Iraqi Troops in Kuwait

File: 950825_53000298_90r.txt
Page: 90r
Total Pages: 1

Filename:53000298.90r


Subject: Iraqi Troops in Kuwait
[      (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4)    ]


TEXT: 1.  MORALE. THERE IS A DISTINCT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
MORALE AND LOYALTY LEVELS BETWEEN IRAQI ENLISTED PERSONNEL AND 
IRAQI
OFFICERS. THE AVERAGE ENLISTED SOLDIER HAS NO IDEA THAT THE ENTIRE
WORLD IS AT ODDS WITH IRAQ AND THAT THE SOVIET UNION DOES NOT
SUPPORT IT. [      (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4)    ]






 MANY IRAQI ENLISTED CONVERSE WITH KUWAITIS AND DO NOT
AGREE WITH IRAQ'S INVASION OF KUWAIT. HOWEVER, THEY ARE FORBIDDEN
TO SPEAK AGAINST SADAM ((HUSSAIN)) AND, IF CAUGHT, CAN BE 
EXECUTED.
NONETHELESS, MANY ENLISTED WILL OPENLY EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS AS
LONG AS OFFICERS ARE NOT WITHIN EARSHOT.
2.  IRAQI OFFICERS ARE GENERALLY CONSIDERED VERY LOYAL TO
HUSSEIN AND DO NOT QUESTION HIS POLICIES OR ACTIONS. THE OFFICERS
ARE EDUCATED AND WELL TRAINED. [    b.2.    ]THE IRAQI OFFICER
SCHOOL IN BAGHDAD IS REPUTEDLY THE FINEST IN THE ARAB WORLD.
3.  DESERTION. IRAQI DESERTIONS ARE NOW A COMMON
OCCURRENCE. [      (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4)    ]
 IT IS
NOT KNOWN HOW MANY IRAQI ENLISTED HAVE DESERTED OR WHETHER ANY
OFFICERS HAVE DESERTED. DESERTION IS PUNISHABLE BY DEATH AND, ON 
AT
LEAST ONE OCCASION IN AL KUWAIT, A DESERTER WAS PUBLICLY EXECUTED.
4.  TRAINING. PARATROOPER UNITS IN AL KUWAIT APPEAR
DISCIPLINED AND FAIRLY WELL TRAINED AS OPPOSED TO REGULAR 
INFANTRY.
INFANTRY SEARCHES XND PATROLS ARE HAPHAZARD. SUCH TROOPS HARASS
KUWAITIS AT CHECKPOINTS, OCCASIONALLY LOOTING VALUABLES SUCH AS
WATCHES, PENS, AND LIGHTERS. [      (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4)    ]


5.  CHEMICAL WARFARE EQUIPMENT. NOWHERE AT ANY TIME HAS
ANY EVIDENCE OF CHEMICAL WARFARE EQUIPMENT, OFFENSIVE OR 
DEFENSIVE,
BEEN NOTED. IRAQI SOLDIERS HAVE NOT BEEN SEEN CARRYING
NUCLEAR-BIOLOGICAL-CHEMICAL (NBC) PROTECTIVE GEAR.
6.  EQUIPMENT. IRAQI SOLDIERS APPEAR MINIMALLY EQUIPPED
WITH LIGHT ARMS, INCLUDING AK-47'S, RPG'S, AND HAND GRENADES. 
THERE
ARE A FEW HEAVIER MACHINE GUNS. SOLDIERS WEAR NO PROTECTIVE VESTS.
NO SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT OR INFRARED/NIGHT SCOPES HAVE BEEN SEEN.
7.  INFILTRATION. [      (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4)    ]
 PLAIN-CLOTHED IRAQIS,
PROBABLY MILITARY INTELLIGENCE, HAVE BEEN SEEN AT PRAYER 
GATHERINGS
IN VARIOUS MOSQUES. [      (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4)    ]
ON ONE OCCASION, THE IRAQIS WERE ACTUALLY PRAYING IN THE WRONG
DIRECTION, FACING THE CROWD RATHER THAN MECCA.
COMMENTS: (U) THIS IS THE NINTH IN A SERIES OF REPORTS BASED ON
INFORMATION FROM THIS SOURCE IN RESPONSE TO THE CITED INFORMATION
OBJECTIVE.
[      (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4)    ]



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