Iraq Republican Guards. What happened to them?

Question

The Iraq Republican Guards were the most feared soldiers of the former Iraq Government. They created havoc to Iran and Kuwait when they invaded both countries. Yet, why is it when the allies entered Iraq during the first Gulf War, they sort of fizzle off? The same can be said during the second Gulf War where Saddam was overthrown. What happened to the Iraq Republican Guards?

Answer 1

the Iraqi Republican Guards were basically defanged in the late 1990's by saddam hussein himself (ever wonder why so many of their tanks were buried in and immobilized?). The reason for this was an attempted CIA inspired coup that clinton's NSA advisor pulled the plug on at the elenth hour. The coup included very senior republican guard elements that we basically ratted out to Saddam and he tok apart the officer corp and placed the guards (previously in Baghdad as a final line of defense) outside the city and scattered so they could not internally threaten his position. When we went in a few years later he still did not trust these military units loyalty and they were on a short ammo leash as well as command and control leash. There are details of this in Bob Baer's book 'see no evil, hear no evil'. Furthermore, een if saddam wanted to fully trust, arm and free the republican guard units many years of sanctions had taken a toll on weapon readiness of these units, due to lack of materials and proper maintainance in a harsh desert environment.

Many of the Sunni insurgents are not from former republican guard units, but from the paramilitary and interior ministry units that were controlled directly by saddam's sons. These paramilitary units were sort of like Hitler's SS or Gestapo. Most likely they are receiving assitance from Saudi and other GCC sunni nations, while Iran is backing certain shiite insurgent elements.

Answer 2

The answer is that the Republican Guards were basically destroyed except for a portion (I believe that it was the Medina division that was able to cross the line into safety) that was able to escape in the Gulf War. During OIF they were pounded a lot and then basically melted away like the rest of the Iraqi Army when victory was assured for the Coalition troops.

Answer 3

Following the invasion of Iraqi Freedom in 2003, those units that weren't destroyed were disbanded, due to lack of planning by donald Rumsfeld. Those trained soldiers would have been willing to join the Iraqi army, and this would have saved so much time and effort in re-training an Iraqi army from scratch.

One would argue this wouldn't have worked because so many were Sunni. Had the US insisted that the Iraqi government be secular, the Sunni equation would have been moot.

Answer 4

They fled to their homes WITH THEIR WEAPONS. We guarded the Ministry of Oil but we left the munitions stockpiles unguarded and those stockpiles are still being used against our military.

Answer 5

They are now the Sunni terrorists planting IEDs, torturing, and kidnapping people. They try to blend in and when the Dems have there way and we surrender and cut out, they will come out and start slaughtering Shiites and Kurds to try to bring the Baathists back into power.

That is why it is important we stay and finish the job of routing them out and disposing of them.

Answer 6

Most were Baathists and probably joined ranks with the Al Quieda affiliated Sunni militias.

Answer 7

I guess some of them having new jobs by the Iraqi military or Iraqi police.

Answer 8

research the badr brigade that is where you will find some. research MEK while you are looking for those responsible for many crimes and atrocities. i would say more,but i don't want to influence you.

Answer 9

I think they joined nowadays military as they have many skills that are needed.

Answer 10

look under the rocks