WITHDRAWING WITH NO CEASE-FIRE

Short of a formal surrender, an Iraqi withdrawal could take one of three classic forms, none of them attractive without the cover of a cease-fire. The three forms were described by a senior military officer at the Pentagon, who spoke on condition of anonymity:

UNORGANIZED WITHDRAWAL, or attempt by troops to escape. Coalition forces would try to capture fleeing Iraqis and hold them as prisoners of war, unless given superseding orders.

“WITHDRAWAL UNDER PRESSURE,” a military tactic in which Iraqi forces would thin their lines closest to allied troops, sending more and more troops to the rear, then eventually breaking contact completely. An army using this maneuver is trying to fool the enemy into thinking it still faces a credible defense until forces have escaped.

“DELAY” WITHDRAWAL, in which the withdrawing forces gradually give ground, trading space for time, continuing to shoot at U.S. forces to protect the Iraqi flanks and rear, and enabling rear echelon forces to escape.