The tracer rounds from the anti-aircraft guns were clearly visible even in the bright daylight. Anti-aircraft missiles occasionally whooshed into the sky, launching toward the invading enemy aircraft, which clumsily evaded while laden with bombs.
What Iran lacked most were anti-radiation missiles; otherwise, as seen in the Fourth Middle East War where several Syrian anti-aircraft missile brigades were nearly wiped out, anti-radiation missiles would have done the job.
The air defense units managed to shoot down one plane, but the enemy formation still broke through the defensive line. Suddenly, bombs began falling over Baghdad from time to time. One bomb struck a power plant, immediately sending up plumes of thick smoke and plunging half the city into a blackout.
Inside the underground air defense command and operations center, the telephones rang incessantly as intelligence from various locations was rapidly reported.
Staff officers gathered the intelligence and marked it on a large central map.
For a moment, Qusay had the illusion that he had returned to the era of the War of Resistance. Back then, such backward methods as manual map marking were used. He had long been accustomed to data links transmitting real-time combat situations to headquarters to be displayed graphically on large screens; that was the method most needed for modern warfare.
Information—modern warfare was essentially information warfare!
Qusay was very confident because he stood at a height that people of this era could not see. In this era, the internet had not yet appeared, and methods for rapid centralized data analysis and processing had not yet emerged. Qusay was definitely standing at the highest point.
Saddam Hussein had been calmly listening to reports from all sides, lost in thought before the map.
Suddenly, a piece of news came in: an Iranian plane cruising at high altitude, very likely a Tomcat fighter, had been shot down. According to various data analyses, it was likely shot down by Second Lieutenant Arslan, who had taken off in defiance of orders.
When the news arrived, everyone in the command center was shocked. When a MiG-23 encountered a Tomcat, there was almost no room for resistance. How did Arslan do it?
Air Force Commander Major General Abid, in particular, felt his heart leap into his throat when he heard that Arslan had taken off against orders. This fellow was causing trouble at such a critical moment; it was very likely that in a fit of rage, the President would make him suffer. The President already didn't trust the Air Force much, and to dare to disobey orders was extremely dangerous.
Now, hearing that he had downed a Tomcat, the merit might offset the fault; at least it would be easier for Abid to handle.
Then, news came that Arslan had been shot down. Everyone felt a bit of regret, especially those high-ranking officials who were friends with Arslan's father; they all lamented his being shot down.
Saddam Hussein, however, showed no expression, continuing to listen to the combat situation and remaining in deep thought.
Finally, the Iranian planes left, and Baghdad returned to tranquility once more. Fire trucks were quickly dispatched to extinguish the fires ignited by the bombing.
A perfectly good grand welcoming ceremony had been disrupted by a few tactless Iranian planes.
"Qusay, even the Persia planes came to celebrate for you," Saddam Hussein finally returned to his normal state.
Abid quickly Said, "Your Excellency President, the Air Force failed in its duty this time, allowing the enemy planes to drop bombs on our capital. We..."
Saddam Hussein waved his hand with an expression as if he were shooing away a fly.
Abid immediately shut his mouth.
"Father, our Air Force indeed performed poorly this time. Relying on air defense units can never guarantee absolute safety. Only by having the courage to strike out and eliminate the enemy beyond our borders is our most correct choice," Qusay Said. "Although our current equipment is not yet sufficient to deal with the Persia Tomcat fighters, Second Lieutenant Arslan may have provided us with an opportunity. We should find Arslan and have him explain how he did it."
Hearing his son appreciate Arslan so much, Saddam Hussein remained unmoved. "This Arslan, has he not defied orders more than once?"
"Well, it has happened a few times, but this time Arslan shot down a Tomcat..." Abid Said hurriedly, hearing the President's tone which strongly implied he intended to hold the pilot accountable.
"Regardless of what great merit he achieved this time, the fact remains that he has repeatedly defied orders and must be dealt with severely. Our military discipline regulations are not there for show; they are meant to be obeyed by every soldier," Saddam Hussein Said coldly.
"Yes, we in the Air Force will certainly handle this matter strictly," Abid Said.
Saddam Hussein looked at Qusay, his eyes full of fatherly kindness. 'Qusay, although you have achieved several great merits, you are still young after all. There are some things you won't understand right now. As a President, firmly controlling the military and mastering military power is the most important thing. Arslan is capable and very loyal, but failing to strictly execute orders is absolutely not a good sign in the military and must be stopped.'
For the past few decades, Iraq had been in a state of turmoil, and in almost every rebellion, the military had been the vanguard.
In 1932, Iraq shook off British colonial rule and declared independence, ruled by the pro-Western Faisal Dynasty. However, since independence, it had seen decades of continuous civil wars, mutinies, uprisings, and an average of two cabinet changes per year.
In the spring of 1957, Brigadier General Karim Qasim, commander of the 20th Brigade, led the "Free Officers Organization" to form a Supreme Council and formulate an uprising program. At 5:00 AM on July 14, 1958, they attacked the royal palace, the Prime Minister's residence, and the radio station in three columns. King Faisal II, Crown Prince Abdul Ilah, other members of the royal family, and Prime Minister Said were all executed. The Faisal Dynasty perished, and the Republic of Iraq was finally born.
However, after the successful coup, the "Revolutionary Command Council" proposed before the revolution was never established. After Qasim took power, he continued to implement a political dictatorship. The Ba'ath Party was marginalized and suppressed, withdrew from the government, and various political forces began to split. Ten years of turmoil began.
The Ba'ath Party launched a struggle against Qasim. It was at this time that Saddam Hussein joined the Ba'ath Party and carried out an assassination attempt on Qasim. However, the operation failed, and he was forced to flee to Cairo.
Ba'athist Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, a revolutionary stalwart of the 1958 coup who subsequently lurked in the government as a barracks commander, launched a coup on February 8, 1963, after careful planning. He overthrew the Qasim government and executed the dictatorial Qasim. The Qasim regime collapsed.
However, within less than half a year, internal strife broke out within the Arab Ba'ath Party again. Arif, a non-Ba'athist serving as President, took the opportunity to launch a coup and take over the government. After taking power, Arif suppressed his political enemies. The Ba'ath Party went underground once more.
It wasn't until 3:00 AM on July 17, 1968, under the unified leadership of Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, that Saddam Hussein and Razak al-Nayef organized coup forces to launch a tank attack on the Presidential Palace, ending Arif's five-year reign. Arif was ordered to retire.
After decades of arduous effort, the Ba'ath Party's goal of controlling both the military and the government was finally realized.
By this time, Bakr was old, and his health was deteriorating rapidly. A few years later, power fell into Saddam Hussein's hands.
Having started from the bottom and experienced countless storms, Saddam Hussein naturally knew that in this world, powerful force was the most important, and an obedient military was the most important. Only by firmly controlling the military could he secure his position.
Moreover, he also had grand ideals.
Qusay knew that directly contradicting Saddam Hussein was the most foolish thing to do. In his previous life, he understood the art of political maneuvering all too well.
"Father, the Iranian Air Force's daytime sortie and direct bombing of our capital must be in retaliation for us wiping out one of their armored divisions in the Marshlands. Therefore, we must remain vigilant to prevent a Persia counterattack," Qusay Said, steering away from the previous topic and mentioning the important purpose of his trip.