Where Did All the Soldiers Go? Last Remnants or Rear Guard?

STRATFOR daily analysis
Where Did All the Soldiers Go?

April 09, 2003
Baghdad supposedly was packed with members of the Special Republican Guard and Fedayeen, as well as remnants of Republican Guard units from the south and regular army reinforcements from the north. They largely turned up missing when U.S. troops arrived. The question is: Did U.S. troops meet the rear guard, or the last remnants of a shattered regime in Baghdad?

Rumors of Hussein's Exile Circulate
April 09, 2003

Rumors are circulating that Saddam Hussein may have fled into exile. We have no confirmation of this but continue to investigate. In the meantime, the degree of coordination evidenced in continued resistance in Iraq will indicate whether an Iraqi command authority remains.

Change of Al Jazeera Tone Likely, But Limited
April 09, 2003

The death of an Al Jazeera correspondent in Baghdad will make the most influential Arabic-language media outlet even more critical of the United States -- though the network's home country might place limits on the shift in tone.