"if Saddam produces a Stalin like popular resistance without taking the population of Baghdad as hostage we will be wrong and we will be ashamed of our projections."
Ike, as you know, a 'Stalin like popular resistance' is as much myth as reality...resistance yes, 'popular' no.
Saddam is following Stalin's lead in the creation and inforcement of resistance...using the Fedayeen Saddam just as Stalin used the NKVD:
"...NKVD activities in the World War II-guerrilla operations, behind-the enemy-lines terror squads, blocking detachments that executed on spot the retreating regular troops and so on...the construction of deep Soviet defensive lines initiated in autumn 1941 required massive human resources, the exploitation of which was impossible without forced labour management...the erection of gigantic defence lines in the vicinity of major Soviet cities with a 12-hour working day and meagre food rations...The darkest page of the bloody list of NKVD massacres and executions of civilians includes the ethnic purges in the Kabarda-Balkaria..."
1jma.dk
"...The Fedayeen, with a total strength reportedly between 30,000 and 40,000 troops, is composed of young soldiers recruited from regions loyal to Saddam. The unit reports directly to the Presidential Palace, rather than through the army command, and is responsible for patrol and anti-smuggling duties. Though at times improperly termed an "elite" unit, the Fedayeen is a politically reliable force that can be counted on to support Saddam against domestic opponents..."
fas.org
And as you also know, the population of Baghdad has been held hostage to the whims of their narcissistic leader from day one. I only hope the fall of Baghdad is not accompanied with a huge loss of civilians. Saddam's personality can very easily lead him to the conclusion that if he can't 'lead' the Iraqi people, then he will attempt to kill them so no one else could 'lead' them either. Being an optimist, I think support for Saddam will erode and then collapse within a matter of a few weeks.
Jerry |
