The rise of a great power: starting with military industry

"Today, we have thwarted the American conspiracy and repelled the American attack. The brave air force soldiers have protected our skies. It is impossible for the Americans to defeat Iraq!"

Saddam made an impassioned televised speech, announcing the good news to the whole of Iraq and the entire Arab world.

In the picture, there are also the wreckage of American fighter planes and American pilots who were captured after parachuting. More than a dozen captured American pilots had bruised faces and noses, and it was obvious that they had been beaten by angry Iraqis.

The Iraqis were extremely angry in the face of the invasion by the US-led coalition.

You know, most of the Iraqis today still remember the indiscriminate bombing of Iraq by the US military and its allies during the Gulf War. Many Iraqis’ relatives and friends have died in the American bombing, and they are full of resentment and deep-rooted hatred towards the United States and its lackeys.

It is precisely because of this hatred that bin Laden has such an amazing appeal in Iraq. At least one-third of al-Qaeda's militants come from Iraq.

In fact, more than one-third of the funds that bin Laden raised every year came from Iraq.

After being captured, American pilots were often severely beaten.

Just as Saddam announced the good news, the Kurdish mountainous area was filled with the smoke of war.

Just today, the Joint Forces Air Force launched bombings on Iraqi defenses in the Kurdish mountains, and a lot of vegetation is burning as a result of the bombings.

The Americans dropped incendiary bombs and fuel-air explosive bombs today!

Although the Americans dropped many bombs, the Iraqi army suffered few casualties.

In addition, the joint ground forces did not launch a ground offensive, so the intensity of the war was not high.

Rashid looked serious in the command center.

Since it was confirmed that the Americans were going to launch a war against Iraq, Rashid was appointed by Saddam to personally serve as the commander-in-chief of the Northern Theater. He urgently strengthened the defense line and built fortifications.

All the Kurds who originally wanted to cause trouble were suppressed, and either died or were driven into Turkey.

Rashid built a large number of fortifications in the Kurdish mountains, including bunkers, blockhouses, trenches, and tunnels!
Elite troops were sent to defend the commanding heights in the Kurdish mountains, and the weapons, ammunition, food and water at the commanding heights were all well prepared.

Even the Iraqi army has been prepared to face the American chemical weapons, fuel-air explosives, etc., and has prepared sufficient gas masks and oxygen cylinders. The oxygen cylinders are all portable to deal with the fuel-air explosives that may be launched by the Americans.

As the commander-in-chief of the northern theater of Iraq, Rashid can command 40 regular troops, who are Iraq's elite.

In the Kurdish mountain defense line, Rashid deployed a total of 5 troops and built a total of five mountain defense lines. The remaining 35 troops were deployed in the north as mobile forces to prevent paratroopers from the joint forces.

It’s not that Rashid didn’t deploy more troops in the Kurdish mountains, but that there was no need.

Firstly, there is no need for so many troops, and secondly, deploying too many troops will make it inconvenient to supply supplies.

At the command center, the mercenary instructor group is carrying out combat operations, and some people are using computers to display a three-dimensional map of the entire Kurdish mountainous area, with the joint forces' ground troop deployment clearly marked, as well as their own troop deployment.

In order to fight better, Iraq hired mercenaries to form an instructor group to enhance its command and combat capabilities.

The mercenaries of these instructors act as advisors. The cost is not high, an average of $5 per month. In the northern Iraq war zone, there are a total of 200 such instructors.

Before the outbreak of the Iraq War, Iraq was divided into the Northern Theater, Southern Theater, Eastern Theater, and Western Theater!
The Western Theater Command has deployed 5 troops, mainly tanks and armored units, to prevent joint forces from landing in Israel or Israel from joining the war.

2 troops are deployed in the Eastern Theater. Although the possibility of Persia taking advantage of the situation is very small, some troops must be left behind. If necessary, they can hold off the Persians until reinforcements arrive.

The Northern Theater Command has 40 troops, including motorized infantry brigades, tank and armored brigades, mountain brigades, etc., as well as a large number of artillery brigades, air defense missile brigades, missile brigades, etc.

The southern theater of operations mainly covers the Shatt al-Arab and coastal areas, including Basra Province, Dhi Qar Province, Maysan Province, and Muthanna Province, and also has 40 troops.

The situation in the northern war zone is the most serious, and the defense zone includes Dahuk, Nineveh, Erbil, Las Sumaniyah, Diyala, Salahuddin, and Tamim provinces.

Rashid was under tremendous pressure. Iraq could not afford to lose this battle. If it lost, the Americans would inevitably occupy Iraq, instead of fighting like in the Gulf War.

According to accurate intelligence from my friends, the Americans launched the Iraq War in order to occupy Iraq, monopolize Iraq's oil and natural gas resources, increase their voice in the energy field, and use Iraq as a springboard to control the oil and natural gas in the entire Middle East!

If the Americans were to occupy Iraq, Iraq's original ruling group would inevitably be destroyed.

Rashid's family is among the top five families in Iraq.

Whether for national or personal interests, this war cannot afford to fail.

Looking at the new communication equipment again, Rashid couldn't help but feel fortunate that he had these new communication equipment. Otherwise, Iraq would certainly not be able to communicate normally under the American electronic warfare.

And communication is related to troop command!

Looking at the big screen, which was constantly refreshing the movements of the joint forces, Rashid gained some confidence in fighting this battle.

Iraq is not alone; Iraq is not alone.

With the help of friends and brotherly Arab countries, Iraq will not necessarily lose this war.

Although the Arab coalition did not declare war on the joint forces, it prevented the joint forces' navy from sailing through the Suez Canal, approaching 12 nautical miles from the coastline of Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, let alone passing through the airspace of these countries. At the same time, the Arab coalition stationed 10 troops on the Syrian-Iraqi border and the Syrian-Turkish border, and 10 troops on the Palestinian-Israeli border. The meaning is naturally self-evident.

There were also volunteer troops sent by Arab countries. Although there were not many of them individually, they were large when added up, and they supplemented Iraq with precious air force, air defense forces, and air defense missiles.

Rashid slept with his clothes on. Since the war, he had been under a lot of pressure and his sleep time and quality were not as good as usual.

The mercenary coaching team continues to play its role. They are professional staff officers with rich combat experience.

It is a rare opportunity to accumulate practical combat experience, and it is against the US military.

Exploring modern warfare models is a big subject, and all countries are exploring it. (End of this chapter)