Re: [A-List] Iraq: the resistance continues

["Tariq Mahmood" <zaogir@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have my serious reservations about the genuineness of the so-called order
for resistance campaign against the occupying forces in Iraq. If those in
power in Iraq were wise enough to think and plan months ahead they could
easily resist the attack while it was being launched.

Any one with the minimum experience of warfare could tell the foolhardiness
of the defenders against the easily addvancing US and British forces. An
anti-tank force of a couple of hundred equipped with small anti-tank weapons
could have halted the advance and causing unbearable loss of life and
material on the enemy.

Saddam Hussein is known for going against own and his neighbours' interests
from the start till the very end. This strategy of his is, however, not
understandable.

Tariq
"Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx> reported:

 Order found for Iraqi resistance campaign
 IAN BRUCE
 The Herald, 10 June 2003

 BRITISH troops in Basra have found a looted intelligence document ordering
Iraqi security personnel to orchestrate arson, sabotage and sniping attacks
against coalition forces.

The document, dated January 23, predicts the collapse of military resistance
in the face of the US-led invasion in March and details the steps to be
taken later in a guerrilla war.

 The order lists 11 steps to be taken to pick off coalition soldiers and
foment mass unrest against American rule. Thirty-nine US soldiers have died
in ambushes and dozens have been wounded in an apparently organised
insurrection.

 The paper calls for systematic looting and the burning of government
buildings to hamper reconstruction, the sabotage of power, water and
communications facilities, and the assassination of religious leaders to
trigger demonstrations.

 It also urges agents to infiltrate Shi'ite schools and to concentrate on
causing rebellion in the holy city of Najaf, scene of almost daily shooting
incidents against US patrols.

 Those remaining loyal to the Baath party are instructed to "buy stolen
weapons from the citizens" and to "make contact and become close to
returning exiles" with the aim of maintaining and restoring the security
apparatus in post-war Iraq.

 Al Dawa, a Shi'ite religious party which was oppressed by Saddam Hussein,
has told allied commanders that militia fighters run an activist network
with cells in every town and city and have caches of arms throughout the
country.

 Secret meetings are also reportedly being held to revive the outlawed Baath
party, linchpin of Saddam's regime.

 Saddam issued assault rifles, ammunition and rocket launchers to hundreds
of thousands of supporters two months before the coalition attack. These
fedayeen, aided by Arab "volunteers", offered bitter resistance to invading
forces, especially around Basra and in Nasariyah, Fallujah and Najaf, west
of Baghdad.

 A coalition spokesman in Basra said: "We can confirm the existence of the
resistance order. It was handed to us by local contacts a few days ago. It
appears to be genuine, but whether it can be considered the basis for the
succession of hostile incidents in Baghdad and towns to the west and north
of the capital is anyone's guess.

 "We believe the violence is being orchestrated, but only at local levels.
It is probably the work of former Baath party officials and militia
commanders. There is no evidence so far of an organised, nationwide
resistance movement."

 In Iraq, the US military confirmed an American soldier was shot dead at a
checkpoint near the Syrian border on Sunday.

 His comrades killed one attacker and captured a second.