Where in the world is the "World's 4th Largest Army"?

[Nick]

This morning (Sat, 4/5/03), I woke up to the news that coalition forces have reached central Baghdad. After only two weeks of engagement with Iraqi forces, this is absolutely amazing news. Essentially, and for all practical purposes, we now own Iraq.

What in the world happened to the world's 4th largest standing army?

The Iraqi resistance to coalition advances has been sporadic at best, and in many instances, has been reduced to illegal terrorist-style attacks with civilian vehicles using Iraqi citizens as human shields.

Iraqi army troops have abandoned their helmets, uniforms and combat boots and melded into the general populace. There is no indication that they will regroup to fight another day.

So far, none of the dire predictions of CBW have materialized, no flaming riings of fire around Baghdad have been lit, and few signs of organized defensive actions have been seen. Engagements with the uniformed Iraqi military have been, for the most part, one-sided, despite great restraint on the part of US forces to avoid civilians casualties and damage to non-military structures.

I know it's not over yet, but still, I am amazed at the apparent complete collapse of the world's 4th largest army!

[James_F]

Iraq hasn't been the 4th largest army since 1991. A quick glance at the world almanac shows them as #12 between Egypt and Afganistan. Here are the top 10 in 2002 according to the book.

1. China
2. U.S.
3. India
4. North Korea
5. Russia
6. South Korea
7. Turkey
8. Iran
9. Pakistan
10. Vietnam

[Bogy]

At every stage of the campaign we were warned, "This is where we expect Saddam to use CBW." Does Iraq no longer have such weapons, or, as some of us thought, is he smart enough not to use them against the U.S., even when his back is against the wall?

[Dgenx321]

I'm thinking the commanders are too smart to use them. Most of them would like to also see a free Iraq.

[jrjcd]

plus a LOT of these folks are hitting the road BEFORE the shi'ites hit the fan-taking with them suitcases filled with cash-

i just hope they get those saddambucks exchanged BEFORE the new currency is made...lol

[Mike123abc]

I think the US moved too quickly for them to use C/B weapons. I think we surprised them and moved out faster than they could deploy these weapons. The fury of the air campain made it impossible to move the weapons out to the US and by the time they could move them the US was already past.