'CONSCRIPTS TO SURRENDER' (2/3 of Iraqi Conscripts)

Sky News ^ | 3/20/2003 | Sky News Staff

[Grampa Dave]

'CONSCRIPTS TO SURRENDER'

Two-thirds of Iraq's conscript army are ready to surrender without a fight, according to US military sources in Kuwait.

Two army divisions totalling 20,000 troops based in the south of Iraq are set to give themselves up to Allied forces in nearby Kuwait, the sources told Sky News reporter Colin Brazier.

The sources said Iraq's 11th infantry and 51st mechanised divisions were "ready to capitulate".

They said troops from the 6th armoured division were also believed to be considering giving themselves up.

Brazier, with US troops in Kuwait, said recent intelligence briefings had reported the troops were badly motivated.

Asked why the conscripts would surrender, Sky's Foreign Affairs Editor Tim Marshall said: "They are underfed, underpaid and extremely scared."

Sky correspondent David Chater, in Baghdad, said there had been a lot of campaigning by Allied forces to encourage conscripts to give themselves up.

US planes have been dropping leaflets in Iraq urging Iraqi troops to surrender.

Chater said the decision was "no real surprise" - but the crucial matter was whether Saddam Hussein's elite Republican Guard would fight.

[Grampa Dave]

After the cruise missile and stealth plane attacks tonight, probably 2/3's of Iraqi's military from top to bottom are ready to surrender.

[Grampa Dave]

Sounds like they have chosen wisely!

[Grampa Dave]

Sound like MOAD, MOTHER OF ALL DESERTIONS is about ready to begin.

[Grampa Dave]

The stealth president strikes again!

[Salvation]

**MOAD, MOTHER OF ALL DESERTIONS**

LOL!

[xJones]

We are told that the cruise missiles and at least one bunker buster bomb have been used going after 5 top Iraqi leaders. Let's hope they got some. The rank and file Iraqis don't care, but the "elite" Republican Guard might have a vested interest in fighting. It would be a lost cause though, but at what price?

[Grampa Dave]

If we kill Soddamned and his murdering sons, this will be over before all of our guys get on shore and ready to go.

Then we would have to take out Iran just for the fun of it.

[solzhenitsyn]

Wish they wouldn't leak and report this stuff in real time, especially the specific division's IDs. The leaders of those divisions may have family members in Baghdad. We shouldn't "burn" them.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Hope they're quarantined for a week or so, to ensure against the Mother of All Trojan Horses: smallpox.

[Destro]

according to US military sources in Kuwait

Thank god for hard hitting objective journalisim!

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

I love the simultaneous Afghanistan operation. I doubt it will convince any of the anti Americans like crunch and splash that this Iraq thing is about terror too.

[Grampa Dave]

This may be over. It appeared from the early reports that MI6 was not allowing them to state the divisions and where they were.

This may be one reason we are holding our guys up, so these Iraqis can surrender.

[Grampa Dave]

All of our guys have been vacinated with small pox before they left the states.

[philetus]

I wouldn't call it desertions.

If you are forced to join an army of a madman and you are expected to fight the U.S.Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, Boy Scouts, etc,I think you have every right to say "the hell with you,Saddam!".

[Grampa Dave]

Hey buddy how is it going?

Isn't it amazing that the whiney little Da$$hole gets proven wrong again.

We are killing more al Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan while whacking some top Iraqi leaders in Iraq.

2/3 of the Iraqi draftees and their officers are negotiating to surrender.

This is happening without dropping the big hammer.

[unspun]

Roast chicken Iraqi for supper. What's for desert?

[fso301]

Two-thirds of Iraq's conscript army are ready to surrender without a fight

So their French military advisors taught them well.

[Grampa Dave]

Absolutely, I would be looking for my first chance to enter the Taco Bell Run for the Border Marathon to stay alive.

[philetus]

"Taco Bell Run for the Border Marathon"

Good one Dave.

[madison46]

thnx...wish Fox would confirm. Also worried about artillery in Kuwait...is it ours or theres?