Article

2007-07-23 Iraq

"Drug Smugglers" 11, Revolutionary Guards, 0

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Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2007-07-23 09:40|| || Front Page|| [7 views ] Top
File under: IRGC

#1 The only question is were these IRG just a bunch of hapless and untrained draftees sent out as cannon fodder, or were they some of the true believers that are used as brownshirt enforcers all over the country?

The regime can ill-afford to lose this small, dedicated group of fanatical arm breakers, without risking overthrow.

Posted by Anonymoose 2007-07-23 13:46|| 2007-07-23 13:46|| Front Page Top

#2 The IRG is more like armed thugs than some military oraganization. Sure tehy are good at terrorizing unarmed civilians but when they come upon an armed enemy they die or run away like girls. Ask the Israelis how often the Lions of Islam flee versus fight.

Posted by John Kerry 2007-07-23 14:01|| 2007-07-23 14:01|| Front Page Top

#3 It should be filed under "Iran" not "Iraq".

Posted by eLarson 2007-07-23 14:22|| http://larsonian.blogspot.com]">[http://larsonian.blogspot.com] 2007-07-23 14:22|| Front Page Top

#4 Not very good for a group labelled - once again in this article - as "elite"..

Posted by anonymous5089 2007-07-23 14:22|| 2007-07-23 14:22|| Front Page Top

#5 The Super-Special-Elite Republican Guard might have kicked big arse... but they weren't available at that location. The "Drug Smugglers" were SOOOOO lucky.

Posted by eLarson 2007-07-23 16:04|| http://larsonian.blogspot.com]">[http://larsonian.blogspot.com] 2007-07-23 16:04|| Front Page Top

#6 The IRG units range in value from loyal gangbangers to actual military units. Most, however, fall into the street thug/armed gangbanger value range : good if you want to terrorize college students, bad if they need to go up against anyone who knows how to use a gun. And a lot of those "drug smugglers" in the region in question are the protection teams hired to escort the drug teams - they tend to be made up of local mercenaries and guerillas, sort of like what FARC does for the Columbian Cartels.

Posted by Shieldwolf 2007-07-23 16:38|| 2007-07-23 16:38|| Front Page Top

#7 Well, at least we will be able to see if a "Get Tough on Drugs" strategy works.

Posted by Penguin 2007-07-23 20:38|| 2007-07-23 20:38|| Front Page Top

#8 The IRGC (or Pasdaran) does have a great range in the quality and training of its forces. They professionalized back in the mid-90s.

However, the 'thugs' are People's Militia or the Basij ( a mixture of IRGC troops and volunteers). They (in the form of the Ashura Brigades)took over internal security and responding to civil unrest. Supposedly they're under IRGC control, at least nominally (they're headed by a non-IRGC civilian). Reportedly they've been given greater responsibility for doemstic security.

Likely it was a Basij unit that was attacked.

Posted by Pappy 2007-07-23 21:48|| 2007-07-23 21:48|| Front Page Top

#9 I think you are under-rating the IRG. They are primarily to control internal disturbances including anti-insurgency ops. They are reasonably well trained and equiped. An 11 vs 0 encounter says they were surprised in a well planned ambush, which in turn says this wasn't a moreorless chance encounter with a local gang, but a manifestation of a real anti-government insurgency.

Posted by phil_b 2007-07-23 21:49|| 2007-07-23 21:49|| Front Page Top

#10 Not very good for a group labelled - once again in this article - as "elite"..

Oh, should our own political "elite" enjoy such success.

Posted by Zenster">Zenster 2007-07-23 22:38|| 2007-07-23 22:38|| Front Page Top

#11 I think Pappy is probably right. I think, at one time, the Basij were ill-equipt, barely trained peasant volunteers who sought and found matyrdom by the wave in battle with Sadaam's forces. I think they are probably the same caliber stock but now they are conscripts.

Posted by Super Hose 2007-07-23 22:47|| 2007-07-23 22:47|| Front Page Top

23:59 Super Hose
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