Chaos ruled before Iraq's military fell

The Boston Globe ^ | 8/25/2003 | Vivienne Walt

[Radix]

BAGHDAD -- Iraq's armed forces virtually evaporated during the war in March and April because of a confused and often ineffectual command structure, which oversaw hundreds of thousands of disaffected soldiers who had no idea of the battle plan. After decades of dictatorship, the war was fought with little gusto by anyone other than Saddam Hussein's inner circle, former Iraqi officers say.

[Radix]

"We were told it would take the Americans about three or four months to reach Baghdad and that then we would defend the city by street fighting,"

Perhaps they were watching too much of Baghdad Bob, or CNN!

[Radix]

I thought that you might be interested in this.

[ken5050]

The article doesn't mention the effects of the first Gulf War....I've seen estimates of tens of thousands of Iraqis killed by US bombings in the desert...never admitted to by the Iraqis, of course..but the surviving troops knew..

[Arkie2]

Sounds like a lot of soldiers who didn't want to fight and, the first time I've seen this, some soldiers who might have actively sabotaged their own military plans.

[50sDad]

Soldiers were exhausted, hungry, and overwhelmed by US bomb strikes.

Hey Liberal Pinheads...looks like "Shock and Awe" worked!

[SoCal Pubbie]

I simply cannot believe this story is true. I clearly remember David Hackworth, in vivid detail, explaining how our advance had bogged down, and the Iraqis had us right where they wanted us. I can still hear his dire predictions of intense urban warfare, and how the Iraqis would cut our forces to pieces unless we immediately withdrew to consolidate our supply lines. No, no sir, it just can't be!

[TheCrusader]

Finally the truth comes out in a liberal rag newspaper, the Boston Globe. Our battle plan of 'shock & awe' was perfect, and our intelligence regarding the lack of general Iraqi resistence was nearly flawless. Liberals always take the longest route to the truth, because they like the heat more than the light.

[expat_panama]

Finally the truth comes out in a liberal rag newspaper

Does this mean that the Globe is going to admit it was wrong about our 'quagmire'?

[Dark Wing]

ping

[IncPen]

ping

[Consort]

Many or most of them will eventually serve in the new Iraqi Armed Forces to support their families. They probably didn't care much for Saddam.

[Trailerpark Badass]

"It was as if God had sent hell down to earth and ascended into the sky, leaving us there," Abu Ali said. "I hope until I die never to see such a thing again."

Yeah!

[Poohbah]

"It was as if God had sent hell down to earth and ascended into the sky, leaving us there," Abu Ali said. "I hope until I die never to see such a thing again."

Hope-the-Iraqis-and-their-buddies-get-the-hint ping.