Saddam Visits Troops at Front, Iraqi Radio Says

President Saddam Hussein braved heavy bombing by allied forces to visit his soldiers in front-line positions, the Iraqi News Agency reported today.

It said he told his commanders during the visit Wednesday that losses suffered by Iraq could only be compensated by victory against the U.S.-led forces in the region.

“It is only a matter of time before the invaders leave and glorious and faithful Iraq achieves all this . . . and Palestine and the other Arab territories will be liberated,” Hussein reportedly said.

Hussein said that Iraqi willpower and patience would defeat the “infidels” and pledged to liberate the Muslim holy shrines in the Saudi cities of Mecca and Medina.

The Iraqi agency said: “After giving him a report on the . . . conditions of the mother of battles, the commanders said that because of cowardice and fear of combat with the land forces, the enemy tried to avoid establishing any serious contact (by only) bombing from high altitudes.”