"The fact is that as soon as they reach Baghdad gates, we will besiege them and slaughter them. Until now they have refused to do battle with us. They are just going places. One can describe them as a boa: when it feels threatened, it runs to somewhere else"

This quote by Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf is referring to the Iraqi forces throughout the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He is stating that once the Iraqi forces reach Baghdad, they will be surrounded and eliminated. He is implying that the Iraqi forces are running away from the fight, and comparing them to a boa constrictor that escapes when it feels threatened. He is suggesting that the Iraqi forces are not willing to battle, and are instead escaping from the conflict. This quote is a reflection of the Iraqi forces' absence of guts and determination to combat versus the attacking forces. It likewise serves as a cautioning to the Iraqi forces that they will not have the ability to get away the fight if they reach Baghdad. The quote is a suggestion that the Iraqi forces will not be able to prevent the conflict, which they will be surrounded and eliminated if they reach Baghdad.