European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 14, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Wednesday november 14, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 3 iraqi popular army poses questionable 2nd line of defense Baghdad Iraq apr the military instructor stabbed the Dummy in the heart with a commando knife and snapped at a group of iraqi popular army recruits a this is your weapon to one by one the men dressed in camouflage fatigues lined up and stabbed the Dummy in what was supposed to be hand to hand combat training at a suburban Baghdad soccer ground. After iraqis million member regular army these men and women Are Saddam Hussein a second line of defense in the confrontation with the multinational Force. Every Day the iraqi authorities organize marches through Baghdad and other cities by popular army recruits among them elderly Gray haired men and gun toting women some with Heads covered by scarves in the islamic tradition. Teen age boys clutch rocket propelled grenade launchers and chant a Down Down Bush a iraqi officials boast that 8 million men and women have volunteered for the popular army in a wave of patriotic Fervour supposedly sparked by Saddam a aug. 2 invasion of Kuwait. But Western and asian military experts in Iraq estimate that the forces strength is probably closer to 600,000 personnel a 25 percent increase Over its pre invasion numbers. A we train on All weapons but the emphasis is on close combat weapons and hand to hand fighting a said Abdul Amin Jamil one of the instructors. A my songs in the army and in a getting trained so that i can fight alongside him a said 51-year-old Karim Ali holding an assault Rifle in one hand and patting a Dagger hanging from his webbing Belt. A i May be needed to defend my country a said Fer san Hamid a 15-year-old Schoolboy. A a in a willing to go to Kuwait and officials claim the volunteers reported to be flocking to join the militia include palestinians egyptians syrians sudanese and other arabs. State television regularly shows zealous recruits chanting undying allegiance to Saddam and military officials handing out guns to Young and old to defend the Republic. Diplomats question How far the average iraqi is prepared to go to defend a government As repressive As Saddam a. Still the popular army is everywhere guarding Banks embassies hotels government buildings and patrolling the Banks of the sluggish Tigris River that flows through the capital. With the Prospect of War looming the militia is reported to have been deployed in some numbers across Kuwait occupy women volunteers in iraqis popular army Parade through Baghdad Iraq. Ing abandoned Homes and government buildings. Popular army cadres Are trained for two months a two hours a Day five Days a week a in Light weapons anti tank weapons and anti aircraft guns. After training each recruit is Given a firearm and allowed to keep it. They Are required to report to their bases every week to determine if they re needed for Active duty. The militia was initially formed by Saddam in 1970 As the paramilitary Wing of the ruling baath Arab socialist party. Its main function was to act As an ideological counterweight to the army to prevent any attempt at a military coup. Led by one of Saddam a closest associates Deputy prime minister Taha Yas sin Ramadan the Well armed militia has been responsible for guarding the political leadership. From an original strength of around 3,000, the popular army swelled to around 450,000, including 40,000 women during the 1980-88 Iran Iraq War. It was deployed at the front and suffered heavy casualties. Some 10,000 men were captured. During the Iran Iraq War the iraqi regular forces often resented having the less experienced militiamen deployed alongside them. Western diplomats and Western military experts still doubt the popular army a fighting abilities but some asian diplomats believe the popular army cadres could put up a fight if chamber refresher called painful necessity fort Eustis a. Apr his eyes teared his nose ran and his lungs burned. But spec. Eric Hackman could do Little but endure the discomfort caused by tear Gas wafting through an army Gas chamber. Hackman 24, of Latrobe pa., and other fort Eustis soldiers got a Good whiff of the Gas As part of their training in the use of masks and clothing designed to protect them from chemical weapons. The soldiers had been through the training before. They knew How to suit up and Clear their masks by breathing out hard. But events in the persian Gulf were making the refresher course particularly timely. A in the event he goes to saudi Arabia and if he does no to do the procedure properly does not clean the mask properly he. Sick die a said maj. Frank Connor chief of the training be could be exposed to the chemical get div at fort Eustis. About 230,000 . Troops have been sent to the persian Gulf since iraqi president Saddam Hussein sent his army into neighbouring Kuwait on aug. 2. Saddam has stockpiles of chemical weapons and has used them against the kurd in Eastern Iraq. . Soldiers train regularly in putting on their protective gear and performing their jobs. A if you Are a truck Driver you have to be Able to do your truck driving in an Abc environment a said sgt. 1st class Larry Price head of the posts nuclear biological chemical Branch. Hackman and others volunteered to remove their masks inside the chamber a tent set up in a Forest Clearing. Some commanders require it As part of the training. Others do not. The exercise is intended a so you will be confident in the mask when you go into the Battlefield a said staff sgt. Marvin Ward. The smell of the Gas seeped from the tent and the wind blew it on those waiting their turn. A a let a get it Over with a one Soldier said. About 10 masked soldiers filed into the chamber. When they left 10 minutes later with their masks off they were Bent Over coughing and waving their hands. A a done to touch your face a cautioned sgt. Donna Nie Muth in charge of the chamber. A look into the Hackman a eyes were redder than most. A you want to Nib your eyes a said Hackman of the 155th trans co at fort Eustis. A right before i got out the door i got a Good sgt. Antonio Torres takes a whiff of tear Gas in the training chamber at fort Eustis a. Spec. 4 Richard Hill also of the 155th, Wasny tas bothered by a Runny nose. A i blew it Good before i went in there a Hill said. A it Burns. I want to scratch my eyes. There a a real Nasty taste in my the tear Gas wore off in about 15 minutes. The soldiers also spend time in the classroom learning about chemical agents much stronger than tear Gas. Price taught a recent class to members of the army reserves 359th trans in based in nearby Hampton. Price told them there Are four Abc tenets avoid Ance Protection decontamination and pulling All three together to perform in a contaminated environment. Chemical warfare agents include nerve Gas Blister agents like Mustard agent and blood agents that strip oxygen from the blood. They can be fatal or incapacitating Price said. The effects of some agents Wear off quickly others can last Many years. Nerve agents cause loss of muscle control and affect nerve endings Price said. A How Many of you took Black Flag and sprayed it on a Bug a he asked. A a that a what nerve agent does to
