Article

2006-03-15 Iraq

The view from the inside of Saddam's regime

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Posted by Dan Darling 2006-03-15 04:32|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I hesitate to use the word, but this is absolutely fascinating reading. Gotta back up, digest, and re-read it.

This bit certainly jumped right out:

"Any section commander will be executed, if his section is defeated; any platoon commander will be executed, if two of his sections are defeated; any company commander will be executed, if two of his platoons are defeated; any regiment commander will be executed, if two of his companies are defeated; any area commander will be executed, if his Governate is defeated; any Saddam Fedayeen fighter, including commanders, will be executed, if he hesitates in completing his duties, cooperates with the enemy, gives up his weapons, or hides any information concerning the security of the state."

Typical back-asswards Arab / Soviet / Third World thinking: motivate by fear.

Posted by Glert Thetch2165 2006-03-15 10:05|| 2006-03-15 10:05|| Front Page Top

#2 The only possible (And sensible) way to follow those orders is to never engage the enemy.

Posted by Redneck Jim 2006-03-15 14:15|| 2006-03-15 14:15|| Front Page Top

#3 From Foreign Affairs. So this will be read by those who, up till now, did not believe the invasion was necessary, and was even counterproductive. Good.

Posted by trailing wife 2006-03-15 14:45|| 2006-03-15 14:45|| Front Page Top

#4 Actually, trailing wife, it "only" gives a military-oriented look at the state of Iraq in the Gulf Wars, with what seems to be a command/control emphasis. This doesn't seem to make the case for war so much as report the juicy bits from the declassified portions of a USJFCOM study based on interviews with former-regime officials. I wouldn't use this as the case for war, or for it even being productive, but as a military study...

Here's wondering if more of the USJFCOM report will be declassified.

Gletch, I noticed the "rule" of twos as well. Incidentally, today I was reading about (post-Perry's-1853-Japan-expedition) Tokugawa Nariaki's belief in Japanese spirit as a victory factor in advocating war with the foreigners... why's that suddenly sound familiar? ;-)

Posted by Edward Yee 2006-03-15 15:08|| http://edwardyee.fanworks.net]">[http://edwardyee.fanworks.net] 2006-03-15 15:08|| Front Page Top

#5 In reference to your Excellency's instructions regarding the large exercises at the Public Center, having strong faith in the only God of our hearts, and God's permanent support to the believers, the faithful, the steadfast, and with great love that we have for our great homeland and our Great Leader, our Great Leader has won God's favor and the love of his dear people in the day of the grand homage.

Your enthusiastic soldiers from our courageous armed forces have executed Golden Falcon Exercise number 11. In this exercise we have tested our readiness and confrontation plans against any who attempt to make impure the lands of civilization and the homeland of missions and prophets. This exercise is the widest and most successful in achieving the required results. Soldiers from the III and IV Corps have participated in this exercise.

Certainly a hell of a lot of god-bothering in that considering we're constantly told how secular Saddam was.

Posted by Robert Crawford">Robert Crawford 2006-03-15 15:21|| http://www.kloognome.com/]">[http://www.kloognome.com/] 2006-03-15 15:21|| Front Page Top

#6 Which apparently started right before the Gulf War (to build "Arab solidarity").

Posted by Whumble Whater5278 2006-03-15 21:42|| 2006-03-15 21:42|| Front Page Top

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