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Fresh air and an interesting twist
FWIW, I have yet to see a discussion on any "hot topic" that does not include SOME personal attacks of one kind or another. Pretty sad for people who are otherwise pretty focused on the concept of "unity" in their organizations. If you think you have to "take it back" or apologize later on, maybe you shouldn't post it in the first place. Make sense?
Also FWIW, in response to the person who said that people in favor of this military action are only "repeating what they heard someone else say, not thinking for themselves" (I'm paraphrasing, and it may have been in one of the threads paralleling this one) I think those opposed to this action are just as inclined to be guilty of that. No one is justified in pointing fingers over who is "uneducated" among those on the sidelines. Unless you work at the CIA or the Pentagon, everyone "heard it from somewhere else".
Food for thought from a conscientious objector of these threads due to the tone of some people in them.
The REAL reason for this post.............
An interesting twist from Fox News, a few minutes ago. Maybe these threads are much ado about not much.
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Thousands of Iraqi Troops Appear Ready to Surrender
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
WASHINGTON As the 48-hour clock continues to wind down on Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, there are signs that thousands of Iraqi troops are planning to surrender to the U.S. and its allies even in the first hours of war, Fox News has learned.
Senior Defense officials say they are seeing reports that in the first few hours of a military conflict, thousands of Saddam's soldiers will wave the white flag.
U.S. Central Command led by Gen. Tommy Franks is looking into reports of surrender attempts in the north and the south. Officials say Iraq's Republican Guard units have pulled out of the north - leaving behind conscripts who will likely surrender in large numbers.
"We have a pretty good idea who wants to surrender and who doesn't," one Defense official told Fox News. The intelligence community continues to get signs that even Saddam's top military structure is "brittle," the official said.
Iraqi troops who surrender will be taken into custody under the Geneva Convention as prisoners of war.
The U.S. military is trying to negotiate "capitulation agreements" with Iraqi commanders under which enemy troops would turn over most of their weapons and return to their barracks rather than be taken as prisoners of war, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.
Under this deal, Iraqi officers would be allowed to keep their sidearms and remain in charge of their units as long as they promised to steer clear of battle. U.S. forces would then be free to march toward Baghdad without being slowed down by thousands of prisoners.
Asked if any Iraqi commanders had accepted the offer, Lt. Gen. James T. Conway of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force replied: "Were encouraged that could happen in some cases."
(snipped for brevity)
The U.S. military, meanwhile, continues to bombard military units in the south of Iraq with about 12 million leaflets, e-mails and broadcasts urging them to surrender.
"Indications are very scattered, but I would say positive," one official told Reuters news agency.
A spokesman at Central Command's Gulf military headquarters in Qatar said 1.4 million leaflets were dumped Monday the biggest drop to date.
There are several types of leaflets: some contain references for Iraqis to tune to radio frequencies where coalition forces are broadcasting information about United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441; U.N. weapons inspectors in Iraq; Saddam's reign; warnings to Iraqi troops not to use weapons of mass destruction; and warning to troops that the coalition will destroy any viable military targets and doesn't want to destroy landmarks or hurt the Iraqi people.
Another leaflet tells Iraqi troops to "not risk their life and the life of their comrades," and to "leave now, go home, and learn, grow, prosper."
Defense officials said very specific instructions are being given to Iraqi forces who want to surrender, including to leave their tanks with their turrets reversed and to abandon vehicles in the open while returning to barracks.
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Tuesday that U.S. troops are headed into Iraq one way or another. If Saddam seeks exile, U.S. forces will enter Iraq to disarm it hopefully without opposition. (emphasis added by me)
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Adrienne (PNAM-2003)
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