U.S. Forces in Guerrilla War in Iraq

“Saddam Hussein loyalists are fighting an organized traditional "guerrilla-type campaign against U.S. troops. It`s low-intensity conflict but it`s war ," US Central Command General John Abizaid said on Wednesday.

This is the first time for Abizaid to use the term, “organized guerrilla warfare,” to define the attacks by the remnants loyal to Saddam Hussein. This contrasts to what Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said. He said “attacks on U.S. forces were too sporadic and disorganized to qualify as a guerrilla campaign.”

Abizaid said such details at the press conference held at the Pentagon, Washington yesterday and he said, “the attacks are not incidental but well planned.” In addition, he said, “Midlevel Baath Party operatives, Special Republic Guard, and remnants of the Secrete Police are involved in the attacks and we are investigating whether terrorists outside Iraq such as the Al-Quida are linked and possible foreign financing that backs up the terrorists.”

July 16 is the anniversary of Saddam becoming president and July 17 is the anniversary of anniversary of the former ruling Baath`s seizure of power. Hence, there have been speculations that the attacks by the remnants would become more intense, and, as expected, there was strong resistance on Wednesday.

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Suspected pro-Saddam Hussein insurgents fired a surface-to-air missile at a U.S. military C-130 transport plane as it landed at Baghdad International Airport Wednesday but missed the target. The insurgents mostly used automatic machine guns but they now frequently use rocket-propelled and even grenade mortar. The missile attack was, however, occurred on Wednesday for the first time since the President Bush`s declaration of victory on May 1.

In Hadithah, northwest Iraq, the pro-American mayor and his son were assassinated while driving a vehicle. In Baghdad, one U.S. soldier was also shot dead and 6 were injured. So far the U.S. casualties have been reported to 148, the same figure in the 1991 Gulf War. The 33 U.S. soldiers were killed since May 1.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell met U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and said there were ongoing discussions about a possible U.N. resolution appealing to member states such as Germany, France and other countries that refused to provide troops for the U.S.-led force without a U.N. mandate to supply troops and police to help stabilize Iraq, sources said yesterday.

Such movement is to lessen the burden of U.S. troops in Iraq. Currently U.S. soldiers have become demoralized and Rumsfled and Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz are now often refered to be the “wanted list,” the ABC reported.

3 infantry divisions will be able to go back home in September if new replacing forces are ready to be dispatched, Abizaid said Wednesday. New forces will have to stay in Iraq for one year, the double of what normally peace keeping forces stay for the dispatched country, he added.

Ki-Tae Kwon kkt@donga.com