Posted on 07/24/2002 2:06:03 PM PDT by knak
Amman, Iraq Press, July 21, 2002 – The Iraqi army command has cancelled leaves as tension mounts in the country over a possible U.S. military attack.
Informed sources told Iraq Press that the army has suspended regular military leaves and declared a state of high alert.
Meantime, military police units which pursue deserters have carried out spot searches of residential areas in Baghdad amid reports of a substantial increase in army desertion rates despite a presidential pardon.
Residents say the police have set up checkpoints at Baghdad's main interjections and highways leading to the capital.
The campaign coincides with an upsurge in military activity in the region in recent months amid speculation that Washington might invade the country to oust President Saddam Hussein.
On Thursday, U.S. and British warplanes attacked targets in southern Iraq. Iraq said five people were killed and 17 others were wounded in the strikes which, according to a coalition statement, targeted military sites.
British and U.S. planes patrol two no-fly zones set up after the 1991 Gulf War in northern and southern Iraq.
The authorities are stepping up their campaign to crackdown on the slightest form of dissent.
The residents said a confrontation between military police units and ordinary citizens in the district of Habibiya in Baghdad resulted in the burning of an army vehicle and wounding of several soldiers.
The incident took place after the police stormed a house and captured a deserter in the same area.
Let's Roll!
Bulldozers, trucks diverted to military use
Arbil, Iraq Press, July 23, 2002 – The authorities have diverted hundreds of trucks, cars and bulldozers to military use in violation of U.N. regulations.
The vehicles, converted to serve military purposes, were imported recently under the U.N.'s oil-for-food program which allows Iraq to sell unlimited amounts of oil and use the proceeds to alleviate the humanitarian conditions for the Iraqis.
Most of the vehicles are being used by the the so-called al-Qudus or Jerusalem army, a militia force of allegedly several million volunteers originally raised to support the Palestinians' struggle against Israeli occupation.
But the army is now being used to terrorize the Iraqis. Residents say the army mounts patrols in residential areas and storms houses where it suspects deserters to be hiding.
Scores of bulldozers and mechanical shovels imported under the program are now being used to dig up military trenches and security zones particularly along the semi-independent Kurdish enclave.
Protected by a U.S. and British air umbrella, Iraqi kurds run their affairs away from President Saddam Hussein's authority. The authorities fear that the United States may rely on the Kurds in its declared bid to topple Saddam.
Meantime, the authorities are reported to have slapped severe restrictions on travel from and to the Kurdish enclave.
Major roads were blocked recently and the few passengers who managed to cross were subjected to prolonged questioning by the security services.
The authorities now grapple with two major problems, apart from their worries of a U.S. military attack.
Their first concern is related to security. They are trying their best to prevent a repeat of the popular uprisings that wrested 14 out of 18 provinces from government control shortly after the end of the 1991 Gulf War over Kuwait.
Their second concern is related to the high numbers of army deserters. The residents said the bulk of Iraq's militia force and ruling Baath party are preoccupied with a campaign to hunt down the deserters.
In a memo to Iraqi parliament, Saddam's elder son, Udai, alluded to security problems that might emanate once the United States unleashes an attack.
He said the authorities should do everything at their disposal to prevent uprisings as those the country witnessed in the wake of the Gulf War.
At least they have good and accurate memories of the last "Mother of all Battles".
Leave in Iraq must be wonderful. You get to go to a totally different part of the desert, sit in the dusty sunshine, not drink alcohol, not see any chicks, not check out any movies, see no sports, and possibly get shot for desertion.
Whooo hooo!
Ladies and gentlemen....
LLLllllllllet's Get Ready to RUMBLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEE!!!!!!
I don't think we're going to do anything in Iraq this year.
I hope I'm wrong though.
......including 7 puppies and 10 infants in the process of being born.
Checkpoints have been set up at the following interjections:
Wow!
Cool!
Pow!
Bam!
Gimmefive!
Moothafokkah!
Outtasight!
Sheeyit!
Datwanhotchik!
Ahmowddaheah!
Hotdang!
and Notagain!?!
Michael
Heck, the poor saps were surrendering to reporters, no less!
Hope Saddam, his sadistic son and henchmen have armored corsets and rear-view mirrors attached to their heads. Some of the common foot soldiers and disgruntled Iraqi "Elite Corps" and "Palace Guard" may not take too kindly to being blown into bloody pieces by Daisy Cutters and Smart Bombs on behalf of their peerless leaders.
Leni
That was my first thought upon seeing the headline. They must vividly remember the first Gulf War.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.