Reuters and Yahoo identify these yahoos as "Baath party soldiers" -- i.e., Saddam Hussein's best and brightest. (Link courtesy of InstantMan.)

Okay, the belts-full of explosives are just too surreal for words. But note, too, the level of training and discipline implied by this photo. I'm not expert in how a Kalashnikov is supposed to be handled, but I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to sling it over your shoulder by the barrel.

But anyway ... what, exactly, are the explosives supposed to accomplish? I mean, when we send our soldiers into combat, we give them explosives too, but in a form that can easily be thrown at the enemy. (If one of those belts gets hit by a rifle round, could it go off?)

Maybe we mistake the intent of this battlefield fashion statement. Perhaps these belly bombs are meant to serve a different purpose.

I imagine Saddam, in his bunker, after the war has begun. A staff officer rushes in: "Mr. President-for-Life, the front in sector seven has collapsed! The 102nd Screaming Martyrs have been routed!" Saddam calmly reaches toward a control panel, and presses a button marked "102" -- and miles away, at the front, the men of the 102nd explode like a string of firecrackers.

"That'll teach those damned slackers," rumbles Saddam.

(I know I really should take this more seriously.)