This is what I tend to think. Given that the military command faded away as well as the government officials and media handlers, I think that news got out in one way or another, and they all bailed on a collapsed regime. Whether the deal struck with the Baghdad Republican Guard commander included a deal for Saddam's safe passage or not, makes no difference to me. The US was pushing for deals prior to the start of the war so what matter is it when they ocurred.Originally posted by: Jeriko
Um... Ya'll do realize that the communique to his security forces was probably just a face-saving measure on Saddam's part to excuse his high-tailing out of town, right? You all are taking it WAY too seriously.
As for deals with Republican Guard commanders, Rumsfeld and others had said for weeks that there were negotiations ongoing with people of importance in the Iraqi military. Not exactly news if you bother listening to the press conferences.
-J
Actually it fell "easily" from everyone's perspective. Even the US troops seemed surprised.Originally posted by: Alistar7
I know Baghdad fell easy from your perspective, but you were not part of the republican guard who was subjected to 7 days of intense air atrikes.
Don't forget the last strike at Saddam, Baghdad streets were free of policemen and soldiers the next day, maybe the orders stopped coming. The US forces didn't look like they felt there was a cease fire ordered.
I think the ones left just went home, we found tons of deserted positions, clothing, weapons. Don't forget the Fedayeen running bown the bank of the river trying to strip out of their black jammies.
The whole country save Nasiriya and Basra fell pretty quickly, most of the towns the citizens welcomed our forces.
Originally posted by: apoppin
Unfortunately, I have to go to work and will miss your silly comments for a few hours. 😛
Originally posted by: apoppin
Actually it fell "easily" from everyone's perspective. Even the US troops seemed surprised.Originally posted by: Alistar7
I know Baghdad fell easy from your perspective, but you were not part of the republican guard who was subjected to 7 days of intense air atrikes.
Don't forget the last strike at Saddam, Baghdad streets were free of policemen and soldiers the next day, maybe the orders stopped coming. The US forces didn't look like they felt there was a cease fire ordered.
I think the ones left just went home, we found tons of deserted positions, clothing, weapons. Don't forget the Fedayeen running bown the bank of the river trying to strip out of their black jammies.
The whole country save Nasiriya and Basra fell pretty quickly, most of the towns the citizens welcomed our forces.
IF this is true - Bush would never need to "order" a cease fire. The Troops would still find themselves in a position to fire at the Jordanian "volunteers" who never heard the order from Saddam. And if the Secret Police were ordered by Saddam to stop the hostilities, the Troops simply wouldn't find them or "organized" resistance.
Again, this is "conspiricy thinking". Since it is based on "speculation" I really don't give it that much creedence.
HOWEVER, I really DO enjoy playing "devil's advocate" to see some of you guys - that take this WAY too seriously - get all riled up. Unfortunately, I have to go to work and will miss your silly comments for a few hours. 😛
Originally posted by: Carbonyl
Bush is a good man to minimize the bloodshed if this is true. I heard Condelisa arranged with Putin, for Saddam and his cohorts to go out on those Russain airliners. Anyway you hear lots of theories, not doubt this should be kept secret because our cowboy wannabe president has an though image to uphold. Nevertheless I admire backdoor deal if it's true.