The Command Post - Iraq - Baathists regrouping in Basra

April 25, 2003

Baathists regrouping in Basra

A senior aid source in this southern Iraqi city of Basra says that Baath members may be reactivating party cells and sabotaging local utilities. "The party is meeting," the source said under condition of anonymity. "Our people are telling us this. There are small circles of people in certain parts of town. I'm really not sure if it is an organised thing – they have this cell structure and these seem to be reforming."

"I'm not sure that it is wider, but the sabotage (of water, electricity and oil equipment) looks like it is quite orchestrated – by people who know the system too well. That is the impression we have, and the impression of British (military) engineers here."

There are also reports that units of Fedayeen are attempting to reorganize and terrorize the population.

Posted By Cranky at April 25, 2003 06:17 PM | TrackBack

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Big cities can hold a lot of trouble-makers. But people will know where they are...

Posted by: John Anderson at April 25, 2003 06:34 PM

Time for the once oppressed to begin kicking some serious ass. Let's hope they have it in them. (There wasn't enough shit hangin' from lamp posts awhile back for my taste...)

Posted by: americanstreet at April 25, 2003 06:45 PM

If the Baaths are grouping and organizing it could turn out to be practically useful to us. Reminds me of the "siege" of Khe Sahn. Said one U.S. officer of the enemy troops gathered into the hills around the base: "It simplifies the problem of getting all these people into one place and killing them."

Beats chasing them around Iraq in onesies and twosies.

Posted by: Chiguy at April 25, 2003 06:48 PM