercase) matt 2003-03-30 13:41:41 |
| #3 Further evidence that we can fight this war on multiple fronts, and the Iraqi center is beginning to crumble. When this is added to the pounding the SRG has taken south and west of Baghdad, you have to wonder how much longer the SRG center can hold together. |
| Posted by: Doug De Bono 2003-03-30 12:25:50 |
| #2 Reports are that Iraqis have pulled back from positions north and northwest of Kirkuk - that means road to Mosul is broken, and Mosul is close to being cut off. Coalition can go for either city first, both are being hit from the air. Largest coalition ground force is Kurds, and politics (IE Turkey) prevents using them to take the cities - so holding off till enough US/UK troops are there. Looks like enough US/UK troops will go to take the cities, Kurds will hold the rural areas. Then on to Tikrit, from which there are reports that RG is repositioning towards Bagdad. |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2003-03-30 11:58:13 |
| #1 "What with recent headlines, the word "surrender" is taking on a positively civilized glow" Goat-eating surrender heroes?? |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 3/30/2003 7:41:57 PM |