Inside Iraq: Weapons and Hatred
Jan 20, 2003
JUS’ Iraq Correspondent Bilal Abdul-Kareem recently talked with a former Iraqi security officer to help shed some light on the actual situation these days inside the country. Here is his report.
Saddam Hussein’s statements of the Iraqi Military’s readiness for a confrontation with America quickly expelled any rumors of his “acceptance” of a deal that would place him in exile in an African country as was stated. Hussein avowed that Iraq is ready for war with the United States and warned that his enemies would face "suicide" at the gates of Baghdad.
Oddly, there appears to be very little deployment of military hardware and personnel to shore up its borders from an invading force. I recently interviewed a former Iraqi security officer to help shed some light on the actual situation these days inside the country. His name has been withheld for security reasons.
JUS: What you believe will happen if the US invades Iraq?
Officer: The people will certainly defend their country.
JUS: Are you referring to the military?
Officer: Yes but I am also referring to the citizens of Iraq. Outside of Iraq it is generally unknown that the average Iraqi person is well armed. In terms of the Arab world, the average Iraqi citizen possesses more weapons than any other country outside of the people of Yemen.
JUS: What type of weapons do the people possess and where did they come from?
Officer: The people have Kalashnikov’s, RPG-7’s, and other munitions. These weapons are all Soviet issue and were acquired from the Russian’s when Iraq was the target of billions of US dollars worth of arms during the Iran-Iraq conflict and throughout the 1980’s. If the US attempts to invade and occupy Iraq, I believe that they will find that the people are prepared to defend their country. Not for Saddam Hussein, but out of love for their country and hatred of their enemy. Even young children understand that their brother’s and sister’s die from very treatable diseases because of US sanctions.
JUS: How do you compare that which happened in Afghanistan to what may possibly happen in Iraq?
Officer: The situation is totally different. Some of the people of Afghanistan did not care for the Taliban and their implementation of the Shariah so we found that some of the people turned on them and damaged their cause. However in Iraq, the people have a deep hatred for America after seeing their country decimated by sanctions and such. Therefore I believe that you will find very few sympathizers amongst the Iraqi people and they will fiercely defend their country.
JUS: What is the feeling coming from the Shia’ of the south and the Sunni’s from the north? What is the general atmosphere between them?
Officer: Iraq is about 60% Shia’ and 40% Sunni, however there is no serious tension between the Sunni Muslims and the Shia’, I firmly believe that they would defend their country together as Iraqis. Iraq would be a very difficult land to occupy and hold as the people are armed and a deep resentment is within the hearts of the people for America.
It remains unclear exactly what role and strategy the Iraqi military will or is able to play in the event of a US led invasion. The 1990 US led campaign in Iraq was largely fought in the desert, however with no noticeable reinforcements deployed around the Iraqi borders, one can only assume that Saddam Hussein may be planning a guerilla war in highly populated areas to resist his “superior” enemy. |
