LOW MORALE AND INCIDENTS OF SUICIDE

File: cia_70523_70523_02.txt
Page: 02
Total Pages: 2
Subject: LOW MORALE AND INCIDENTS OF SUICIDE  
Not Finally Evaluated Intelligence 
 
TO FACILITATE ELECTRONIC ACCESS, THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN 
REFORMATTED TO ELIMINATE INFORMATION THAT DOES NOT PERTAIN 
TO GULF WAR ILLNESS ISSUES OR THAT IS CLASSIFIED. A COPY OF 
THIS REDACTED DOCUMENT, IN ORIGINAL FORMAT, IS AVAILABLE ON 
REQUEST. 
 
PAGE 5 RUEAIIA 9323.  
                     LAWS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS.   HE 
SAID ONE SOLDIER HE ME IN KUWAIT WAS A 42-YEAR OLD MAN WHO 
HAD BEEN DISABLED IN THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR BUT SENT TO KUWAIT 
ANYWAY.  HIS UNIT ALSO HAD YOUNG MEN WHO HAD RECEIVED 
ONLY LIMITED ORIENTATION AND MINIMUM TRAINING PRIOR TO BEING 
DEPLOYED TO KUWAIT. 
 
3.   AS OF MID-DECEMBER. THERE WAS A SEVERE SHORTAGE OF 
BREAD, SUGAR, RICE AND MILK IN BAGHDAD.  A  IN BAGHDAD 
WITNESSED A KNIFE FIGHT BETWEEN A GROUP OF MOSLEMS AND 
CHRISTIANS, WAITING IN A BREAD LINE WHO ACCUSED EACH OTHER 
OF HOARDING.    MANY AMERICAN-MADE FOOD PRODUCTS WERE 
AVAILABLE IN BAGHDAD MARKETS, INCLUDING POTATO CHIPS AND 
OTHER SNACKS FOODS.  THERE ALSO WAS MORE LIQUOR AVAILABLE 
AFTER THE INVASION THAN BEFORE. COMMENT: MOST OF THE LIQUOR 
PROBABLY CAME FROM KUWAIT.) 
 
4.   WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF BAGHDAD, THERE HAVE NOT BEEN 
ANY BROWNOUTS, BLACKOUTS, OR WATER SHORTAGES.    THE 
EXCHANGE RATE FOR THE DIHAR ON THE BLACK MARKET HAS FALLEN 
500 PERCENT SINCE THE IRAQI INVASION.   MERCEDES TRUCKS WITH 
JORDANIAN LICENSE PLATES CARRYING FOOD STUFFS WERE STILL 
COMMONPLACE IN BAGHDAD IN MID-DECEMBER. 
 
 
 
PAGE 6 RUEAIIA  
 
5.   MARY IRAQIS IN BAGHDAD ARE WORRIED.   SOME PEOPLE IN 
THE MARKETS SAY  THAT IRAQ IS NOT READY TO FIGHT ANOTHER WAR 
SO SOON AFTER ENDING THE  CONFLICT. WITH IRAN. COMMENT:    
THE AVERAGE IRAQI CITIZEN IS NOT REALLY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT 
THE LEVEL OF WORLD OPINION AGAINST  IRAQ.  THERE IS NO OPEN 
ANTI-((HUSAYH)) DISSENSION OR ELATANT ANTI-U.S. SENTIMENT, 
BUT THE AVERAGE CITIZEN IS DEATHLY AFRAID OF THE BOMBING OF 
BAGHDAD.)