I deserted Saddam's army.

BBC News ^ | Tuesday, 22 April, 2003, 09:58 GMT | BBC News

[Rain-maker]

 

'I deserted Saddam's army'

Iraq had a huge army, but only a fraction of its soldiers were killed or captured during the war. Hamed Nissam was one of those who took off his uniform and simply melted away.

Hamed Nissam: "I held up a white flag and ran home"

I was a tank driver defending Basra. It was a very old Russian tank, made in 1969.

Because of the Americans' technological advantage, we were sure that we could not survive the war. We were horrified by the prospect of meeting them in battle.

I was very afraid of being bombed, but I was also very afraid of Saddam's regime. Our officers treated us very harshly.

I had seen the leaflets dropped by the Americans and British telling us to surrender. They said that if we did not put up a fight we could save our lives.

Our officers found some of my colleagues with these leaflets. These men were immediately sent to the front line where it was very dangerous.

Reading the Americans' advice to surrender helped me to decide to give up fighting.

I had been in the army for three years and eight months. It was a very hard life. There was a lack of food and water, our uniforms were poorly-made and dirty, and the salary was bad.

When we eventually engaged the British and American troops in battle, they proved to be very brave as they advanced towards us

There was no rest. Some officers would only let us go home on leave if we gave them money. I had not seen my family for four months before the war.

On the second day of the war, the enemy airplanes flew over to attack us. Our guns immediately proved themselves to be useless to defend against them.

We quickly concluded that none of our weapons would help us defeat the Americans.

When we eventually engaged the British and American troops in battle, they proved to be very brave as they advanced towards us. There was really no comparison between us.

Our commander told us that we could resist the invading Americans. But by this time I was far more scared of the US and Britain than I was of my own officers.

I was afraid of the superior tactics of the US Army, but what really concerned me were the helicopter gunships.

"None of our weapons would help us defeat the Americans"

These helicopters eventually came to bomb my unit. Many of my colleagues were killed, along with the commander who told us we could win.

The deaths of my comrades was a tragedy. I was very sad that they had to die in this way.

On the sixth day of the war, the helicopters came again. It was raining, so I saw the opportunity to slip away from my tank. I changed into civilian clothes, held up a white flag and ran back to my family home in Basra.

I am glad the British and Americans invaded. I now have my freedom from the regime; they saved us from Saddam.

The British Army has even given me a job working in their headquarters in Saddam's Basra palace. Washing floors for the British Army is better than fighting against them for the Iraqi Army.

[Rain-maker]

The moralof the story: A fool and his army shall soon part.

[BrooklynGOP]

Washing floors for the British Army is better than fighting against them for the Iraqi Army.

[Blood of Tyrants]

It appears that the psycological war that started weeks before the shooting war was highly effective.

[Jeff Head]

I am glad the British and Americans invaded. I now have my freedom from the regime; they saved us from Saddam.

The British Army has even given me a job working in their headquarters in Saddam's Basra palace. Washing floors for the British Army is better than fighting against them for the Iraqi Army

Pretty much says it all IMHO. Hope many, many more feel this way and act accordingly as their government develops.

[Mister Baredog]

When we eventually engaged the British and American troops in battle, they proved to be very brave as they advanced towards us. There was really no comparison between us

That's the plan, an "unfair" fight.

[Puppage]

AND I DESERTED THE US ARMY!

[American Soldier]

Reading the Americans' advice to surrender helped me to decide to give up fighting.

Lesson learned long ago: No matter how silly and cheesy it may seem, psyops leaflets work! I always thought psyops was cool but I'm really starting to respect the hell out of that small branch of the armed forces... Probably responsible for taking nearly as many soldiers out of the fight as the combat arms guys, only we don't have to bury people when psyops is done with them.

[bmwcyle]

And screwed up the country for George Bush to clean up.

[norraad]

Leaflets are only the beginning of the fun you can have, read The Madi(sorry don't remember the author, was a guy not the woman who wrote a similiar sounding title).

Can't for the next country to be disciplined(what a long list).

[butter pecan fan]

Lesson learned long ago: No matter how silly and cheesy it may seem, psyops leaflets work! I always thought psyops was cool but I'm really starting to respect the hell out of that small branch of the armed forces... Probably responsible for taking nearly as many soldiers out of the fight as the combat arms guys, only we don't have to bury people when psyops is done with them.

Yes. They helped win the war and saved thousands and thousands of lives on both sides. And they did it by employing an almost uniquely American strategy -- telling the truth.

[RoseofTexas]

I guess I'm a little lost here, there are 1 million(according to MSnbc early report this morn) shiites are protesting the US as we speak! For the first time in centuries they have the freedom to worship in their mosque in one of the cities and thousands upon thousands have showed up to protest and chant against the US. I don't get it? I thought the shiites would be the first ones welcoming us with open arms and not with sheer anger!

[Stultis]

bump

[stuartcr]

Apparently you, and many others, may have thought incorrectly!!

[ConservativeMan55]

Bump for later reading.

[pdjplano]

you don't understand islam then. the Shiites believe that religion and politics are intertwined, and that only by having an islamic state, will they be happy and not 'repressed'. the hate Saddam, but they also hate anyone not islamic/muslim/arab, including the people who liberated them from Saddam.

Think of them like the French, but more rapid in showing their true colors about the US...

[Feckless]

And then wore my brave warrior's insignia when I would visit them..... until Feckless designed me my very own.

[driftless]

No surprise to me. Iraq still has many crazy Muslims, and where they are you will find their pseudo-fascist Imams, Mullahs, and other wouldbe dictators and troublemakers. These religious fanatics must be squashed now, and I don't mean talked to nicely. Colonel David Hunt said as much on O'Reilly the other night. After we defeated Germany in WWII, I guarantee you there were many ex-Nazis who would have been very happy to have us pull out quickly instead of occupying the country for five years like we did. These Islamo-fascists have to be put in their place or killed. We do not want another Iran.

[stuartcr]

What do you do when they freely elect a Shiite fundamentalist as their leader?

[dark_lord]

Which is why all the talk of us "leaving Iraq soon" is foolishness. We didn't leave Germany after a few months -- because if we did the Nazis would have resurfaced. We didn't leave Japan after a few months -- because if we did the "militarists" would have resurfaced. In Iraq -- if we leave the Islamofacists will rise and we will have another Iran on our hands, but not like Iran now, rather like Iran was in the early '80s. It would be pointless to depose Saddam, and have as his replacement another Islamofacist state that hates us.

Besides - we need physical bases there. That way we can pull our people out of Saudi Arabia, put them into those bases we have captured in the deserts of western Iraq. Then we can deal with the Saudis.

[stuartcr]

I agree, we'll never get out of the middle-east, no matter what Washington says..we also need a base for operations over there..regardless of what Washington says. World opinion-wise, though, it will be harder and harder to stay there. I think we're in for a very tumultuous future.