I have been in sand storms in Iraq, and and visibility can be a matter of feet and yards. If they were under heavy attack they might have indeed pulled back to more secure or stronger positions. So my question is did they abandon their positions or did they pull back under heavy fire to regroup? Articles like this are pure bullshit and second guessing commanders on the ground.
Excellant point. Ive been in the Kompseens(sp) too and what you say is true. March can be windy as hell and with the dust its a mess.
As to the Iraqis not fighting...or joining the other side this wouldnt surprise me one bit.
If I remember 1993 correctly, The Iraqi Army has a long and proud tradition of retreat and surrender. Maybe we should ask the French for advice on how to train these guys.