I believe that policy goes back to Muhammad when some of his Muslims archers abandoned their position after the Kafir enemy started to retreat so the archers could get in on the worldly war booty.
The retreating enemy saw this and counter-attacked and won the day.
The lesson is a Muslim fights to the death unless told by his superiors to do otherwise.-Tom
Saddam Hussein tortured the national soccer team for failing to win the World Cup. Fear is a great motivator.