|
|
April 11, 2003
"Thousands" of Northern Iraqis Desert
As noted by reader CERDIP in a post on the previous item that I'm inserting here from the comments box: Brent Sadler on CNN is reporting thousands of Iraqi soldiers have abandoned their posts, discarded their boots and weapons and are walking to the Kurdish territory. "They look pretty pleased with themselves. One HUGE line stretching to the horizon, 3 abreast taking up half the carriageway. No panic, no disorganization, just a drift of a shattered army heading away from their positions." And as I sit here in my computer room, that is exactly what CNN is reporting. As Command Post readers know, the only organized military remains in the north. If this report checks out, then even that's beginning to melt, with the apparent, remaining exception of Tikrit, Saddam's home town. UPDATE: Aaron Brown: They looked as if they wanted to surrender to someone, but there was no one there to take them. CNN is working on delivering video. UPDATE: CNN now showing video. Nice sunny day, indeed thousands of fellows ambling down the road. Brent Sadler says they're walking toward Baghdad. Agrees with Wesley Clark--they look like they're in great shape. No evidence they have endured any great hardship, which begs the question, just who are they? No process on the ground, no Kurd or U.S. screening anywhere in sight. Brent: About 100 miles from Baghdad. They're telling me they're getting sustenance along the way, just dogged determination to keep on walking. Brown: Abandoned by commanders. Occasional Kurdish fighters come by to keep an eye on all this. Posted By Christopher Rake at April 11, 2003 12:07 AM | TrackBackOff-topic, but there is an interesting article in the NYT about Iraqi soldiers that have been fighting for 3 weeks without surrendering, and what this could mean. Posted by: jason at April 11, 2003 12:12 AMlink ? Posted by: CERDIP at April 11, 2003 12:16 AMjason post the link i would like to read it here: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/11/international/worldspecial/11TOWN.html Posted by: CERDIP at April 11, 2003 12:18 AM
Posted by: Original Mark at April 11, 2003 12:20 AM
thank u all Posted by: aby normal at April 11, 2003 12:23 AMI see the Iraqi's training from French military advisors is paying off. Posted by: Steve at April 11, 2003 12:30 AMI'd be happy if I were in their shoes, too. They've survived the bombing and disposed of any loyalists. What if they held a war and nobody came? I can't think of a better outcome. We don't even have a large force up there. They are walking away from the Kurds, and going home. And they're happy about it. Not the bloodbath that Chiraq and Michael Moore were looking for, huh? Posted by: Cowboy Bob at April 11, 2003 12:36 AMWe should see if we can send them some buses. A question for the military types: do these men really look like soldiers to you? Hmmm... Posted by: rose at April 11, 2003 12:46 AMFascinating live interview now on CNN with one of the deserters.. Posted by: Ben Noah at April 11, 2003 12:56 AMYes, they look like unwilling conscripts. They were very happy to learn that Saddam was gone, and thanked the US for saving them. Posted by: CERDIP at April 11, 2003 12:57 AMDave, let's kick the foriegners out of their busses at the Syrian border before we kill them. Then we can use those busses. Rose, do American soldiers look like soldiers when out of uniform? These guys are conscripts, they're not pros. Posted by: Cowboy Bob at April 11, 2003 12:57 AM7 days on foot with little provisions to get home. These guys need trucks or busses. I hope we can help. Posted by: Cowboy Bob at April 11, 2003 12:59 AMSeriously, someone needs to ensure these men get home alive, not dehydrated to death. It will be a very sad and horrible story if they die on the way back. Posted by: Ben Noah at April 11, 2003 01:00 AMIt looks like they got an NCO to speak to the translator for them now. Different regiments of the 3rd Infantry Division. Posted by: CERDIP at April 11, 2003 01:00 AMMeanwhile CNN is talking these guys' mouths dry.. Sheesh.. let them get going! Posted by: Ben Noah at April 11, 2003 01:01 AMmake that 1St Division Thank God these are soldiers. Young healthy men. No women and children. This could be worse, but they do need food and water along the way, even if they must walk. Posted by: Cowboy Bob at April 11, 2003 01:03 AMA couple of Hercs could airlift in some food and water. Someone Iraqi entrepeneur in Baghdad could organize a fleet of busses to go get them and take them home, under military escort. Posted by: CERDIP at April 11, 2003 01:06 AMMan I hope these people don't get screwed over. Someone who's watching CNN at CENTCOM hopefully will send something out there, somehow.. Maybe I'm being idealistic, but its our responsibility to help as many of these people as possible.. We know little about these men, but they someday could be part of an army of a future Iraqi government that serves the interest of the people.. Who knows.. Posted by: Ben Noah at April 11, 2003 01:09 AMThank you mili types :-) I was looking at haircuts (not very military), age groups (all over the place), no bags, etc. Posted by: rose at April 11, 2003 01:10 AMKind of like a Marathon race, they could stage pit stops with MREs and bottled water. Think the French will send some Evian? Nevermind, I wouldn't make them drink that swill. How about US trucks, driven by and escorted by US soldiers, arriving with unarmed Iraqi soldiers in Baghdad, waving the Iraqi flag? Good PR. CentCom, do you read the Command Post? Posted by: Cowboy Bob at April 11, 2003 01:12 AMRose - I'm just an Army Brat (36 years old and I'll be a Brat until I die). I didn't have the honor of serving, but my Dad was a lifer. I got used to being around military bases. Even my Mom was in for 2 years. Posted by: Cowboy Bob at April 11, 2003 01:13 AMPost a comment
|