Sources: Some Iraqi Troops Won't Fight

March 18 -- The deadline for Saddam Hussein to meet President Bush's ultimatum is only hours away, and sources say war could begin as early as Wednesday night.

But the war itself could be over just as quickly. There is growing hope among U.S. officials that an invading land force could push rapidly up the main highway toward Baghdad without meeting heavy resistance.

Intelligence sources told ABCNEWS the United States is getting clear signals from some senior leaders of Iraq's elite Republican Guard that they are looking for a way to cooperate.

Officials said this follows efforts by leaders of some regular Iraqi army units to let the U.S. military know they do not want to fight.

The regular army units, stocked with conscripted soldiers, did not provide much resistance during the 1991 Gulf War, and were not expected to do so any upcoming conflict.

But Saddam is expected to rely on the Republican Guard — long commanded by Saddam's youngest son and heir apparent Qusai — to defend key areas like the capital Baghdad and Saddam's hometown of Tikrit.

By leaflet and radio broadcast, U.S. officials have been planning to provide instructions on how to avoid a U.S. attack — turn tank turrets to the rear and point the main gun at the ground. The message is clear: don't shoot.

On Monday, U.S. forces made the biggest drop of leaflets to date in a months-long psychological warfare campaign. According to the U.S. Central Command, 1.4 million leaflets were released over Iraq.

Cautioning the Civilians

As for Iraqi civilians, there is a constant pitch being made that the fight is not with them.

In delivering his ultimatum to Saddam in a speech Monday night, Bush told Iraqi troops: "If war comes, do not fight for a dying regime that is not worth your own life."

He continued by telling soldiers to listen carefully to his warning that they should not destroy oil wells or use weapons of mass destruction.

Bush then addressed Iraq's civilians, saying: "If we must begin a military campaign it will be directed to lawless men who direct your country and not at you."