Christian Message Boards: Iraqis 'deserting in thousands'

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Posted by Kindgo (Member # 2) on :

The first of what are expected to be thousands of desertions from the Iraqi army were reported last night.

According to the US Central Command at Qatar, 17 Iraqi soldiers surrendered at the border.

A leaked intelligence report suggested that this was the tip of the iceberg and that thousands more were deserting in the northern region.

Intelligence suggested that between 10 and 15 per cent of Iraqi troops in front-line divisions covering the northern approaches to Baghdad had deserted over the past month.

"We don't know where they have gone, but they are not with their units," an intelligence source said.

In the mainly Shia Muslim south, Kuwaiti border guards were turning back Iraqi soldiers, telling them they must wait until the attack began before they could surrender.

The intelligence report also said Sab'awi Ibrahim Hasan al-Tikriti, a half-brother of Saddam Hussein and one of his former advisers, had fled to Syria. The report painted a picture of Saddam's regime beginning to fall apart before even a shot was fired.

"We are looking at wholesale desertions in some areas," said an intelligence officer.

"In the southern area, where there are six Iraqi divisions, 50 per cent of their officers are planning to surrender once the campaign opens.

"There's a lot of talk of waiting until the war starts, because of the danger to the officers' families. It's also been expressed that most want a quick and sudden or surprise attack, so that they have the excuse for not putting up greater resistance."

One report noted that a US psychological operation unit dropped leaflets on Iraq's 51st Mechanised Division on March 9 and 10. Four days later, 20 per cent of the division had deserted.

"Many of those who have already gone are reporting that the rest are preparing to surrender," said an intelligence officer.

In Baghdad the desertion rate was lower, but even among the Republican Guard - whose loyalty to their leader had been unquestioned - 23 per cent have deserted.
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