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The
JSLIST wears down soldiers after as little as 15-20 minutes
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In
addition to the unexpected fierce resistance by Iraqi troops faced by the
Anglo/American coalition, hidden soldiers carrying poisonous biological weapons
and facilities with the potential of destroying heavy artillery and electrical
equipment lay awaiting in the Iraq/Kuwait desert. These are not the
conventional soldiers one normally expects to find in cases of armed conflict.
Rather they are the natural elements and inhabitants of this arid, barren region
of the world.
Fierce
Desert Heat
One of the fiercest and most feared of these hidden soldiers is the brutal
desert heat, with temperatures in early May rising to as high as 100°
Fahrenheit (38° Celsius) during the day. In June and July temperatures rise
much higher (more than 120° F / 48° C). These high temperatures are bad enough
without having to wear the cumbersome chemical-biological suits known as Joint
Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology (JSLIST). The two piece garment
is designed to protect the troops from any assault with chemical or biological
weapons; however the 5.8 pound (2.63 kg) suits which although lighter than
previous models as those used in the 1991 Gulf War, are not ventilated in order
to keep out any biological or chemical agents in the atmosphere, thus making
them extremely uncomfortable in hot weather and increasing the danger of heat
exhaustion and dehydration.
Michael
Vickers, a former CIA operations officer, described the feeling as that of
wearing a rubber suit with a mask on your face and rubber gloves, with vision
and breathing being restricted. It is estimated that the suits may wear down
soldiers after as little as 15 to 20 minutes in hot weather (ABCnews). The
harsh weather conditions on the battlefield also require a 40% increase in water
supplies to troops thus slowing down their movement. The suits’ outer shell is
composed of a 50/50 nylon/cotton poplin ripstop with a durable water repellent
finish (GlobalSecurity).
High-tech
equipment such as radios and microwave radar are susceptible to heat-related
malfunctions. Military equipment such as tanks tend to develop problems in such
high temperatures. Soldiers’ performance deteriorates in hot weather
especially infantry units who are the most susceptible to the heat since most of
their gear, which may weigh up to 80 pounds, is carried on their backs.
In
the Dark of Night
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All
American soldiers are equipped and trained to use night-vision goggles |
The cooler night-time temperatures have made the U.S/British army much more
dependant on night combat, where they have the advantage over the Iraqi army due
to their possession of the world’s most advanced battlefield night-vision
equipment. All American soldiers are equipped and trained to use night-vision
goggles which allow soldiers to see at night as if it were daytime. Front-line
US troops are all assigned laser target-markers which are fitted to their
rifles. The laser can place a red dot on the target, showing exactly where the
bullet will hit when the trigger is pulled.
All
American tanks, jet aircrafts, helicopters and armored troop carriers are also
fitted with night-vision equipment.
The
British army is less equipped than the US army in night–time combat gear
although it prides itself on its night-time combat skills. Night-vision goggles
are usually shared by troops and night-vision weapon sight which can be fitted
to SA-80A2 rifles are assigned to only one out of every three or four soldiers.
The high cost of night-vision goggles (about £4,000) has kept them from being
standard issue to all British troops (The Telegraph).
On
the Iraqi side, the Republican Guard is equipped with Russian-made T-72 tanks,
which are fitted with night sights, however most of the Iraqi troops have no
night-vision equipment making them dependent on flares and illumination from
artillery rounds during night combat (The Telegraph).
Blinding
Sandstorms
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Iraqi
desert sandstorms have proven to be an impeding force to the invading
troops |
Ferocious sandstorms that usually begin in April called the
‘kaus’ have also
been causing trouble for the invading forces. These storms blast dust-filled
winds at up to 50 mph. The average daily temperature in the Iraqi desert will
rise about 10 degrees each month to reach a peak of 113 degrees Fahrenheit in
the shade in July. This rise of temperature stirs up winds as air moves from
high pressure areas in the north to the low pressure areas in the south.
The kaus, which last until early June, are followed by northerly, furnace-like
winds known as ‘shamals’. These shamals stir up dust and sandstorms that can
rise to several thousand feet and they continue from mid-June till
mid-September.
The
sandstorms that occurred a few days after the war began have proven to be an
impeding force and have caused delays in the progression of the invading troops
as visibility was reduced to as little as 20 ft at times, making the launch of
attack helicopters too dangerous.
Dust
from these storms can rapidly coat machinery and clog the engines of tanks and
helicopters and grind down helicopter blades. It ruins electrical equipment and
clogs the air filters in marine tanks. It can also obstruct the use of
laser-guided weapons and gun sights. The dust chokes soldiers and heightens the
risk of them becoming disoriented and lost. Gusts of sand can even affect global
positioning satellite systems which are used for navigation.
In
February during the preparation for the war, four soldiers died in a Black Hawk
helicopter crash caused by the strong winds and sandstorm at the northern border
of Kuwait.
Creepy-Crawlers
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The
sting of the death stalker scorpion can be fatal |
The Iraqi desert is home to a number of poisonous reptiles and scorpions which
could make life miserable for anyone who gets in their way. In addition to rats,
mice and flies which are bad enough, Iraq has a large number of dangerous
critters which include lizards, scorpions, snakes and camel spiders which are a
cross between a spider and a scorpion, are the size of a fist and have large
fangs.
Iraq
has four species of scorpions which include black-tailed and yellow scorpions.
The most dangerous of these is the death stalker scorpion whose sting causes
extreme pain, paralysis, convulsions and even death.
The poisonous snakes found in Iraq include black desert cobras and sand vipers,
but the saw-scaled vipers which are found throughout Asia and the Middle East
are aggressive, ill-tempered and their venom is the most toxic in the world. The
venom from a bite from these vipers can break down the circulatory system and
cause bleeding from the eyes, nose and ears causing a slow, painful death.
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Saw-scaled
vipers can cause a slow and painful death |
Insect
populations which start to thrive as spring begins pose as a serious health risk
to troops. Iraq has 10 species of Anopheles mosquitoes which are the vectors of
malaria. The disease, which causes attacks of high fever followed by attacks of
shivering, is not life threatening, however those who recover without receiving
adequate treatment are at risk of recurrences of the disease. Around 10% of
Iraq’s malaria cases are of a more severe and sometimes fatal type of malaria
caused by a parasite known as Plasmodium falciparum which causes blood clots
that occlude blood vessels and cause severe complications and haemorrhage.
Sand
flies are another problem as they transmit bacteria that cause severe anemia,
viruses that cause flu-like symptoms and protozoa that cause a disease known as
leishmaniasis which causes skin ulcers and enlargement of internal organs. Ticks
that transmit a viral disease known as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and live
in the sand can also be found in Iraq.
The
Anglo/American forces may have been over-confident before the invasion of Iraq
began, however the joint effects of the fierce Iraqi resistance in the form of
both military troops and the natural elements, have proven to be much more of a
challenge than previously given credit.
Sources:
-
Bowman,
Tom, 2003: Iraq
heat 'not factor,' military chief says U.S. troops able to fight in summer
if an attack is delayed, general declares. Sun Spot.
-
Global
security, 2002: Joint
Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology.
-
Gutkin
Steven, 2003: Summer
war in Iraq would pose obstacles. The Sacramento bee.
-
Ireland,
Corydon, 2003: Slithering
danger could face U.S troops in Iraq. Democrat and Chronicle
-
News
24, 2003: Sand
and scorpions as forces grind north
-
Onion,
Amanda , 2003: How
Heat, a Full Moon and Sand Can Hinder Fighting in an Iraq Invasion. ABC
News.
-
Rayment,
Sean, 2003: US
opens way for summer war in Iraq to be fought at night. The Telegraph
-
Schmickle,
Sharon, 2003: Troops
will face desert storm of critters -- some carrying diseases. Star
Tribune.
-
Smith,
Elliott Blair, 2003: Missing gunny waits out sandstorm in parked Humvee. USA
Today.
-
Spiegel,
Peter, 2003: Costs
rise with temperatures for US force on edge of war. The Financial times.
Aisha
El-Awady is an IslamOnline.net staff-writer. She has a
bachelor’s degree in medicine from Cairo University and is currently working
as instructor of Parasitology in the Faculty of Medicine. She may be
contacted at aawady@islam-online.net
