SADDAM'S SOLDIERS SURRENDER

Sunday Mirror ^ | Mar. 9, 2003 | Mike Hamilton

[Melinda in TN]

Mike Hamilton reports from Camp Coyote in Kuwait

TERRIFIED Iraqi soldiers have crossed the Kuwait border and tried to surrender to British forces - because they thought the war had already started.

The motley band of a dozen troops waved the white flag as British paratroopers tested their weapons during a routine exercise.

The stunned Paras from 16 Air Assault Brigade were forced to tell the Iraqis they were not firing at them, and ordered them back to their home country telling them it was too early to surrender.

The drama unfolded last Monday as the Para batallion tested mortars and artillery weapons to make sure they were working properly.

The Iraqis found a way across the fortified border, which is sealed off with barbed-wire fencing, watchtowers and huge trenches.

TESTING TIME: British Marines are preparing for war

A British Army source in Kuwait contacted me to explain how the extraordinary surrender bid unfolded. The source said: "The British guys on the front-line could not believe what was happening. They were on pre-war exercises when all of a sudden these Iraqis turned up out of nowhere, with their hands in the air, saying they wanted to surrender.

"They had heard firing and thought it was the start of the war.

"The Paras are a tough, battle-hardened lot but were moved by the plight of the Iraqis. There was nothing they could do other than send them back.

"They were a motley bunch and you could barely describe them as soldiers - they were poorly equipped and didn't even have proper boots. Their physical condition was dreadful and they had obviously not had a square meal for ages. No one has ever known a group of so-called soldiers surrender before a shot has been fired in anger."

Last night the Ministry of Defence officially denied the incident had taken place, but the story was corroborated by an intelligence source.

Meanwhile Saddam Hussein has ordered thousands of troops back to Baghdad as he turns the city into a fortress.

It is believed that two rings of steel are being established around Baghdad. The outer one consists of regular Iraqi army soldiers and the inner one is made up of Republican Guard fighters - thought to be the only troops that will put up fierce resistance.

[Melinda in TN]

I heard they were anxious to surrender but this is pitiful!

[PoisedWoman]

ordered them back to their home country telling them it was too early to surrender.

I can just see a 100-mile-long line forming...the waiting line for Star Wars.

[07055]

The stunned Paras from 16 Air Assault Brigade were forced to tell the Iraqis they were not firing at them, and ordered them back to their home country telling them it was too early to surrender.

You can see why the French love the Iraqis so much.

[EggsAckley]

two rings of steel are being established around Baghdad

If they're THAT ready to surrender, one can imagine that the first "ring of steel" may not be there for long once it starts.

I've heard that during the Gulf War, the soldiers stripped off their underwear to wave for white flags. NOW, they're CARRYING white flags in their pockets.

Boy Scout Motto: "Be Prepared" LOL!

[blam]

"telling them it was too early to surrender. "

"Iraqi: "Can I have a rain check?

[7 x 77]

Why would we send these wretches back to misery? The only good reason that comes to mind is that we told them to tell their comrades to surrender when the starters pistol sounds.

[leadpenny]

. . . and ordered them back to their home country telling them it was too early to surrender.

That action probably got them killed anyway. Stupid move, imo.

[MinuteGal]

The Brits should have hung on to these sorry blokes, taken them in for grilling on any military information they could provide, fed them and found a place to store 'em.

They're probably all dead now after suffering indescribable torture.

However, this tale doesn't make sense to me, and I'm wondering if it isn't just more disinformation.

Leni

[bannie]

Camp Coyote

hmmmm....isn't a "Coyote" the guy who brings people across the southern borders? ... food for thought?

[Stew Padasso]

"I heard they were anxious to surrender but this is pitiful!"

Actually, this is good. I'm sure most Iraqis do not want to fight for their tyrant.

[DoughtyOne]

I wondered how long it would be before the word "French" appeared on this thread. I note that at least the French generally wait for hostilities to break out before surrendering.

[friendly]

Joe Iraqi seems to be ignoring the propaganda from democrat party traitors and euro-vermin Marxists.

Come on, you brave Iraqi crack troops, you are letting the democrats down!!

[MHGinTN]

Actually, it's true. Sad that the Brits sent them back, though, 'cause Saddam will torture and mutilate their families in front of them, before he murders them all. They could have just gone MIA.

[TomServo]

Already posted here

[Fighter@heart]

This is concrete proof that the French are helping Saddam 's military by OBVIOUSLY training his forces!!!

[Joe 6-pack]

This is proof positive that the French have military advisors on the ground in Iraq!

[Joe 6-pack]

Beat me to it!

[Melinda in TN]

Sorry! I went back two or three pages and didn't find it. I've been on and off FR all day and didn't see the article.

[TADSLOS]

I think France would consider these guys overachievers.

[xJones]

"They were a motley bunch and you could barely describe them as soldiers - they were poorly equipped and didn't even have proper boots. Their physical condition was dreadful and they had obviously not had a square meal for ages. No one has ever known a group of so-called soldiers surrender before a shot has been fired in anger."

It is sad, nobody hates the Iraqi people, it's Saddam that has to go and the vast majority of Iraqis don't like him. But hopefully those poor guys didn't get caught by their own, returning from trying to surrender in advance. In Gulf War I, tens of thousands of surrendering Iraqis caused a real logistics problem, because they all had to be transported safely to POW camps in Saudi Arabia. This time it could be a lot worse, with untold numbers of Iraqis trying to surrender and be taken to safety, food and medical care.