Iraq had a huge army, but only a fraction of its soldiers were killed or captured during the war. Hamed Nissam was one of those who took off his uniform and simply melted away.
I was a tank driver defending Basra. It was a very old Russian tank, made in 1969.
Because of the Americans' technological advantage, we were sure that we could not survive the war. We were horrified by the prospect of meeting them in battle.
I was very afraid of being bombed, but I was also very afraid of Saddam's regime. Our officers treated us very harshly.
I had seen the leaflets dropped by the Americans and British telling us to surrender. They said that if we did not put up a fight we could save our lives.
Our officers found some of my colleagues with these leaflets. These men were immediately sent to the front line where it was very dangerous.
Reading the Americans' advice to surrender helped me to decide to give up fighting.
I had been in the army for three years and eight months. It was a very hard life. There was a lack of food and water, our uniforms were poorly-made and dirty, and the salary was bad.
When we eventually engaged the British and American troops in battle, they proved to be very brave as they advanced towards us
There was no rest. Some officers would only let us go home on leave if we gave them money. I had not seen my family for four months before the war.
On the second day of the war, the enemy airplanes flew over to attack us. Our guns immediately proved themselves to be useless to defend against them.
We quickly concluded that none of our weapons would help us defeat the Americans.
When we eventually engaged the British and American troops in battle, they proved to be very brave as they advanced towards us. There was really no comparison between us.
Our commander told us that we could resist the invading Americans. But by this time I was far more scared of the US and Britain than I was of my own officers.
I was afraid of the superior tactics of the US Army, but what really concerned me were the helicopter gunships.
"None of our weapons would help us defeat the Americans"
These helicopters eventually came to bomb my unit. Many of my colleagues were killed, along with the commander who told us we could win.
The deaths of my comrades was a tragedy. I was very sad that they had to die in this way.
On the sixth day of the war, the helicopters came again. It was raining, so I saw the opportunity to slip away from my tank. I changed into civilian clothes, held up a white flag and ran back to my family home in Basra.
I am glad the British and Americans invaded. I now have my freedom from the regime; they saved us from Saddam.
The British Army has even given me a job working in their headquarters in Saddam's Basra palace. Washing floors for the British Army is better than fighting against them for the Iraqi Army.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2966007.stm
Original: 'I deserted Saddam's army'