[KC_Conspirator]

Leftists have reported this unsubstantiated story in attempt to cheapen our victory.

[vbmoneyspender]

Citing a senior Iraqi source, the French newspaper reported that Soufiane al Tikriti, head of the Special Republican Guard in Baghdad, ordered his troops not to defend the capital against attack by U.S. and British forces, and particularly to hold fire against coalition helicopters circling over the city.

Baghdad wasn't taken with helicopters.

[xm177e2]

I don't see how this cheapens our victory if it's true. Rumsfeld said from the beginning we would rely heavily on special forces and secret, unconventional operations to undermine their conventional capabilities. Paying off commanders is just an example of that.

That having been said, I don't trust anything that comes out of the mouth of an al-Takriti (someone from Saddam's clan) or from a French newspaper citing secret sources.

[RightWhale]

Leftists have reported this unsubstantiated story in attempt to cheapen our victory.

No doubt. However, when alQaida falls the same way, sellout, Leftists around the world will purple with rage. The Noble Terrorist. Right.

[UpNAtEm]

It seems to me that this story, to the reasonable man, makes our military and civilian leadership look wise. Less than a million to spare dead and wounded U.S. soldiers, in whom we likely have millions "invested" (for lack of a better term), along with perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of ammo. If the left wants to use this in Campaign 2004, I dare them. Imagine how intelligent they'll sound: "During the war for oil, George Bush wasted hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to spare the lives of only a few hundred American sons, daughters, fathers, and mothers - just so he could get tax breaks for the rich."