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| Iraq |
| Saddam Urges Iraq Tribesmen to Fight Guerrilla War |
| 2003-03-25 |
| President Saddam Hussein urged Iraqi tribesmen on Tuesday to join the battle against U.S. and British forces, giving them instructions on how to wage a guerrilla campaign against invading troops. A statement read out on Iraqi state television and attributed to Saddam told Iraqi tribes to "fight the enemy wherever they are" without waiting for battle orders from military commanders. Note that it is "attributed to Saddam", not that he said it himself. Wonder why that is? "The enemy has violated your lands and now they are violating your tribes and families," the statement said. "If you cause them any damage, no matter how small, they will flee. Don't wait for our orders. Just fight them. Every one of you is a military leader." Saddam's statement also offered the tribesmen a crash course in military strategy, cautioning them against fighting U.S. and British troops head on and telling them to employ guerrilla tactics instead. "Fight them in small groups, hit their frontlines and their rear units so the whole advance will stop. And when it stops, attack them," it said. "If they deploy, leave them alone, don't fight them, but if they rest somewhere, attack." Sammy read Mao's rules for guerrilla warfare. U.S. and British forces advancing toward the capital Baghdad have met stiff resistance from Iraqi forces, including paramilitary and militia units employing the kind of tactics described in Saddam's statement. U.S. officials say some Iraqis have pretended to surrender, and then opened fire. People in civilian clothes and non-military cars have shot at U.S. troops, and small roaming bands of Iraqi militiamen have mounted attacks in areas thought to have been secured. Time to round up every male, throw them in POW camps and sort them out later. |
| Posted by:Steve |