[PEN-L:36197] Invading soldiers face "stiff opposition"

[Chris Burford <cburford@xxxxxxxxxx>]

It's official. From the commander of the British forces in the Gulf, Air
Marshal Brian Burridge: 'UK soldiers face 'stiff opposition' from a mixture
of Iraqi forces: Channel 4 News 7pm London time.

Indeed this programme was much more questioning even than CNN. The key news
value tonight was to report the near collapse of morale of the invaders.

While CNN had some distant expert (General Christman?) going once again
over the "dramatic drop" of paratroops into the airfield in northern Iraq,
Channel 4 reported how the troops had been dropped at night and had to walk
long distances with heavy gear, arriving at their destination tired,
although the airstrip was held by Kurds anyway. Channel 4commented that the
coalition needed a diversion from the focus in the south. CNN allowed its
viewers to think that the northern front would be seriously built up. It
will not be.

While CNN's embedded reporter rmerely said  the US troops to the west of
the Euphrates are still encountering small pockets of resistance, Channel 4
had a graphic description of how a guerilla attack had prompted marines to
dash down to save their comrades, and unfortunately fired on them instead,
injuring 37. Fortunately no one was killed but morale was badly shaken.

According to the overall analysis, it is the politicans who say the
campaign is on target. The generals say it is already 3 days behind.

The allies now have extended lines of communication along the Euphrates,
all areas of which are vulnerable to guerilla attack. There are only 7000
troops to maintain supplies along these lines.

"We have to contest every inch, every mile" said a commander.

About the southern front again, Channel 4 reported authoritatively there
are not enough troops for house to house fighting in Basra. The British
forces have limited themselves to attacking Baath party HQ's.

And if the invaders are not up to taking the seond city of Iraq, are they
ready for the challenge issued by the Iraqi information minister that the
coalition troops will surround Baghdad within about 8 days, but there will
be fierce fighting from house to house when they enter?

The Channel 4 reporters noted the trouble is that the population is
resentful: they blame the US and Britain for their impoverishment through
sanctions.

About the prospects of a US run country, an articulate Iraqi said
reflectively,  "It is absolutely impossible for us to live with
colonialists in this day and age."

The Channel 4 News reporter added, after much footage of Iraqi people
watching allied troops in a reserved and sullen way: "It has to be
questioned how much an alien army that carries guns and does not speak your
language can be expected to win over hearts and minds". The syntax of the
sentence had already shifted our perspective from that of the invading
troops to that of the Iraqi people. There was no answer.

Chris Burford
London