The Hidden Soldiers of Iraq

The JSLIST wears down soldiers after as little as 15-20 minutes

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

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

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

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.

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 M.D is an editor at the Health and Science section of IslamOnline.net. She is currently working as Lecturer of Parasitology at the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University. She may be contacted at sciencetech@islamonline.net