MuslimConscript
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Some of Iran's senior religious leaders appear to oppose the ''human wave'' assaults in which thousands of ill-trained and ill-equipped Iranian troops cross the border to face ''martyrdom'' at the hands of the Iraqis.
The strong indications of such a position come despite Iran's commitment to wage war against Iraq until the Baghdad Government is overthrown. The conflict is in its seventh year. The human-wave assaults have been perhaps the most important component of Iran's strategy in its land war against Iraq, whose population is one-third the size of Iran's. They have apparently convinced Iraq and its neighbors that they have both the manpower and the will power to continue fighting indefinitely despite Iraq's vastly superior military arsenal.
In a little-noticed news conference in Teheran last month, Hashemi Rafsanjani, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament who has emerged as the country's chief foreign policy maker, outlined a battle strategy of retaliatory strikes and limited offensives based on caution rather than fervor. Strategy Seen as Wasteful
Rafsanjani's remarks were the first clear, high-level articulation of the idea that the human wave assaults have been wasteful. It would be unlikely that he would make such remarks without the approval of Khomeini, the Iranian leader.
Surprise in an offensive is essential ''to prevent extensive casualties,'' Rafsanjani said. ''When the enemy is alert, when he shoots a hail of bullets at our combat infantry and brings his firepower to bear, the casualties will go too high.''
He also cautioned that a major offensive should only begin when there is a good chance of winning.
''When, for example, we suddenly want to bring several thousand human crusaders to the war zone, and use a vast amount of military resources, we must be relatively sure - there must be a relative consensus - of victory,'' Rafsanjani said at the news conference, which was broadcast on the Teheran radio on June 4.
He called for similar caution in retaliating against Iraqi attacks. ''When the Iraqis engage in mischief, we will respond to the extent we are prepared,'' he said.
It is unclear whether the Parliament Speaker's call for caution and preparation will be translated into action.
HUMAN-WAVE RAID LOSSES IRAN'S FAVOR - NYTimes.com
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Human Wave in this Modern Era? lol
The strong indications of such a position come despite Iran's commitment to wage war against Iraq until the Baghdad Government is overthrown. The conflict is in its seventh year. The human-wave assaults have been perhaps the most important component of Iran's strategy in its land war against Iraq, whose population is one-third the size of Iran's. They have apparently convinced Iraq and its neighbors that they have both the manpower and the will power to continue fighting indefinitely despite Iraq's vastly superior military arsenal.
In a little-noticed news conference in Teheran last month, Hashemi Rafsanjani, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament who has emerged as the country's chief foreign policy maker, outlined a battle strategy of retaliatory strikes and limited offensives based on caution rather than fervor. Strategy Seen as Wasteful
Rafsanjani's remarks were the first clear, high-level articulation of the idea that the human wave assaults have been wasteful. It would be unlikely that he would make such remarks without the approval of Khomeini, the Iranian leader.
Surprise in an offensive is essential ''to prevent extensive casualties,'' Rafsanjani said. ''When the enemy is alert, when he shoots a hail of bullets at our combat infantry and brings his firepower to bear, the casualties will go too high.''
He also cautioned that a major offensive should only begin when there is a good chance of winning.
''When, for example, we suddenly want to bring several thousand human crusaders to the war zone, and use a vast amount of military resources, we must be relatively sure - there must be a relative consensus - of victory,'' Rafsanjani said at the news conference, which was broadcast on the Teheran radio on June 4.
He called for similar caution in retaliating against Iraqi attacks. ''When the Iraqis engage in mischief, we will respond to the extent we are prepared,'' he said.
It is unclear whether the Parliament Speaker's call for caution and preparation will be translated into action.
HUMAN-WAVE RAID LOSSES IRAN'S FAVOR - NYTimes.com
========================================
Human Wave in this Modern Era? lol