On TV they keep talking about the fact that they are "wearing uniforms" -- next thing the liberals will be whining that we should treat them as POW-s.
The Fedayeen are NOT official military -- they are still illegal combattants and terrorists.
Here is more about them.
http://vialardi.org/IRAQ/fedayeen.html The Fedayeen, with a total strength reportedly between 18,000 and 40,000 troops, is composed of young soldiers recruited from regions loyal to Saddam. The unit reports directly to the Presidential Palace, rather than through the army command, and is responsible for patrol and anti-smuggling duties. Though at times improperly termed an "elite" unit, the Fedayeen is a politically reliable force that can be counted on to support Saddam against domestic opponents. It started out as a rag-tag force of some 10,000-15,000 "bullies and country bumpkins." They are supposed to help protect the president and Uday, and carry out much of the police's dirty work.
The Fidayi Saddam include a special unit known as the death squadron, whose masked members perform certain executions, including in victims' homes. The Fidayi operate completely outside the law, above and outside political and legal structures.
It is difficult to establish the exact date when the beheading of women campaign began in Iraq. Witness accounts report the public beheading of women from June 2000 through to May 2001. Saddam’s Fidayi conduct the beheading operations, which take place in two stages. Accompanied by the leaders of the Ba’th party, the Fidayi make a night raid on the district. The latter is gone through with a fine toothcomb to eliminate any hints of revolt and in order to discover any weapons. The population is summoned for the next day at prayer time. They arrive at the stated hour at the home of the victim, who is dragged out in the clothes she is wearing. She is then stretched out on an iron bench, her head hanging down, in front of her children, her family and the whole population of the district. The executioner and his assistants are dressed in brown bearing the logo Saddam’s Fidayi’ and usually do not come from the district or the region. The Feddayi detailed to carry out the beheading takes his sword held out by an assistant and cut’s the victim’s head off. According to the scenes described, the head is exhibited or the body and the head are thrown into black boxes and taken away. Women belonging to families suspected of being hostile to the regime or whose members are in prison as “opponents” (the term of course covers a considerable number of definitions) are particularly targeted.
I call them the Iraqi Gestopo.
"On TV they keep talking about the fact that they are "wearing uniforms" -- next thing the liberals will be whining that we should treat them as POW-s."
These are not honorable soldiers defending their nation; they are sadistic (and perhaps brainwashed) thugs who would restore the murderous regime just displaced. They should be treated as the terrorists they are! The war on terror will not be won by namby pamby PC methods. This is a different sort of war which must be waged appropriately if we are to prevail. By the way, three Al Queda terrorists reported captured in Iraq.