The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, January 28, 1991, Page 2, Image 2
By The Associated Press Edited by Jennifer O'Cilka Saddam forces troops to fight IN EASTERN SAUDI ARABIA - Saddam Hussein’s front line, though hammered by allied air strikes and manned by dispirited, lice-ridden soldiers, can hold out for months, senior allied officers fear. “They will fight because they have no _ choice,” said a Saudi officer with access to defecting Iraqis. “They know they might sur vive a battle, but if they run they will be shot.” Like other senior Saudi officers, he spoke frankly only when assured of anonymity, fearful of contradict ing official optimism. But he reflected a view widely held among command ers close to the front. “Nothing about this is going to be easy,” said Lt. Col. Hu Blazer, a U.S. Army maintenance battalion com mander who learned the hard way in V ietnam the limits of air suppoit in a ground war. Group Capt. Niall Irving of Brit ain’s Royal Air Force told reporters Saturday of plans to house Iraqi pris oners of war. “I think we are anticipating huge numbers—once (ground) operations start or maybe even before — are going to give themselves up fairly quickly.” Iraqis might surrender en masse once their lines are penetrated and control structures break down, allied ground commanders say. Until then, the allies expect a withering hail of Iraqi artillery fire and rockets. Treacherous minefields are de signed not only to slow allied forces from moving north but also to stop Iraqis from fleeing south. “Saddam has 4,000 Republican Guards assigned to every division whose job is to make sure the men fight,” said a front-line Saudi officer. “Troops can lake their choice, dying in front or behind.” The Republican Guards are the elite core of the Iraqi army and arc considered especially loyal to Sad dam. Clearly, the air war is taking a heavy toll. Bombs from B-52s gouge gaping craters, blasting away gun emplacements and munitions stores. Strafing raids disrupt Iraqi supply lines and communications. But many of Iraq’s 530,000 troops in the Kuwait theater are secure in hardened bunkers, and their 155mm guns are capable of pinpoint accuracy with conventional or chemical shells. While U.S. forces are equipped with old-style howitzers, loaded one shell at a time by a burly “number one man,” the Iraqis have French made automatic howitzers. Iraq’s Soviet-made T-72 tanks, with laser-guided fire and heavy armor, are a fair match for the Americans’ M-l Abrams tanks and their range is longer than the older-model, smaller U.S. M-60s. U.S. Marine officers say the Iraqis have built concentric sand berms, 12 foot-high walls, behind moats which can be filled with flaming oil. Explo sive butane tanks are buried under likely tank routes. A half million mines in two broad belts form an outer defense, from the Saudi-Iraqi border, and many more are expected to be scattered on the way toward inner fortifications at Kuwait City. A Saudi commander confirmed that many Iraqis were prepared to defect, and said those taken prisoner offered little resistance when their enemy was upon them. In a briefing, Group Captain Irv ing said Iraqi prisoners had been down to one meal a day and one said he had not seen meat in weeks. Many had lice and open sores because they had to get by on a single uniform. But the Saudi officer warned against interpreting this as a portent of quick victory. “Most of them know they won’t win,” he said, “but they’re not going to go away.” He also noted that a large part of Saddam’s army was well-trained and motivated. Some take comfort in the Islamic belief that a warrior martyred in a holy war will earn a place in paradise. Soviet captain shoots Lithuanian VILNIUS, U.S.S.R. - A Soviet army captain shot a Lithuanian at a military checkpoint Sunday, and officials of the breakway republic said they have begun keeping a record of brutality inflicted on their citizens, a govern ment spokesman said. Government spokesman Audrius Azubalis said a Soviet patrol stopped the Lithuanian, who was driving a car with two hitchhikers about 1 a.m.The driver was asked to get out of the car and put his hands on the windshield. A shot fired at the ground by the captain, apparently as a warning, rico cheted and hit the man in the leg. The Lithuanian, identified as A. Shalkin gas, was taken to a Vilnius hospital for treatment. Azubalis also said the last of six Lithuanians seized after a shooting incident involving paratroopers Thurs day was released, then taken to a hospital for treatment of a concus sion. The Lithuanian Health Ministry reported a similar case Saturday in Kaunas, 60 miles west of Vilnius, where a man detained Jan. 24 by the military was released and taken to a hospital suffering from a concussion, arm fractures and chest injuries, Azubalis said. The commander of the Soviet Army garrison had warned Saturday that his troops were getting “more and more out of control.” I NOW! 3 Value Menus | r o 390 i ! taco origmaltacos ! miTH ■ Limit 4 with this uI^LJL« coupon. Not good 245 N. 13th St. with any other offer. Location Only Expires 2-11-91 FREE DRINK REFILLSH All seats reserved $18.50 Tickets available at the Lied Center Box Office, or Charge by Phone 472-4747 or 1-800-432-3231 Tickets may be subject to a service charge. Environmental experts said there was no way to stop a mammoth oil slick pouring from Iraqi-held Kuwait. The slick has already crept 70 miles south along the Saudi Arabian coast._ The oil slick threatens: Fresh water: Desert states on the IRAN Gulf's southern shore depend on K U desalination plants that remove salt from seawater to make it drinkable. Fisheries: All the Gulf states fish its fertile waters commercially for food. Wildlife: The Gulf’s south and west shores are lined with ecologically fragile wetlands. SAUDI ARABIA O Riyadh 0 = Maior water Hi 200 km. desalination Six plants in Kuwait not sl»own. Techniques used to battle oil spills: Technology Containment Skimmer Chemicals j E Booms Boats Wy \\|*<|| oil and Dispersants break up oil Y Floating vacuum it slick, coagulating booms form a ^BSSr UP from the agents gathers oil ring around spill ^waters surface onto together or sink droplets to contain the oil | coiie^’ion barges below the water's surface Nature Evaporation Bacteria Weather Volatile ‘ A f component of Tar balls ® ♦ the oil evaporate form from 5 f into the s? J? the haaviar Parts of the oil •¥• ) atmosphere and sink to the bottom. .. Wind and wave action ^} Bacterid consume emulsify some oil into the some crude over time water forming *Mousso" nr U.S. ground forces combat ready before late February, official says WASHINGTON - Defense Secre ary Dick Cheney said Sunday that U.S. forces will be ready for a ground issault on Iraqi forces well “before [he end of February.” The White House ruled out financing Operation Desert Storm with a new tax. “We’ve always assumed that we would eventually have to send in ground forces,” Cheney said, all but conceding that massive air strikes alone won’t oust Saddam Hussein’s army from Kuwait. Cheney, interviewed on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” said the U.S. de ployment in the gulf is nearing the half-million mark and is nearly com plete. “I would expect it’s a relatively short period of time between now and when they’d be combat ready,” he said. But Cheney said the final go-ahead for a ground war remains “a presiden tial decision.” In Lafayette Park, across from the White House, only a few dozen anti war demonstrators kept a vigil Sun day, banging on drums and cans. Discarded leaflets and signs gave the only evidence of the crowd — esti mated by police as 75,000 — that had marched around the White House on Saturday. Bush’s senior advisers said the president will not ask Congress to enact a “war tax” to finance the U.S. led military operations. The president gives his State of the Union address to a joint House-Sen ate session on Tuesday evening and will submit his budget for fiscal 1992 the following Monday. Rebels sain control in Somalia I NAIROBI, Kenya - Guerrillas on Sunday won apparent control of Somalia after a month of fighting forced longtime President Mohamed Siad Barre from his official residence. A Western doctor whojust left Moga dishu said rebels had taken over the airport and main radio station. Siad Barrc’s whereabouts remained unknown. Reports from Somalia’s capital said he may have fled to Kis mayu, south of Mogadishu, one of the few sections of the Horn of Africa nation of 8 million believed still loyal to him. Celebrations broke out Saturday night across Mogadishu after the rebels drove Siad Barre from the presiden tial mansion and seized slate radio; on Sunday the guerrillas tightened their grip by capturing the airport, the last government stronghold, Dr. Marc Gastello Etchcjorry said. “The information from Mogadishu is that the fighting has finished. There is no more snooting,” said Etchcjorry. “The rebels have announced that all of the city is under their control.” There was no independent confir mation of the situation due to wide spread communications problems. The rebel United Somali Congress said it seized control of Mogadishu at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. ‘‘Last night ... the government and the responsibility of the Somali people were taken over by the USC movement. We arc addressing you from Radio Mogadishu, the voice of the Somali people,” said the rebels. Net>raskan ] Editor Eric Planner 472- 1766 Managing Editor Victoria Ayotte Assoc News Editors Jana Padaraan Emily Rosenbaum ■ Editorial Page Editor Bob Nelson Wire Editor Jennifer O'ClIka Professional Adviser Don Walton 473- 7301 I: Tne Daily NebraananfUSPS 144-080) is f published by the UNL Publications Board, Ne braska Union 34, 1400 R St., Lincoln, NE, |j! Monday through Friday during the academic & year; weekly during summer sessions Reade s are encouraged to submit story {-■ ideas and comments to the Dally Nebraskan j| by phoning 472-1763 between 9 a m and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday The public also has access to the Publications Board For m information, contact Bill Vobeida, 436-9993 4 Subscription price is $45 for one year. Postmaster: Send address changes to the m Dally Nebraskan, Nobrasloi Union 34,1400 R - r St .Lincoln, NE 68588-0448 Second class # postage paid at Lincoln, NE. 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