Local experts say that while Iraqi and American troops have the same basic goal of defeating each other, they have very different strategies in doing so.

Elements like technology, weather, weapons and strategic planning cause huge differences in the tactics of each army.

Retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. David Grange, a CNN military analyst, said the primary goal of the Iraqis is to delay action in Iraq, specifically in Baghdad. According to CNN, Grange said the Iraqi troops use snipers to shoot at vehicles, shoot from farmhouses, ditches or behind people and use deception by dressing like civilians and pretending to surrender and then using a gun to shoot at American troops.

“For the coalition forces, the problem is really complicated because they’re going to have to think everyone is an adversary,” said Steffen Schmidt, university professor of political science.

Charles Dobbs, professor of military history and assistant to President Gregory Geoffroy, said the Iraqi troops are focused on defending key cities like Basra, Baghdad and Saddam Hussein’s home city of Tikrit.

“Saddam Hussein has decided to defend very key points and not the whole country,” he said.

Schmidt said he believes the Iraqi troops are living one day at a time.

“The Iraqis have to try to survive the biggest military in the world, and they’re willing to do anything to survive,” he said.

Adrian Sannier, researcher for the Air Force research lab and professor of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, said the Iraqi strategy involves using unethical war methods, breaking down U.S. technology and utilizing the information airwaves and press to alter public opinion.

“If they’re willing to use human shields, they’re exploiting some of the ethical strains our troops have,” he said.

Dobbs said the U.S. strategy is to move as quickly as possible by being lightly armored.

“Every mile you advance takes a lot of fuel, so the lighter you can be, the quicker you can move along,” he said. “I think they were hoping to move with a little bit less and [be] lighter to cut down on supplies.”

Sannier said the U.S. troops strategize with a lot of technology and by using information superiority. “Information superiority means that you have a more complete understanding of all the elements of the battlefield than the enemy does,” he said. “You know more about where the enemy is than the enemy does.”

Sannier said the United States’ high technological advancements allow the entire military operation to be run from Tampa, Fla.

Sannier said the U.S. military is cohesive and working together, but the Iraqi troops are not doing the same.

“Each of the Iraqi units is essentially operating on their own,” he said.

Schmidt said Iraqi troops also use guerilla warfare to surprise U.S. troops.

“Of course the underdog in any war uses guerilla warfare and comes in from behind,” Schmidt said. “But I guess it’s just what we expected — they’re not going to play nice.”

According to Fox News, the likelihood of Iraqis using chemical weapons increases the closer U.S. troops get to Baghdad. The Web site said abandoned chemical suits and gas masks have been found in Iraqi trenches.

Jeremy Jacobsen, U.S. Marine and sophomore in political science, said the U.S. strategy seems to be to overthrow the Iraqi regime. He said he thinks the U.S. strategy is effective and the Iraqi strategy is not as effective.

“I think our [strategy] is extremely effective, especially since President Bush is letting the commanders make most of the decisions,” he said.

Devon Chebuhar, junior in finance, said she thinks the Iraqi troops fight unfairly.

“Iraqi troops seem to deceive American troops,” she said.

Chebuhar said she believes American troops are effective in fighting the war.

“I think war has a lot of purpose because I don’t think [the conflict] was going to be resolved otherwise,” she said.

Sarah Schoenfelder, sophomore in elementary education, said U.S. technology is a large part of the American strategy.

“U.S. troops have an advantage over Iraqi troops because of the technology that they are familiar with and capable of using,” she said.

Dobbs said he does believe the Iraqis possess chemical weapons but said he doesn’t know if they will actually use them.

“I honestly have to believe the Iraqis possess those weapons or else why did we engage in this action,” he said.

Schmidt said he believes Iraqi forces would put chemical weapons to use against coalition forces.

“I think for them this war has grave consequences whether they use these weapons or not,” he said. “They’re going to get their butts kicked and my guess is they don’t care [if it’s wrong to use chemical weapons].”

Dobbs said he believes the sandstorms prevalent in Iraqi weather negatively affect both coalition and Iraqi troops.

Schmidt agreed.

“Like everything else, everything that is working against you is a problem and it definitely creates a challenge with maintenance and so forth,” he said.

According to the Washington Post, there have been several hundred Iraqi casualties and 45 U.S. and British troops killed as of Tuesday. Dobbs said there have been more Iraqi casualties because U.S. weapons have longer ranges.

“Our fire tank can fire 500 yards further than the Iraqi’s tank,” he said. “Our troops are extremely well trained and well prepared and able to keep their cool.”

Dobbs said while loss of U.S. lives and injuries are unfavorable, it’s important to consider the ratio of deaths to those still fighting.

“One person getting hurt out of a quarter of a million shouldn’t deter the war,” he said.