Sources: Some Iraqi Troops Won't Fight
March 19, 2003 — -- The deadline for Saddam Hussein to meet President Bush's ultimatum is only hours away, and sources say war could begin as early as tonight, but there are signs that Iraqis may not offer very stiff resistance.
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. Officials are offering clear instructions by leaflets and radio broadcasts to the Iraqi military on how to avoid attack by American forces.
Turn tank turrets to the rear.
Point the main gun at the ground.
Above all, don't shoot.
Overnight, 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, nearly 2 million leaflets were released over Iraq, warning the Iraqi people not to fight and to stay out of public view.
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.
A unit of 17 regular Iraqi army soldiers surrendered to U.S. forces today on the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border, a Central Command spokesman in Doha, Qatar, said. The Iraqis were turned over to Kuwaiti custody.
This follows indirect contacts by leaders of some regular Iraqi army units letting 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 in 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.
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."
He pledged the United States would provide food, medicine and other assistance as Iraq recovers from war.
Echoing that message, Col. William Grimsley of the 1st Brigade of the 3rd Infantry said: "As our fight isn't against innocent people, we ask them to continue trying to live their lives and stay home."
