Iraq's elite troops pledge to fight to death

Reuters | 3/01/03

[kattracks]

BAGHDAD, March 1 (Reuters) - Iraq's elite troops told Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on Saturday they would fight to the death to defend Iraq and its leader in the case of a U.S.-led invasion.

The Republican Guards, Saddam's best-equipped special forces, made their allegiance during a meeting with Saddam, who has been dedicating his time to discussing strategy with officers ahead of a likely war.

"They confirmed to the president that they have completed their preparations and conducted exercises, taking into consideration all the possibilities," the official Iraqi News Agency (INA) quoted Iraq's special guards units as saying.

"They pledged to the president that they will be the swords that will fight the aggressors and that they are ready to sacrifice to the level of martyrdom to defend their leader, their country and their sanctities," INA added.

The Republican Guards, led by Saddam's son Qusay, are the main fighting force behind Saddam's rule.

The United States and Britain have massed thousands of troops in the Gulf for a possible invasion to oust Saddam who they accuse of having weapons of mass destruction.

The Iraqi military currently has about 375,000 troops, including six regular Republican Guard divisions. Both the regular and Special Republican Guard units are the best equipped and trained.

U.S. officials said this week that troops and equipment from Iraqi Republican Guard divisions have begun moving south towards Baghdad from their base in northern Iraq, apparently to beef up defences of Saddam's hometown of Tikrit and Baghdad.

[LaGrone]

Like last time? They surrendered to reporters for goodness sakes. Get the virgins ready or more cages at Gitmo.

[hoosiermama]

Iraq's elite troops told Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on Saturday they would fight to the death

Now what exactly does "THE" death mean? Could "THE" death mean "THE death of Sadamm"? It all depends upon the meaning of the word "THE". They did not say "their death". HHhhmmmmmm

[mitchbert]

My frag order would include this Triumphal Arch as Target #1.

In all seriousness, I've been dreaming of this for months. The symbolic effect would be devastating to the grip of the regime in the early stages of the attack.

[Bombard]

REGULAR UNITED STATES TROOPS PROMISE TO HELP THEM CARRY OUT THEIR PLEDGE!!!!!!!!

[Young Werther]

Yep! The boulevard would make a great LZ as well.

[Gamecock]

Helping Muslims Meet Allah

Since 1991

[Mark]

Iraq doesn't have elite troops.

Any of their soldiers who can obtain a pair of boots becomes "elite troops".

[Chad Fairbanks]

It's not like they have any choice in the matter... it's REALLY easy to say "I'll fight to the death" when the odds are about 99% that you will be killed...

[Chad Fairbanks]

Ever notice that the major media refers to 'Saddam as 'President', but not President Bush???? Hmmmm...

[He Rides A White Horse]

Those nations have more in common with socialist or communist "progressives" than they do with freedom loving conservatives.

From Damascus Online:

Baath Party, formally the Baath Arab Socialist Party. political party and movement influential among Arab communities in the Middle East, especially in Syria and Iraq. The Baath Party was from the beginning a secular Arab nationalist party. Socialism (not Marxism) was quickly adopted as the party’s economic dogma: “Unity [Arab], Freedom [from colonialism], and Socialism” are still the watchwords.

Saddam Hussein's Baath Party has much more in common with socialists and progressive liberals, as you stated. The only difference is that the liberals in this country haven't 'progressed' as far as Hussein's Party. Yet.

[Focault's Pendulum]

I am sure our boys will be more than happy to oblige them!

I would like to take some short issue with your statement. Nothing personal, mind you, just an observation.

I don't think our people would necessarily be happy to oblige them.

Our military today is an unbelievably, highly trained group of men an women, who train to solve the diplomatically unsolvable. While the human emotion runs high in times of wartime stress, they look to overcome the obstacles placed in front of them, with knowledge, intelligence, and a form of pragmatism, lacking in other environments.

I'm sure there is some celebration after successfully completing a mission....however...I don't think happiness, or for that matter, sadness, is an overwhelming emotion to which they subscribe. Au point is the taking of a human life.

If the losss of life is either key, or pertinent to completing the task....training becomes the paramount motivator.

Once again....I was not trying to single you out for this...but there are many, myself included, armchair generals, who want to feel good about what our armed forces are doing...and how they do it.

Having said this....I hope we kick their ass.

[STD]

Iraq's elite troops pledge to fight to death

Tooo Funny!

[Red6]

When they talk “the big talk” against us. Realize this:

1. The US military has the BEST equipment in the world. NO ONE, not one, even comes close. They may have a niche here or there, but across the board they are all inferior (even our allies).

2. The US has an all-volunteer military. This influences moral. Though the media will quickly hop on any service member that disagrees with going. The US does not need Commissars or Republican Guard forces that threaten people with their life if they do not fight. We also have a society which at the time supports the forces.

3. It is one of the best-trained militaries in the world. Though one can argue methods, it has a formal and structured training program that works well. This combined with a formal hiring, promotion, retirement, legal, etcetera systems is an important facet that you only begin to realize when you deal with other militaries. Other countries often have officers that become so by virtue of their cast or family. Serbs (often) were giving their troops a whole 2 whopping weeks of training before sending them off. You think the Republican Guard is really that good, or are they the fat ones in a starving nation, and will remain so as long as they support a thug?

4. It is selective. Can't get a job, go to the Army. Not quite. Nearly 100% of officers have Bachelors. Most majors and up have a masters. A few even doctorates. The educational, medical and physical requirements are NO JOKE. A US soldier has some of the most stringent enlistment criteria in the world for joining.

5. Experience. Vietnam, Columbia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Somalia, East Timor, Desert Storm, Serbia, Philippines, Grenada, Haiti, Libya, Afghanistan. We still have vintage Vietnam guys on active duty. Point is, there is a whole lot of experience in the system.

6. Size. We are not the biggest. The US has the 5th biggest Army in the world, out of 190 countries. However, our Air force is the biggest in personnel and equipment. Our Navy is the biggest in personnel and equipment as well. Our Air force is the world’s most powerful Air force; while our Navy has the worlds second most powerful Air force. We have more Airpower on our carriers than most counties in this world. We're actually not that small. Especially if one considers National Guard, Reserve and Auxiliary forces. Over 50% of our combat power in the Army is in the ANG or Reserves. Some of these counties that have a bigger Army, like N. Korea, have practically no reserves. If they can’t succeed in a short time, they are DONE! Every country in this world with a bigger military than us, only does so because of a huge Army, like the Chinese, who are #1.

Other interesting facts.

As we go in and obliterate the Taliban, which were supposed to create another Vietnam (always the same analogy, have you noticed?) in hostile terrain that CAN NOT BE TAKEN IN THE WINTER. As we send another 2000 troops to the Philippines. Support the Multi-national Peace and Observation Force in Sinai. Continue to keep 25% of the WORST areas in Bosnia and Kosovo. Maintain forces in S. Korea in case the "loony" wants to start shit there. Support the Counter drug operations in Columbia. Maintain adequate forces positioned elsewhere to contend with contingencies. As we are doing all of this, we are contemplating the thought of going it alone against one of the world’s largest military powers. We have positioned all our troops and will defeat Saddam probably within weeks after we kick off. What's the point? We do this without a draft, without spending more than 3.3% (about 24% North Korea) of our GDP on defense. We do this while the average person lives a life in business as usual mode. This is a peacetime economy. We are neither mobilized (not really), nor have we nationalized, nor enacted a draft while we accomplish all of this simultaneously. If that is not intimidating, I don't know what is. Quite frankly, we intimidate even our allies. This is unintentional, and our might is warranted, but it plays into the hands of the people who paint us as bad guys.

Red6

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Furthermore, do you remember hearing "Mr. Clinton" very much, if at all? I sure don't.

[Ahban]

My understanding is that Iraq's "elite" troops are those who wait until they are fired apon before they throw down their guns and surrender.

[Ahban]

Then there is another group who has vowed to "sing to the death"- the elite republican bards.

Sorry.

[Reagan is King]

In a related story the Republican Guards have been seen bleaching their undershirts to ensure they are a bright white and can be seen for miles when waved...