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| Iraq | |
| New audio purportedly from Saddam's ex-deputy Izzat al-Douri, who was declared dead | |
| 2015-05-16 | |
| [Rudaw] Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, a right-hand man of Saddam Hussein who was reported killed last month, has purportedly released a new audio message. Al-Douri, who was pictured as the King of Clubs in the infamous US deck of cards of most-wanted Iraqis, apparently talks about the latest developments in Iraq to prove that he is alive. Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi snuffies claimed last month that al-Douri was killed by the group's fighters in a military operation in the town of Alam near the newly-liberated city of Tikrit. Following claims of al-Douri's death, Iraq's Ministry of Health said it did not have the means to determine whether the remains were really those of al-Douri. Al-Douri is believed to have been heavily involved in the long-running Sunni insurgency against the Shiite-led government of Iraq. "Those tribal militias called Hashd al-Shaabi, who are following a fatwa from Iran's Sistani are committing the most awful crimes against civilians," said the voice on the audio release, speaking about the latest events in Iraq.
Duri clearly refers in the recording to events that have happened since rumors of his alleged death surfaced on April 17, notably the deployment of Shiite paramilitary groups in the Nukhayb region earlier this month. "Nukhayb represents a strategic position for Iran inside Iraq, and one of the aims of occupying Nukhayb is to open a front against Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... , and connect with the fronts in Syria and Leb after the northern passages were closed," he said. "I affirm in this gathering that what's happening today in our country is a direct and a comprehensive Persian occupation, under the obnoxious cover of sectarianism," he said. His words and some aspects of the recording suggest that the recording was made at a meeting, possibly of former Baath officials. Nicknamed "The Iceman" for his humble origins selling blocks of ice, he was the King of Clubs in the U.S. Army's deck of cards of most-wanted Iraqis. | |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #5 Ah, the King of Clubs (gotta love that old deck of cards!). |
| Posted by: Raj 2015-05-16 16:30 |
| #4 Very skilful adversary. I wouldn't count him out. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2015-05-16 16:25 |
| #3 Audio, in the Age of YouTube? That suggests either a) the dude is not exactly photogenic or b) it ain't really him. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2015-05-16 16:07 |
| #2 Just not dead enough. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2015-05-16 13:40 |
| #1 Well CRAP. I was hoping the old fart was dead. Of course things he says in this tape are confusing. So, who is he fighting? Us, the Iraqi Government or the Iranians in Iraq? He seems to really have his panties in a wad over the "Persian invasion" I got so tired of trying to find his sorry butt, I was glad someone got him. Now, I don't know. Is he some kind of Lescase character that is undead and unkillable? |
| Posted by: Bill Clinton 2015-05-16 11:51 |