[R-G] U.S. Soldiers Deserting from Iraq in Arab Garb?

[Pieinsky]

Disguised U.S. Soldiers Reportedly Escape From Iraq
http://www.islamonline.org/English/News/2003-07/27/article07.shtml

U.S. troops in Iraq come under nearly daily resistance attacks
By Aws al-Sharqi, IOL Iraq Correspondent
BAGHDAD, July 27 (IslamOnline.net) - U.S. soldiers in Iraq are escaping from
Iraq under the guise of Kurdish citizens, wearing the famous Iraqi and Arab
al- Dashdasha (loose headdress) which has become mush sought-after recently,
Iraqis told IslamOnline.net Sunday, July 27.

However, a U.S. colonel categorically denied that 2,500 U.S. soldiers have
escaped from duty so far, noting that it was a rumor propagated by the
Baathists and the loyalists to ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Speaking to IOL, Saeed al-Aidany, a galabia (gown) seller, said, "We were
surprised at the very beginning to see a lot of U.S. soldiers buying
al-Dashdasha, but it came to our knowledge that they used it as a camouflage
to make their escape to Gulf states".

Aidany further claimed that U.S. soldiers were also seen buying Kurdish
costumes to make their way to Turkey through northern Iraq.

Abdul Amir al-Hasnawi, a truck driver, alleged he helped two U.S. soldiers
escape to Kuwait.

"Two Black U.S. soldiers arrived in Basra through a Christian go-between
from Baghdad, who used to work as a translator with the Americans. They were
in jeans and I smuggled them to Kuwait in return for $450 each," Hasnawi
told IOL.

"The go-between told me that the two soldiers did not to be gunned down in
Iraq without a cause," he added.

Kazem al-Badri, a taxi driver, claimed that cab and truck drivers nowadays
are testing the pulse of search themselves or through go-betweens for U.S.
soldiers who want to escape from the war-scarred country in return for
bucks.

"It is not a rumor or an Iraqi propaganda but it is a fact, because I myself
know a lot of drivers who helped U.S. soldiers escape from Iraq," Badri
insisted, adding that smuggling rates hit first a mind-boggling $5,000 for
each soldier but were not put down to $500.
"Baathist Rumors"

The U.S. colonel, however, said the U.S. soldiers in Iraq are remarkably
committed and it quite natural that they are longing to see their loved
ones.

Iraqi newspapers said recently that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
had discovered that a number of U.S. soldiers operating in Iraq were trying
to escape from Iraq through the country's western borders.

The daily Al-Qabas said that the CIA arrested those soldiers and charged
them with duty negligence, adding that the soldiers were stationing in the
flashpoint Iraqi towns.

U.S. troops in Iraq voiced their complaints on air July 17 of low morale and
little faith in their commanders.
Speaking to ABC news, one U.S. soldier said: "If Defense Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld was here, I'd ask him for his resignation."