NewsMine — war-on-terror — iraq — pre-invasion — Viewing Item

Iraqi soldiers thought war started { March 9 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/news/page.cfm?objectid=12715943&method=full&siteid=106694 http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/news/page.cfm?objectid=12715943&method=full&siteid=106694 Sunday 9 March 2003 08:10am SADDAM'S SOLDIERS SURRENDER Mar 9 2003 Mike Hamilton reports from Camp Coyote in Kuwait TERRIFIED Iraqi soldiers have crossed the Kuwait border and tried to surrender to British forces - because they thought the war had already started. The motley band of a dozen troops waved the white flag as British paratroopers tested their weapons during a routine exercise. The stunned Paras from 16 Air Assault Brigade were forced to tell the Iraqis they were not firing at them, and ordered them back to their home country telling them it was too early to surrender. The drama unfolded last Monday as the Para batallion tested mortars and artillery weapons to make sure they were working properly. The Iraqis found a way across the fortified border, which is sealed off with barbed-wire fencing, watchtowers and huge trenches. A British Army source in Kuwait contacted me to explain how the extraordinary surrender bid unfolded. The source said: "The British guys on the front-line could not believe what was happening. They were on pre-war exercises when all of a sudden these Iraqis turned up out of nowhere, with their hands in the air, saying they wanted to surrender. "They had heard firing and thought it was the start of the war. "The Paras are a tough, battle-hardened lot but were moved by the plight of the Iraqis. There was nothing they could do other than send them back. "They were a motley bunch and you could barely describe them as soldiers - they were poorly equipped and didn't even have proper boots. Their physical condition was dreadful and they had obviously not had a square meal for ages. No one has ever known a group of so-called soldiers surrender before a shot has been fired in anger." Last night the Ministry of Defence officially denied the incident had taken place, but the story was corroborated by an intelligence source. Meanwhile Saddam Hussein has ordered thousands of troops back to Baghdad as he turns the city into a fortress. It is believed that two rings of steel are being established around Baghdad. The outer one consists of regular Iraqi army soldiers and the inner one is made up of Republican Guard fighters - thought to be the only troops that will put up fierce resistance.

britons bush-appeals consequences inspections israel moran-accuses-jews preperation resolutions saddam-deal un-spying warplan 8 euro call for war { January 30 2003 } Americans like nuke Annihilate iraqi society { January 26 2003 } Anti us trade fair Arms civilians { February 5 2003 } Attack debated { August 1 2002 } Baby milk Blair blood price { September 5 2002 } Blair says no un veto Blair war regardless { January 26 2003 } Bush awaits blairs orders { March 7 2003 } Bush blair intent on war despite evidence or UN { March 18 2003 } Bush undettered by opposition { March 3 2003 } Casualties of undeclared war { December 22 2002 } Cheney assures { August 11 2002 } Cia kurds Cia wanted american flags for iraqs after war { October 20 2004 } Coalition has few partners { January 25 2003 } Dan rather interview East europe supports us { November 8 2002 } Germany supplied supergun { January 31 2003 } Hacked saddam email Hussein tactics { December 15 2002 } I26983 2003Feb04L [jpg] Iraq buys nerve antidote { November 12 2002 } Iraq civilians Iraq will gas kurds Iraqi amnesty Iraqi jails emptied Iraqi soldiers thought war started { March 9 2003 } Israel deals kuwait masks Kennedy accuses bush bribing turkey Kurds oust Kuwati attitude different { February 26 2003 } More missile range { November 15 2002 } Msnbc war and consequences N iraq kurdish { August 20 2002 } Negroponte no automatic war { November 8 2002 } No iraq alqaeda link { September 10 2002 } No nerve antidote Nuclear non capability { November 21 2002 } October surprise Opposition funding { February 4 2003 } Powell denies saudis knew war before him Powell says us alone Resolution pretext war Russia iraq ties { January 10 2003 } Saddam accepted exile offer before war Saddam bunker Saddam considers exile { January 14 2003 } Saddam hometown hero Saddam not want war Saddam time nuclear { May 4 2002 } Saddam will blame us { March 12 2003 } Six week war window Smart sanctions { July 2 2002 } Summer saddam Us war attacking iraqi defenses during inspections { July 20 2003 } War effects economy { July 30 2002 } Weapons dossier reveals corporations { December 7 2002 } With or without un { January 22 2003 } Yugoslavia arms ties { November 1 2002 } Files Listed: 62

Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security Archives

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.