Iraqi Deserter Tells of Desperation

AP | 3/31/03 | BRIAN MURPHY

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks ! This reminds me of the old Naked City lead in.

There are 7 million stories in New York City. This is one of them.

I'm sure there are a MILLION stories in Baghdad like this soldiers.

Here is another thread that had a little snippet and my comment:

When I read some of these accounts, I can't help but feel sorry for these folks that have suffered under Saddams rule. . .even their 'military' troops have suffered tremendously. Or perhaps 'especially' is more appropriate a word.

Iraqi deserters who have sought safety with Kurdish forces say they endured backbreaking toil in Saddam's army and constant scrutiny by security squads. Deserters who are captured face execution. It's not clear how many have crossed over; some say it is close to 500.

"We decided it was either die from an American bomb or be killed by our own people," said one Iraqi foot soldier who staggered into Kalak on Monday. "It was better to run and take our chances."

The deserter -- who offered only one name, Ali -- said soldiers sleep in muddy burrows, are given meager rations and no information about the war or any chance to call home. There is no medical help; the wounded are left to die. He said morale was very low, and most are not motivated to fight.

"We were not really mad at the Americans," he said. "We just want to save our lives."

[MeekOneGOP]

In fact, that actually might be the same guy (name given only as 'Ali' in both articles) . . .

[nicmarlo]

Sounds the same to me, too; and I also feel sorry for these people....the evil ones, I want dead.

[metesky]

Cryin' Time

[sweetliberty]

"history will show president bush was right,and the war was the right thing to do"

But Ramsey Clark says that Saddam isn't brutal and it's all propaganda.

Ramsey Clark: Saddam Not Brutal

These stories will really have the Rats wringing their hands and poor Tiny Tom will be so disturbed he will be beside himself.

[sweetliberty]

"What's wrong with the liberals in this country?"

Unlike the Iraqi deserter who has enough presence of mind in spite of oppression to recognize when he was being lied to, the liberals in this country are drunk on the freedom they take for granted, spoiled in their lack for nothing and arrogant in the wielding of their presumptuous and condescending sense of superiority.

[sweetliberty]

"Why can't the peaceniks understand this?"

Because they choose not to. To them, this isn't about the Iraqi people. To the best of them, it is only about some nebulous and elusive ideal that cannot possibly be attained this side of heaven, and to the rest of them, it is about being anti-Bush and anti-American. To them, the "Iraqi people" is nothing more than an empty term they use to lend weight to their hollow protests, much like "for the children" justifies anything Hillary Clinton conceives in her diabolical mind.

[sweetliberty]

"The bombs fell across the river"

I took that to mean that had he not escaped when he did, he would have died with the remaining members of his group who were likely in the line of fire.

[CyberAnt]

Okay - that's good. After all that effort, I wanted him to be safe!

[dyed_in_the_wool]

``I can say now what I always felt: Saddam led to this war,'' Ali said.

Wish some idiots in this country could figure that out.

[Otta B Sleepin]

The uncontrolled sobbing is indicative of the depth of buried emotion being released.

Exactly. Also it's not unusual for a person who's been in an extremely stressful situation to fall apart once the source of the stress is removed.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Poor bastard, I hope some human shield dies in his family's place.

[cyncooper]

``The people know that any uprising against Saddam now would mean terrible things to them and their family. They force them to chant `Down with America,' but not everyone means it. Saddam's people are afraid for the future.''

That's when he started to cry.

And yet ANOTHER story. It makes me nauseous that the libs are denying the desire and need of these people to be freed from this monster.

Chris Matthews yesterday on his network Sunday show was as smug as could be in his closing commentary. He stated that the Iraqis just might want "one of their own" as a leader no matter how inhumane, rather than to have us come in to help. I could slap Matthews' sanctimonious mug.

[PianoMan]

I'm sure the vast majority of conscripts - maybe the majority of troops - don't want to be there and would prefer almost anything to the hand fate has dealt them. Hopefully they can console themselves knowing their families will have better lives than they could dream of, thanks to this liberation.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

``But we decided it was either die from an American bomb or be killed by our own people,'' he said. ``It was better to run and take our chances.''

All the more reason for all Americans to appreciate the freedom and blessings we have, and too often take for granted. God bless our president, and our troops.

[EllaMinnow]

I am so sick of the Americans who turn a blind eye to the condition of the Iraqi people. Those who think it's so cute and clever to be cynical, like Chris Matthews, and those who are so busy fretting about mankind that they can't see the pain of one man, like most of the Win Without War idiots.
I'm emailing this article to HARDBALL...not that it will do any good.

[finnman69]

``But we decided it was either die from an American bomb or be killed by our own people,'' he said. ``It was better to run and take our chances.''

I called this a few days ago.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/877588/posts?page=15#15

To: RJCogburn

Pretty soon the Iraqis are going to figure out they can die fighting us or they can fight Saddam's goons and have a shot at living.

15 posted on 03/27/2003 5:05 PM EST by finnman69

[Arpege92]

I feel for this guy like so many others do but lets play devils advocate for a moment. How many deaths do you think this Iraqi soldier had a part in? If the situation were in reverse, do any of you believe that any sort of sympathy would be given to an American soldier? A week ago, I wouldn't even be thinking this way but when I am seeing our soldiers executed after surrendering, I tend to be a little less sympathetic and less trusting.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Tugs at the heartstrings for sure. One cannot help but have great compassion for the majority of Iraqis.

Not in my wildest nightmare can I imagine fighting for a man I hated against an army that I did not wish to confront all because of the justified fear that I and/or my family will be tortured and killed if I refuse.

How different it is for our troops who fight for liberty and a just cause and with a Commander in Chief who respects them and cares for their lives and that of their families. How blessed we are to be Americans !!!

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

I'm emailing this article to HARDBALL...not that it will do any good

Perhaps not any good you will be able to see, but someone will read it and that's a start.