[A-List] Iraq: the resistance proliferates

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

Iraq: Seven deadly groups threaten Allies
IAN BRUCE
The Herald, 26 June 2003

THE potential for armed resistance to coalition troops occupying Iraq is
huge.

Before the US-led invasion, there were 300,000 conscripts and 130,000
regulars in the army, 70,000 of the elite Republican Guard, another 15,000
troops in the Special Republican Guard backed by 10,000 politically reliable
veteran reservists, 3000 Presidential Guards drawn from Saddam's Tikriti
tribesmen, and 15,000 men and women in the special security services.

The main sources of current insurgent activity include:

Fedayeen Saddam: 15,000 hard-line militiamen who provided the muscle for the
Ba'ath party and fought unexpectedly tenaciously against British and US
invasion forces.

Up to 1000 of them were killed defending Basra and the attack routes to
Baghdad. The rest melted back into the population with their weapons.

Al Amn al Khas: The 10,000 agents of the feared Special Security Service
(SSS) who enforced Ba'ath party rule.

Most survived the allied attack and are now on the run and banned from
holding public office. All are weapons trained.

Republican Guard: This so-called elite force, 70,000 strong at the start of
hostilities, collapsed rapidly in the face of US firepower. Perhaps 60,000
survived the fighting.

All have the kind of military expertise to conduct guerrilla operations.

Special Republican Guard: Highly-trained and trusted corps of 15,000 troops
who were Saddam's praetorian guard.

Most were recruited from the Iraqi dictator's tribal home area around
Tikrit. Backed by 10,000 politically reliable veterans, some of whom are now
believed to have joined the fedayeen.

Special Security Organisation: Controlled directly by Saddam's son, Qusay,
and made up of 5000 "inner-circle" operatives whose main tasks were to act
as watchdogs to ensure the loyalty of all others, and to act as personal
bodyguards for Saddam.

Arab volunteers: Several thousand Sudanese, Yemenis, Algerians, Syrians,
Saudis and Moroccans - many of whom trained in Afghanistan and fought for
the extremist Islamic Taliban cause - entered Iraq to help fight British and
American "crusaders".

About 70 died last week in a US raid on a training camp in the north. Many
fled at the end of the conflict but substantial numbers are believed to be
still at large.

Al Awda: The shadowy organisation known as The Return is thought to be
trying to organise an unholy alliance of disgruntled Iraqis, Islamic
militants and fedayeen into a coherent resistance movement to force allied
withdrawal.

It is believed to be run by Ba'ath party hardliners seeking to restore their
own power rather than Saddam's.