German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on Saturday he deeply regretted "exaggerated remarks" critical of U.S. moves against Iraq that soured his relations with President Bush. In a further attempt to repair U.S.-German relations strained by his outspoken criticism, Schroeder said he was confident the dispute over Iraq would not cause long-term problems between the two countries. "I deeply regret there were exaggerated comments — also from cabinet members of my previous government," Schroeder told Der Spiegel magazine when asked if there were "grounds for self-criticism" for damage he caused to U.S.-German relations.
"I mean, we were so used to being able to call the Americans names, with no repercussions! How were we to know they were even gonna notice, much less take it seriously?"
The declaration was the furthest Schroeder has gone in trying to mend fences with the U.S. He and his center-left government had criticized U.S. steps against Iraq right up until the war started. In early April, Schroeder began making a slow retreat, saying for the first time he hoped U.S.-led forces would win the war quickly. Last week he said: "It is always good for mankind when a dictator is removed."
Why, thank you mos' to death for that plain vanilla expression of "support."
In speeches in his re-election campaign last year, Schroeder derided plans to attack Iraq as a military "adventure" that would "set ablaze" the Middle East, and angered Washington by refusing to send German troops to Iraq under any conditions. Schroeder said Germany would not "click its heels" and follow the United States into a war. His stinging criticism of the Bush government, including accusations it changed the goal of disarming Iraq to one of overthrowing President Saddam Hussein, was hugely popular in Germany and helped Schroeder come from far behind in surveys to beat challenger Edmund Stoiber in the September election. Tensions were further worsened just before the election when Schroeder's Justice Minister Herta Daeubler-Gmelin reportedly compared Bush's political tactics with those of Adolf Hitler — an analogy she partially denied. Schroeder accepted her resignation shortly after winning a second term.
"Thanks for your support, Herta. Now get the hell out."
But Schroeder's sharp language sent the traditionally close relations between the world's first and third largest economic powers into a tailspin. Commentators in Germany called the last eight months an "ice age." Bush Administration officials have called the ties "poisoned." Bush pointedly did not congratulate Schroeder on his narrow victory. The two have not spoken since November. German media have reported Bush has declined to take calls from Schroeder.
"Gerhard who? Condi, do we know anybody named Gerhard?"
"Even though differences of opinion on this question were so serious, it does not impair transatlantic relations," Schroeder said. "I think political leaders on both sides are professional enough to recognize relations are on a solid foundation."
When you call your friends names and try to backbite them, they assume you're not a friend anymore.
Schroeder dismissed criticism he was making a U-turn to mend the dispute only after it became clear the United States would win the war. "I view politics from a rational point of view, and do not like to ride in slipstreams," Schroeder said. "I don't have any problem at all cultivating contacts with the American president. They're necessary and desirable. But to measure this question on how long a handshake lasts is ridiculous." Several German newspapers and television networks focused on a brief handshake between Schroeder and Bush at a NATO meeting in November as an indication of the state of the ties. I think this is definately an improvement; at least he can admit when he was wrong. Chirac will never do this; never!!
I even saw a program on French TV today. The title was "Is the USA our enemy?" filled with anti-american diatribe from one end to the other. What bastards! I can't believe I'm stuck in this country. The French are trying ever so hard to be the enemy of the USA!
Posted by: George ||
04/19/2003 01:15 pm ||
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I'm not entirely convinced. I've come across more than my share of shameless jerks that have had no qualms about saying they're sorry when they don't really mean it, just to mollify whoever it is they pissed off. There'll be another time to test Schroeder (or whomever is in his place). We shall see then.
#2
Chirac called blair america's "poodle". I think there is a tendancy to see america in dog terms as well, as that faithful companion that always comes back after you kick it.
The crucial difference here is that once the dog realizes it can bite without repercussions, you need to be a lot more careful about kicking it.
Posted by: RW ||
04/19/2003 06:27 am ||
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Good for the boy - well, in a very relative way, anyway... -. As for the Murat-teasing (Tm), Ali 's already shamelessly been used by the antiwar mvt, I hope he won't be hijacked by the hawkish types ("See? We're very humane!"). Still, it speaks lot that he was first aided by an hindu, then by a (iraqi) north american. Despite the close-ups on his face and his missing arms, it was not a middle-eastern compadres (or one of our estimed french noble soul, fot that matter) that actually helped this poor kid. Easier to hate and be resentful, especially when others pay the price, perhaps?
#2
Good for the boy - well, in a very relative way, anyway... -. As for the Murat-teasing (Tm), Ali 's already shamelessly been used by the antiwar mvt, I hope he won't be hijacked by the hawkish types ("See? We're very humane!"). Still, it speaks lot that he was first aided by an hindu, then by a (iraqi) north american. Despite the close-ups on his face and his missing arms, it was not a middle-eastern compadres (or one of our estimed french noble soul, fot that matter) that actually helped this poor kid. Easier to hate and be resentful, especially when others pay the price, perhaps?
KARACHI: At least 50 students were injured and hundreds arrested on Saturday when two student groups having affiliations with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) clashed in different colleges and universities. The activists mostly used bricks, bottles and metal rods but gunshots were also fired in one of the colleges.
But only by upper classmen, so it was okay...
The clashes between the MQMâs All-Pakistan Mohajir Students Organization (APMSO) and the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) broke out in the Karachi University, Federal Urdu University, City College, Government College for Men, Dawood Engineering College, Islamia College, National College and Jinnah College. The IJT accused the AMPSO activists of sparking the clashes by provoking Jamiat students.
"You know we ain't got no self-control, so it's your fault for provoking us!"
An IJT spokesman said that more than 30 students of his group received head injuries. Police said it had arrested at least 100 activists of both the groups. Heavy contingents of police and Rangers were sent to the institutions soon after the eruption of clashes. In some of the institutions, they had to resort to baton-charge to quash the rioting.
If all the JI thugs got was head injuries, then they probably weren't hurt seriously. Besides, the turbans deflect most of the impact...
Later at a press conference, MQMâs MNA Hyder Abbas Rizvi and APMSO chief MPA Faisal Sabzwari said the IJT students attacked the APMSO supporters in different colleges and universities. Denying, Karachi Jamaat-e-Islami city chief Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui said âarmed terrorists attacked the IJTâs unarmed workers and the colony of professors and lecturers.â Both the groups also accused each other of kidnappings their activists. The IJT named three members who it said were abducted.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
04/19/2003 07:48 pm ||
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Isn't it amazing how the adherents of the "Religion of Peace" always seems to find some way to express themselves, and 99% of those expressions are violent?
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
04/19/2003 20:37 Comments ||
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Yeah. And Pakistan's more devout than most...
Posted by: Fred ||
04/19/2003 22:13 Comments ||
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"We're the victims!" *kick*
"No, we're the victims!" *punch*
"No, we're the victims!" *eye poke*
(lather, rinse, repeat)
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/19/2003 22:37 Comments ||
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IRNA -- At least seven people were killed and several others injured when gunmen attacked a rival tribe in southwestern Balochistan on Saturday, witnesses said. Elders of the Domki tribe alleged that armed men belonging to the rival Bugti tribe attacked one of their families and killed seven persons, including five children and a woman. The attackers fled after the shooting and police have not yet arrested any suspect. A report says that the attackers also burned the bodies of those killed in the attack.
I just love these quaint native customs. They're so... so... ethnic. You don't find things like this happening commonly in civilized countries.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
04/19/2003 02:38 pm ||
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IRNA -- A senior leader of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam) on Saturday said Saddam Hussain bowed outunder a deal forged with the United States. Syed Kabir Ali Wasti told IRNA here in an interview that Iraq's ex-president played the role of an agent of the US and facilitated its military action against his own country and people. "Saddam has been serving American interests for decades and, in this context, one cannot forget Iraq's war against Iran and its invasion of Kuwait," he said to substantiate his viewpoint.
Yep. That's gotta be it. Sammy was a U.S. agent. That explains everything...
The analyst maintained that the ruling Iraqi junta fled the country under a pre-planned program along with their family members to a "safe and sound" haven. Saddam's track record as a ruler, he pointed out, clearly proved that he ruled the country in order to serve Washington's political andeconomic interests in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf.
Prob'ly worked for the Mossad, too...
Wasti maintained that the way Saddam had built hype to destroy the US-led forces and inflict on them a crushing defeat was just a jugglery of words. "During the war, it appeared the Iraqi forces, particularly the Republican Guards went underground to clear the way for the invading forces to take charge of the country," he contended. He maintained that over 250 tanks, APCs, and heavy weaponry were thrown away to guarantee victory for the coalition forces. There has never been such an end to fighting in the past in any part of the world, he noted.
Yeah. That was a much more effective way of handing over the country to rapacious U.S. interests than just surrendering. And the end result was the same...
Referring to the anti-US demonstrations in various Iraqi cities, Wasti said "these are a clear indication that Baghdad is pedaling its way back to democracy. During Saddam's rule it was next to impossible to come out and riot demonstrate in roads and streets."
"I mean, look at us Paks. Ain't nobody got as much democracy as we got!"
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
04/19/2003 02:17 pm ||
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Do these people ever stop to actually THINK?
We've recovered billions in US currency, gold, weapons, liquor, drugs, and just about everything else that a dictator could possibly want. If Saddam left, either 1) there's a bigger stash somewhere else that he can get his hands on, or 2) he's heading for somewhere that will support him in the manner to which he's become accustomed over the last 20+ years.
If it's 1), we'll find it, and do our best to get it back and give it to the Iraqi people.
If it's 2), good luck! I doubt he'll be able to find ANYONE who would put up with him for long.
The first choice I could see for a place of exile would be Russia. Russia, however, isn't rich, and won't put up with the excesses of a poor dictator for very long. The other choice would be France, where there are large quantities of money from the grossly-misnamed "Oil for Food" program. Either way, I don't see Saddam living much past next August, if he's indeed alive now.
Let the black (ops)arrows fly!
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
04/19/2003 14:58 Comments ||
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I found this rather old (Feb 2001) article from time Magazine showing how the Pak Army works hand-in-hand with the terrorist groups. I know this is 2 years old and before 9-11, but things have not changed much since.
Four bearded militants warm themselves at a gas heater in an Islamabad safe house. A wireless set suddenly crackles. "Our boys have entered Srinagar Airport," a grave, distant-sounding voice announces. "Pray for them. It has now been 15 minutes." The voice, speaking in Urdu and broadcasting from deep within India's part of Kashmir, is detailing the progress of a suicide mission by Lashkar-i-Taiba, a ruthless, Pakistan-based militant group waging war to wrest Kashmir from India. The four men in the safe house, also members of Lashkar-i-Taiba, immediately go into fervent prayer. They are not the only ones to receive the radio transmission. Other militant groups in Pakistan can tune into the same frequency. So can the Pakistani military. A phone in the house rings, and one of the militants answers. He is asked what's happening. His reply: "Why don't you find out from your side?" After hanging up, he explains the caller was a Pakistani army colonel.
Five Lashkar operatives disguised as police officers attempted to attack the Srinagar airport that day. But Indian army guards turned them away, and the operation was aborted. Two weeks ago, however, a second attempt succeeded. Six would-be martyrs, dressed in police uniforms and driving a stolen government jeep, reached the outer defense gate of the airport and indiscriminately tossed grenades and opened fire with rifles. Back in the Islamabad safe house, a coded message came through at 2:15 p.m. saying the men had reached their target. Abu Ammar, a 30-year-old Pakistani veteran of the Afghan warâhis face is scarred from shrapnel and his right hand is mangledâknelt and touched his forehead to the floor in prayer. "I have learned that whenever you succeed in your mission, just bow down, thank God and hail his greatness," he said. After a three-hour gun battle at the airport's perimeter, all six of Abu Ammar's men were dead, along with four policemen.
The article gives a look at the way the Pak military and Lashkar are entwined. It's worth a read, if you're interested in the mechanics of the terror machine.
Posted by: rg117 ||
04/19/2003 11:19 am ||
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What god do these people pray to?
There is no way Allah is Jehovah.
Posted by: Scott ||
04/19/2003 14:39 Comments ||
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What god do these people pray to?
There is no way Allah is Jehovah.
Posted by: Scott ||
04/19/2003 14:39 Comments ||
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This is a long article but well worth a read.
India has many good reasons to complain about apparent American double standards in the war against terrorism... But it needs the U.S. in making Pakistan adopt a new political course.
THE UNITED States cannot force India into an engagement with Pakistan that it does not want. And New Delhi cannot engineer a change in Islamabad's behaviour without help from Washington. These two simple realities and their common stake in a moderate and modernising Pakistan demand a substantive conversation between the Indian Government and the Bush administration before a dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad could begin.
If New Delhi and Washington do not arrive at a shared approach on Pakistan, it is inevitable that the subcontinent will drift towards a renewed military confrontation this summer. An important casualty of this confrontation could be the upward trend in Indo-U.S. relations that has been seen under the Bush administration. The Pakistan factor is once again clouding Indo-U.S. relations, amid growing frustrations in both New Delhi and Washington.
In India, there is rising disenchantment at the American unwillingness or inability to deliver Pakistan on cross-border terrorism. This is compounded by renewed calls from Washington for a dialogue with Pakistan. New Delhi says it stood down in the military confrontation with Islamabad last summer following assurances from the highest level in Washington that the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, had promised to put an end to infiltration of terrorists on a permanent basis. Having failed to get Gen. Musharraf to keep his promise, the Government argues, the U.S. has no business to push India into an engagement with Pakistan.
Posted by: rg117 ||
04/19/2003 10:36 am ||
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I thought that as soon has Pakistan would have outlasted its usefulness, the US were going to switch alliance toward India - with closer Indon-Iraeli defense contract ties, joint aerial exercises, diplo warnings,... being indicative of behind the scene moves -. The reluctance to do so (apparently) is puzzling; it would be both necessary, and, frankly, more coherent to side with an imperfect, but real democracy in this mess. So, what's the roadblock?
#2
The road block might be the long common border with Afghanistan and Iran. If Washington is serious about crushing al-Qaeda et al and destabilizing Iran, it might continue to need Pakistan to launch cross border operations (Of course we all know this can't possibly be happening).
Posted by: Douglas De Bono ||
04/19/2003 13:02 Comments ||
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This is a surprisingly honest article by a Muslim asking why muslims keep so quite when they commit crimes against non-muslims. I seriously doubt though that there many like him that keep awake at night worrying about these things. EARLY IN January 2003, in Kashmir, three Muslim women were slaughtered for showing their face in public, three Christian missionaries were gunned down in Yemen. In Nov 2002 Nigerian Muslims took to the streets and at least 200 were shot dead and hundreds wounded.
In October 2002, in Bali, Indonesia, a bomb claimed nearly two hundred lives. In September 2002, in Karachi, seven Pakistani Christians were gunned down, execution style, at a charity organization. In January 2002 Daniel Pearl, an American journalist was abducted in Karachi and was later butchered.
In March 2002 five people were killed in an attack on a church in Islamabad, Pakistan. In October 2001, in the Punjab, Pakistan, sixteen worshippers were killed in an attack on a church. In September 2001 two aircraft, piloted by suicide bombers, crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, killing 3,000 people.
This is not meant to be a catalogue of violence committed around the world in recent years. Such a catalogue would be unconscionably longer than the above account and would, for example, include the Gujarat riots of last year that claimed a thousand lives. Going only a few more years in the past, it would include the massacre of twenty-nine Muslim worshippers in the West Bank of Palestine by a Jewish fanatic.
Posted by: rg117 ||
04/19/2003 10:33 am ||
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A good article. However, in the United States, there always were religious voices raised in opposition to Slavery. "Secular Humanist" Abe Lincoln was willing to tolerate the continuation of Slavery if it would save the Union.
#2
Great article with two exceptions. One, the author ignores the role of American and British Christianity in ending slavery wordlwide. Two, the article, because it is reasonable and realistic, in no way represents moslem thinking, either the alleged "moderate" variety or the Jihad variety. The only hope for a man such as this author, is to reject islam.
#3
ptah, if I may point out - no new slaves could be imported, slavery was not catching on with the new states being formed. Slavery was well on its way to becoming obsolete.
Slavery was not the cause of the civil war any more than liberation was the cause of operation iraqi freedom. They are just good side benefits.
#4
This is a great article. The depth of the unilateral hate pouring out of Islam is mindboggling. What gets me is that Europe actually eats it up. They seem to think it is the right of Islam to be so beligerent. I want to know when the world is going to take a hard look at Islam; basically face the storm. The US has taken a step, but we really do need to build alliances to end the facade that is "The religion of Peace"; Call a duck a duck!
Posted by: George ||
04/19/2003 14:58 Comments ||
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There have been three terrorist attacks on the US since 9/11. The first was 9/11, the leader was named Mohammed and he was a Muslim. The second was at the El Al ticket counter in LA. His name was Mohammed and he was a Muslim. The third was the DC sniper attacks. His name is Mohammed and he is a Muslim. Wonder what the reaction would be if there were three identical attacks on Saudi Arabia by three guys named George who are Christian?
Posted by: Ed ||
04/19/2003 18:30 Comments ||
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flash91: I knew that. The article said there were no religious voices raised against slavery, when I know full well that my natal church (Seventh Day Adventist) were quite vocal against slavery, as were the Quakers. The Baptist church split over slavery. Many stations on the Underground Railroad were manned by Christians who opposed slavery on religious grounds. Even the boast that England terminated slavery long before our Civil War was due to the long-time work (46 years) of William Wilberforce, a very devout Christian.
(Via Den Beste)
Germany's intelligence services attempted to build closer links to Saddam's secret service during the build-up to war last year, documents from the bombed Iraqi intelligence HQ in Baghdad obtained by The Telegraph reveal. Ouch - "Condi? Please block Schroeder's calls till I have a chance to cool off here? Oh, and throw away those flowers he sent"
Documents recovered from Iraqi intelligence HQ in Baghdad
They show that an agent named as Johannes William Hoffner, described as a "new German representative in Iraq" who had entered the country under diplomatic cover, attended a meeting with Lt Gen Taher Jalil Haboosh, the director of Iraq's intelligence service.
During the meeting, on January 29, 2002, Lt Gen Haboosh says that the Iraqis are keen to have a relationship with Germany's intelligence agency "under diplomatic cover", adding that he hopes to develop that relationship through Mr Hoffner.
The German replies: "My organisation wants to develop its relationship with your organisation."
In return, the Iraqis offered to give lucrative contracts to German companies if the Berlin government helped prevent an American invasion of the country. Damn - this pisses me off. Bad enough that they were violating sanctions before the UNSC games, but this??? F*&k 'em! - with apologies to TGA
The revelations come a week after The Telegraph reported that Russia had spied for the Iraqis, passing them intelligence about a meeting between Tony Blair and Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister. Both the British and Italian governments have launched investigations. Wanna bet we'll never hear a resolution of that?
The meeting between the Iraqi and German agents took place some six months before Chancellor Schröder's Social Democrat-led government began its policy of direct opposition to the idea of an American/British-led war against Iraq. The policy was adopted in the heat of last year's German general election campaign, at a time when the Social Democrats were widely predicted to lose the contest. Mr Schröder was re-elected as Chancellor last September, largely because of the popularity of his government's outspoken opposition to the war against Iraq. The apparently verbatim account of the meeting between Lt Gen Haboosh and Mr Hoffner was among documents recovered by The Telegraph in the rubble of the Iraqi intelligence headquarters in Baghdad, which was heavily bombed. But not enough, huh Joschke?
During the meeting, Lt Gen Haboosh tells the German agent that Iraq has "big problems" with Britain and the United States. "We have problems with Britain because it occupied Iraq for 60 years and with America because of its aggression for 11 years," he says.
He adds, however, that Iraq has no problems with Germany and suggests that Germany will be rewarded with lucrative contracts if it offers international support to Iraq. "When the American conspiracy is finished, we will make a calculation for each state that helps Iraq in its crisis."
He also urges Mr Hoffner to lobby the German government to raise its diplomatic mission in Baghdad to full ambassadorial level. Mr Hoffner says that it would be a decision for the German foreign ministry, but Germany's diplomatic presence in the Iraqi capital made it easier for him to enter Iraq because he was able to use diplomatic cover.
Last night, a spokesman for the German government said it was "well known" that it had been offered lucrative contracts by Baghdad providing it maintained an anti-Iraq war stance. "Iraq made these kinds of promises before the war and praised Germany for its position," he said.
Iraqi police handed Saddam Hussein's finance minister to American forces after capturing him in Baghdad, raising hopes of tracing billions of dollars the ousted dictator may have spirited away. Hikmat Ibrahim al-Azzawi, who was also a deputy prime minister, is number 45 on America's list of 55 most-wanted Iraqis.
Well, TGA, if proven true, and that's not a given yet, will this cause the Schroeder gov't to fall? I hope so...bastards
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/19/2003 11:07 pm ||
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A U.S. Marine commander called tribal leaders together Saturday to seek their support in running their city but emphasized that he considers himself to be in charge. Patrols of low-flying attack helicopters drove home the point. "When you spittle-spewers have attack helicopters we can talk, until then, I'm in charge, get it?"
Kut, about 45 miles west of the Iranian border, has been of particular concern to U.S. officials since a Shiite Muslim cleric occupied city hall and claimed to control the city. They contend he is backed by Iran and has only minority support. And no supply lines, tanks, APC's etc. Iran ain't gonna help you now, get it?
U.S. officers had said they planned to force cleric Said Abbas out of City Hall, which has been surrounded by his followers, to deprive him of symbolic standing in the community. Now, the strategy seems to be to ignore and marginalize him. At Saturday's meeting, he was not at the main table but sat toward the rear of the room. at one of those little kid's tables heh heh
The city of 380,000 has been relatively calm compared with the pandemonium that has greeted the regime's collapse in other cities. So far, there has been relatively little looting here. Hospitals are still working, and trash is being collected - even though the trash collectors aren't getting paid. The meeting between Gen. Rich Natonski, commander of Task Force Tarawa, and several dozen city leaders took place at a hotel next to a Marine command post. It was held under heavy security and closed to journalists. At the meeting, Natonski said "it may be some time before elections will be able to be held," according to the text of his prepared comments. In the interim, "the government of this province and this city is where I meet with this council," he declared.
That's the law, laid down by the heavy artillery...
Hundreds of Abbas hard boys supporters gathered at the end of the street running past the hotel, which was blocked off by concertina wire, armored vehicles and Marines with machine guns behind sandbag bunkers. "Go home U.S.A.!" the crowd chanted, the first time Abbas' supporters have directly expressed anti-American feelings. Previously, their chants focused on denouncing Ahmad Chalabi. One man held a framed portrait of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeni, the late leader of Iran's Islamic revolution. Way to ingratiate yourself with the Marines
American concern about Kut has grown since the recent arrival of the deputy leader of the Iran-based Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution of Iraq - the largest Iraqi opposition group and one that opposes U.S. plans for a new government.
And that didn't do any fighting against Sammy. Though they did have a parade.
Other leaders at the meeting said they supported the U.S. military, and Marines who attended said no one inside had asked how soon the Americans would leave. One leader, Mubarak Ali az-Zubaidy, offered to build a golden statue of President Bush to thank him for freeing the Iraqi people. Uh, no thanks, we don't go in for that golden calf idolatry stuff
"The Americans had their say. They want democracy and they will do it," az-Zubaidy said.
That'll lead to the local ayatollahs taking the gas pipe...
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/19/2003 01:31 pm ||
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"Here's a sippy cup and a bib. You sit back there."
Posted by: Dar ||
04/19/2003 14:09 Comments ||
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"Previously, their chants focused on denouncing Ahmad Chalabi. One man held a framed portrait of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeni, the late leader of Iran's Islamic revolution."
The shape of politics in the Shiite south is becoming clearer astonishingly quickly - its Chalabi and the INC versus the Iranian supported fundies. The more the fundies focus on Chalabi as the enemy, the more the INC becomes the natural rallying point for any sheik, would be pol, or non-Iranian oriented (EG Sistani and the Khoie family) cleric. This despite an occasional stupid move by the inexperienced INC people (eg the guy who proclaimed himself mayor of Baghdad, or the guy up in Mosul who seems to be working with the Kurds and seems to have pissed off the Sunni Arabs)
(via Command Post, Michele; EFL)
Jordanian customs officials have seized 42 paintings believed to have been looted from Iraq's national museum, government officials said Saturday. The paintings were taken earlier in the week at al-Karameh border post from unidentified journalists entering Jordan from Iraq and were sent to the main Customs Department in Amman, said the officials, well-informed on the confiscated items. Say it ain't so! Now who would've believed that the press would do such a thing? (insert cynicism)...we need to know who it was
Qteishat reportedly said after border customs discovered the paintings, he instructed his officers to "take all necessary measures to confiscate any stolen items from the Iraqi national museum and library" — which were targeted by looters following the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime last week. Al-Karameh border post has been Iraq's lifeline since sweeping United Nations sanctions were imposed on Iraq in the wake of its 1990 invasion of Kuwait. The desert outpost was used for shipments of food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies to Iraq and for passengers embarking on a 12-hour overland trip to the Iraqi capital. And to bring in large amounts of US cash — see other posts — to be stashed rather than used for food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies ....
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/19/2003 09:55 am ||
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Journalists? "Looters" had keys? Damage exaggerated? Wow, this business is really starting to stink.
yeow! Update on yesterdays' post
Two Army sergeants in Iraq made quite a find in Baghdad. The Los Angeles Times says they stumbled across U.S. cash — mountains of it — in a Baghdad neighborhood where senior Baath party and Republican Guard officials once lived. Searches have turned up an estimated $650 million. Again: how was it that the evil sanctions were starving little children, puppies, kittens, and baby ducks of food and medicine? Think we'll hear any of the whiners admit they were wrong? me neither
According to the newspaper, an Army private who said he had worked for an armored car company examined the bills and called them genuine. Meanwhile, the Marines have been guarding what's left of Iraqi banks hit by looters armed with acetylene torches and rocket-propelled grenades. and keys and codes to vaults
The troops may be guarding as much as $1 billion in valuables — including gold artifacts from the National Museum. One sergeant said, "Fort Knox doesn't have security like this." must've seen Three Kings hmm?
I saw footage of this on the terriblevision this morning — loading a truck with crates of cash. Lends a new dimension to the word "kleptocracy".
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/19/2003 09:48 am ||
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Where the h-ll are the mainstream media on this?
When has such a haul of US cash ever before been found? How many more cash caches like this did Saddam put away?
EFR
Iraqi police in Baghdad have captured the country's former finance minister, Hikmat Ibrahim al-Azzawi, and handed him over to coalition forces. Mr al-Azzawi, who was also a deputy prime minister, is number 45 the coalition forces' list of the 55 most wanted supporters of Saddam Hussein and the eight of diamonds on the notorious deck of cards handed out to US troops hunting Iraqi officials. He is the fourth person from the list to be captured — on Friday Iraqi Kurds handed over a senior Baath Party official, Samir al-Aziz al-Najem, after he was arrested in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.
CAPTURED IRAQI LEADERS (AS RANKED BY US FORCES)
24. Samir al-Aziz al-Najem
45. Hikmat Ibrahim al-Azzawi
51. Watban Ibrahim al-Tikriti
52. Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti
55. General Amir al-Saadi (surrendered)
Posted by: Bulldog ||
04/19/2003 05:37 am ||
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I know we that we're supposed to get valuable information from these Joker's, but dontcha think that leaving it up to the Kurds would render better and more cost-effective justice?
That's pretty illiberal of me, but I shudder to think of these guys on the lecture circuit promoting their books after serving a few months in some country club celebrity prison. It'll be interesting to track the progress of the "deck" in say, three year's time...
Posted by: Mark IV ||
04/19/2003 10:43 Comments ||
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I don't know who came up with the deck idea, but what a great way to put 55 wanted posters in a compact and user-friendly package!
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
04/19/2003 11:57 Comments ||
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50 to go. Better look over the border, and I don't mean Turkey.
#5
Don't worry Mark: I'm sure the intel guys will make a few Kurd references during the interrogation:
"OK Samir, here's the story. You can talk to us, maybe work out a little deal for jail time. Or, you can go with those guys in the green uniforms outside. Your call...
Posted by: R. McLeod ||
04/19/2003 14:21 Comments ||
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The "Intel" guys play good-cop, bad-cop (Been there, done that). One will be nice, but keeps telling the guy, "look, you've got to cooperate with me, or "Harry"'s going to be in here. You don't want to mess with Harry". The guy doesn't cooperate, so in comes Harry. Harry grabs the little donkey by the collar ("Harry"'s always 300 pounds, built like a gorilla, and doesn't shave for two days beforehand), and begins screaming and yelling at him, maybe even throwing him up against a wall. Nothing to break any bones, but REALLY intimidating. Finally, the "boss" comes in, orders "Harry" out, and the good-cop comes back in, and the questions start over. Sometimes, the guy doesn't cooperate. Sometimes he tries to fight "Harry" (Do NOT DO THIS at home!). "Harry" usually has an advanced degree in some kind of martial arts, and can usually whip half a division by himself. Anyway, these two guys (or more - sometimes as many as 20 people get involved) will interrogate the poor slob for two, three days running, WITHOUT A BREAK. Sooner or later, he breaks, and you get everything you want. Then the poor slob gets to eat, sleep, and even shower. Then you start over, using a different, but equally as persuasive approach. There aren't many that can stand up against our interrogation teams.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
04/19/2003 19:56 Comments ||
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Old Patriot, that reminded me of a department manager I had who was in Air Force Intelligence during the Vietnam war. The grunts were easy to crack, but the officers were a bit tougher. After some questioning, my later-to-be boss would just requisition a helicopter, take the guy up 2000 feet, hover above the airstrip, and repeat his questions. He got a LOT of cooperation that way.
Oh, he knew pushing the guy out the chopper door was against the rules of war, but taking him for a little ride wasn't.
Excerpts only. Read the whole thing for full effect.
By Yossef Bodansky
Anti-Jewishness and anti-Judaism constitute a major political instrument in the hands of both state governments and Islamist organizations to mobilize the entire region for the destruction of Israel. Both governments and islamic leaders are using anti-Jewishness incitement as a most effective instrument of popular mobilisatin in order to reach to the grassroots and get results. Therefore, with the spread and expansion of militant radical Islam, anti-Jewishness and anti-Judaism will continue to intensify in the Muslim World.
Among the Islamists, presently the most vibrant and rapidly expanding segment of the Muslim World, the very existence of a Jewish state called Israel constitutes a contradiction of major Qur'anic tenets. On the most basic level, the mere existence of a political entity run by the Jews, particularly on a land claimed by Islam, is a profound challenge and affront to Islam that is political and not only religious in essence. Thus, Israel is unacceptable under any circumstance.
The Arab defeat in the 1967 Six-Day War stunned the entire Muslim World and turned into a catalyst of revolutionary politics. The Muslims discussed the defeat in apocalyptic terms, calling it 'The Second Naqbah.' Many of the highly educated Arab intellectuals returned to traditionalist Islam in their search for the roots of the disaster. The Arabs were defeated because "in their apostasy, they rejected the spiritual and moral values, and adopted firstly the ignorant nationalism, and then, the infidel Marxist socialism." The Arab World "was injured by a dangerous ideological disease called 'revolutionary socialism' that is more lethal than the most dangerous of plagues," and which origins are in the Judaism. The defeats resulting from modern ideologies are contrasted with the victories over the Crusaders. Unlike the Jihad against Israel, the Jihad against the Crusaders was so triumphant solely because "the unifying factors of the Arabs at that time, which delivered them victory, was Islam and not Arab nationalism." Therefore, for the Arabs to be able to successfully confront Israel, "there is no escape from spreading the religious culture among the Arab and Muslim soldiers and the military men, so that the spiritual values would constitute impulse to Faith and victory, and for distancing from destructive dogmas." Thus, in the late-1960's, Arab intellectuals began advocating that the socialist regimes in the Muslim World had failed, and that the emergence of Islamist militant revivalism constituted the altenate for the future.
Thus, there emerged a need for the formulation of a coherent Islamist doctrine both explaining the Second Naqbah and seeking solutions for the Jewish problem. A turning point in this process was the conduct of the Fourth Conference of the Academy of Islamic Research in the al-Azhar Islamic University in Cairo, in September 1968, in which close to a hundred experts from around the Muslim the World defined and legislated an Islamic policy of resistance toward the Jews. The conference reaffirmed and stressed the Qu'ranic virulent hostility toward the Jews, and studied the history of continuous Jewish crimes against Islam from the days of the Prophet to the Six Days War. Deliberating on the future of Islam, experts noted that the arrival of "the resurrection i.e. the final salvation" of the Muslim World "is made conditional upon the battle against the Jews that has to precede it." The conference urged Arab and Muslim governments to prepare for the fateful struggle for the destruction of Israel, and, until that day, provide weapons and other support for Islamist "volunteers" so that they can continue the Jihad against Israel in the meantime. The Conference Conclusion leaves no doubt: "The sacred duty of every Muslim in this Islamic mobilization is two fold: to thwart the destructive falsehoods spread by Zionism and to work for the triumph of Islam and the liberation of Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa [in Jerusalem]."
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
04/19/2003 09:05 am ||
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#1
"Radio Islam." Wow, that's quite a website- complete with The Protocols Of The Elders Of Zion, caracatures of hook-nosed Jews, the whole nine yards. Pretty revolting stuff.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
04/19/2003 11:10 Comments ||
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Based on this excerpt; looks like the cluetrain is leavin the station without a few riders.
As long as Arabs cling to medievil notions like those expressed above, they are not going to have any chance of winning ANY wars against Isreal. If they can't field a modern army (which means having a country with a real capitalist economy) they will continue to loose war after war.
#3
Roger Garaudy, and not a single mention of Gabriel Cohn-Bendit or Thierry Meyssan, or any other great french thinker! That's an outrage! Hey, we practically invented holocaust denial!
#4
They won't admit it, but they need that Army-based policy of NK and their problems will be solved, heh heh. Actually they need some serious rewiring, or they will continue at what they are doing and will fall in a very violent way, taking alot of innocents with them.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
04/19/2003 12:15 Comments ||
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Among the Islamists, presently the most vibrant and rapidly expanding segment of the Muslim World, the very existence of a Jewish state called Israel constitutes a contradiction of major Qur'anic tenets. On the most basic level, the mere existence of a political entity run by the Jews, particularly on a land claimed by Islam, is a profound challenge and affront to Islam that is political and not only religious in essence. Thus, Israel is unacceptable under any circumstance.
Exactly what I've been saying. However, the author doesn't point out the real affront to Islam: The veracity of the Koran and the Prophet is based partly on literary considerations and mostly on victories in battle. This article at my site explains this in more detail.
#6
The entire problem with Islam is that it's a direct contradiction of the Torah. Islam refutes the basis of God's Plan to the Jews, given in Exodus. Instead, it deliberately proposes giving the Islamist "permission" to do whatever they want, except for a few basic proscriptions. Case in point: the Ten Commandments. Note that none of these actually make the translation into the Koran, although the Koran is supposedly based on the Torah. The rules requiring Jews to release slaves after seven years is another point where Islam has warped these teachings into something the Imams want. The contradictions between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam force Islam to ignore any chance of coexistence. The basic contradictions between JudeoChrisitan beliefs and Islam are profound, and cannot be "explained" away. Therefore, the only way Islam can resolve these contradictions is to destroy JudeoChristian thought. This is going to continue to be ugly as long as there are tenets to any of these three major faiths.
I'm more and more convinced the AntiChrist will arise from Islam than from any Christian or Jewish sect.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
04/19/2003 14:45 Comments ||
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Wow! That site is wild. I never dreamed the Islamic movement was so far reaching.
I did see something that I thought deserved a legitimate answer - Did Ariel Sharon actually say in an argument with Shimon Peres, "don't worry about America... we control America"?
Posted by: Scott ||
04/19/2003 17:27 Comments ||
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Sharons comments always seem to be shrouded in mystery. However, Netanyahu has made that claim on a few occasions. The AIPAC does have a great deal of control over our congress, likend to the NRA to gun gun control. The only difference is the AIPAC doesn't have the second amendment protection, so it requires so much more money to lobby for a foreign country.
Posted by: George ||
04/19/2003 17:42 Comments ||
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George, then who in the ME do we trust?
Posted by: Scott ||
04/19/2003 18:03 Comments ||
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In truth, we have to trust Israel, not just because we/them have the same interest. But, as mentioned before, they really are the most free country in the middle east. But, we just can't let them wave a stick at a hornets nest all the time we have to put pressure on them too. We just can't give them carte blanche. Unfortunately, I don't think the Arabs want to work with the modern world, but that remains to be seen. My feeling is they have to give in to the Palestinian State and then see what happens. I really believe that all Israel wants is security. And, I would like to see the survival of the Isreali state. But, what I'm most interested in is the survival of the US. I don't want to see a nuke in a ship on the Delaware river take out the city of Philly because of some misguided allegence. Congress needs to relize that the national security of the US takes president over any other foreign country. But, living in europe has really made me believe that the Arabs want the total destruction of Isreal; as do many europeans. They blame Isreal for just about all of the worlds problems. My opinion is the US needs to say publically that it will protect Arabs and Isrealis equally. At the end of the day we all know what the result will be: # of Kills: Islamofascism 0, US 100.
Posted by: George ||
04/19/2003 19:47 Comments ||
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George, your assumption continues to be that the Arabs are mad at us because of Israel. Osama's reason for attacking us wasn't Israel, but U.S. Soldiers in Saudi Arabia. Israel was a good secondary cause, but not the primary.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas halted efforts on Saturday to form a new Palestinian cabinet, sources told United Press International. Rest Stop on the 'Roadmap'?
The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the move by Abu Mazen -- as the prime minister is known â followed sharp disputes with both Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and other Palestinian Central Council members. Using the only leverage he has
The PCC of the Palestine Liberation Organization convened in the West Bank town of Ramallah and the meeting was chaired by Arafat. Abu Mazen attended the meeting. The sources said that during the meeting, Arafat raised several issues related to forming the new cabinet, and members began to argue with Abu Mazen, who stormed out and returned home. Arafat won't give up....
The sources said that several members of the PCC followed him and sought to convince him to return to the meeting, but he had refused to go back to Arafat's headquarters. They said he also told PCC members that he didn't want to continue forming the new Palestinian Authority cabinet and threatened to resign. However, Palestinian parliamentary sources denied reports saying that he had actually resigned. According to these parliamentary sources, Abu Mazen can't just resign unilaterally but must go through legislative measures that involve the Palestinian Legislative Council. They said that Abu Mazen would have to inform the PLC of his inability to form a new cabinet and tender his resignation. Sounds a lot like a mini-EU
At that point, Arafat would appoint a new prime minister. Someone who follows orders better I guess
The sources said that a major problem was that Arafat hadn't given Abu Mazen enough latitude in forming the cabinet and this had worsened relations between the two.
Yasser's a pretty sad dictator, but he's still a dictator. It'll take a crowbar to pry any power at all away from him...
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/19/2003 07:39 pm ||
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That crowbar would be better used if it was rapped across Arafat's head several times. HARD!
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
04/19/2003 20:43 Comments ||
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Why are they even doing this? It's a waste of effort; as long as Arafat is unwilling to relinquish any authority/power, nothing substantial is going to be accomplished.
#3
if abu mazen is dropped and Arafat appoints a lackey it has to be clear the lackey will be frozen out. Germany, you're looking for way to show friendship to the US - support us on this. Hope thats what Joska told arafat. TGA, you listening?
Hey Guys, I just got back to Ku. from Baghdad, Great trip! The picture is
of my Aide and I in front of the Baghdad Intl. Airport. We spent a few days
there, then we moved to a palace between the airport and Baghdad proper.
The Palace was incredible, it's the same one you read about or seen on Fox
news or CNN with GEN Franks. Marble as far as the eye can see, and
everything was gold plated. I can honestly say I slept in one of Saddams'
beds, and took a dump on one of his gold plated toilets! (Plugged it up
proper, too!) It was very frustrating in a way, because the palace and
grounds has to be worth at least 50 million, and there are dozens of these
palaces all over Iraq; and every last one was paid for by food for by oil
for food money. I'll write more later. PS Dar, got another box, was great,
and another one passed me at 20,000 feet going the other way as I flew back
into Kuwait. They sent it up to me before they found out that I was coming
back to Ku. for a while.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
04/19/2003 05:56 pm ||
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Glad to hear you're still okay! Looking forward to your comments!
IRNA -- The United Nations will make efforts to restore the pride of the Iraqi people and assist them in deciding their own future and restore their control over their natural resources especially oil and natural gas, said Feodor Starcevic, director of the UN Information Center in New Delhi on Thursday. Starcevic, while inaugurating the seminar entitled "Role of UN in Iraq crisis" held that sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq were the prime concerns of the U.N. Starcevic said the UN has tended to preserve its moral authority and credibility in troubled times and herein lies the strength of this organization.
Some of us believe the UN has foreited its moral authority and its credibility in the run-up to the Iraq war. And if it wasn't gone then, it's evaporated in the morass of the Oil for Palace program and its apparent willful mismanagement of Iraq's funds.
C. R. Gharekhan, former permanent representative of India to U.N. and former Undersecretary General to the U.N. said, U.N. failed diplomatically in the Iraq war as there was a resolve on part of the US to change the reality in the Middle East. So the issue that came tothe U.N. was politically non-issue. Criticizing the unilateral policy of US, he questioned the nature of the threats to the international peace and security. Is there a place in U.N. for regime change when there is already the talk of failed states, axis of evils and rogue states? Should there be a case made for benign interference? Doctrines and principles change and institutions evolve overtime, limits of sovereignty in globalised world is something international theory has to come to terms with. The present structure of the U.N. is not reflective of the political reality in the world, he said, adding therefore there is talk of expansion and reform of Security Council and General Assembly for greater voice of public opinion and more presence of developing world in the body.
Abolition would be a pretty basic-level reform, wouldn't it?
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
04/19/2003 01:18 pm ||
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OH boy, the same great self-esteem building programs that have proven so successful in the Paleo ghettos "refugee camps"
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/19/2003 13:22 Comments ||
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This should be greeted with as much enthusiasm as "Hello, I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help you."
The DOD and the CDC are the most competent Government agencies around, and both deserve more money flung at them.
#4
The United Nations has degenerated into a welfare program for people who can't find real work. They are an unelected, unrepresentative bureaucracy that usually creates more problems than they ever even ATTEMPT to solve. It's time to cut the umbilical chord on this piece of garbage, and let it sink into New York harbor. Then we can tax the rest of the world to clean up the environmental damage the UN caused.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
04/19/2003 14:49 Comments ||
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Here's a supposedly ancient Chinese saying I found in a book I read recently: "Pride allows a man to stand tall, but doesn't feed his empty belly." The United Nations speaks lavishly about restoring Iraq's "pride", but they expect the United States to rebuild and feed Iraq. The UN would prefer the US do it through the United Nations, but why pay a middle-man half when you can do the work yourself?
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
04/19/2003 16:52 Comments ||
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"limits of sovereignty"
Place limits on American soverignty,I don't think so,Dude. Go home and ask your own people if they will give-up thier soverignty.
IslamOnline.net
Worshippers from across the Muslim world â from Morocco to Indonesia â filled a Washington mosque Friday to pray for unity and faith in the face of troubled times. "We are passing through a lot of trouble," imam Abdullah Khouj said. "Such trouble makes wise people puzzled, troubled and gloomy about things." But he urged the worshippers: "Be not divided among yourselves, and hold tight to the rope" of faith tying Muslims to Allah. An international collection of flags hanging outside the Islamic Cultural Center in northwest Washington was reflected in the range of nationalities sharing chicken and rice in the courtyard after the prayers. Mohamed Abukela, an Egyptian, said that the imam's message â "Muslims have to be united" â gave solace to worshippers who don't know what's right.
Where's the part about "we're all Americans"? Or aren't they?
One worshipper said the imam was referring to the "trouble that many nations are feeling at this moment" while urging the faithful to seek truth through introspection over the war in Iraq and its aftermath. She said Muslims were asking themselves: "What have we done that merits a calamity like this?"
What are you thinking, that you consider it a calamity?
The woman, an Indonesian, said she was saddened by Friday's news that an infrastructure contract had been awarded to Bechtel National worth up to 680 million dollars. "To us it's like eagles seeing their prey," she said, gesturing with her hands formed into a raptor's talons. "Even when the earth is still red (from war), already people are competing in snatching the reconstruction projects. It is a public secret that this war (in Iraq) is unjust."
Even while the earth is still red, we're beginning reconstruction. Who did she think was going to do the reconstruction? The Baathists? The "government" â American or (not-yet existent) Iraqi? Companies do things. That's why they exist. You give them money and they turn it into structures, systems, or what have you. They hire people, to include local people, and they give them a part of the money they received. Their employees — the people they hired — get to buy groceries, support their families, and go bowling. I still haven't figured what's had about that.
A Sudanese worshipper, Elnur Khudur of Sudan: "I believe democracy will be established in Iraq (but) I don't believe they will be loyal to USA. They have been ruled by the British; I don't think they will again accept any sort of foreign rule in Iraq." Recalling the imam's sermon, Kadari explained: "You cannot break the direct link between the human being and God. God created us to help people."
So send your resume to Bechtel. They're hiring.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
04/19/2003 10:04 am ||
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My grandfather worked for Bechtel from 1945 until his death in 1958. They were (and I assume still are) a can-do company that gets things done in refineries, pipelines, docks, and major infrastructure. They have had a major presence in the middle east for generations now, and their reputation is based upon getting things done and done right. As for all the whiners looking for another issue to beat us up on: Hire the best or wallow with the rest.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
04/19/2003 11:48 Comments ||
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If we were going to use Iraqi oil money to rebuild Iraq, then there'd be a case for competitive bidding. However, if we're doing an Iraqi Marshall Plan, paid for by American dollars, then he who pays the piper calls the tune, and giving American money to American companies is perfectly legal and proper. This nameless b*tch would have no problems directing Muslim money to muslims, but has a cow when American money is directed to American companies.
Hypocrisy is nowhere categorically identified as a sin, and consequently condemned in the Koran.
#3
A Sudanese worshipper, Elnur Khudur of Sudan: "I believe democracy will be established in Iraq (but) I don't believe they will be loyal to USA."
We neither want nor expect loyalty, although we wouldn't turn it down if offered. We just want you to stop being such utter jerks all the time. Calm down, stop grabbing an AK every time something pisses you off.
#4
To Ptah: We ARE going to use Iraqi money to reconstruct Iraq. Either Iraq will sell its oil to generate the bucks to pay for the reconstruction (if the UN lifts sanctions) or we'll expropriate the oil (pursuant to article 55 of the Hague CONVENTION
RESPECTING THE LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND) and sell it on the open market.
Posted by: Norman Rogers ||
04/19/2003 17:04 Comments ||
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*blinks* so what was the request for 80Bn to congress? The last number I heard for the war was 25Bn, so that leaves 55Bn.
Very interesting. Technically, we can keep all the movable cash and valuables we find in Saddam's ccastles, including that 600+Million found yesterday. We can even levy monies to maintain the army while its there. However,article 55 calls out forests and agricultural estates, and doesn't mention mines or mineral resources.
#6
And yet not one word of thanks for those who gave thier lives for Iraqi democracy(am I suprised,no).
What about a thank you for a country that welcomes those of any faith?
How about a"Job well done"for ridding the world of a vicious tyrant,and in the process freeing an entire country?
Didn't know about art.55,thanks Ptah.
What about the Iraqi police and others who are being paid with American dollars,that ain't oil money.
#7
Article 56 is an interseting read.
..."All seizure of, destruction or willful damage done to institutions of this character, historic monuments, works of art and science, is forbidden, and should be made the subject of legal proceedings."
The way I understand it this say's the occupying powers are not allowed to seize,destroy or cause willful damage.
The property of the National Museum was not siezed,destroyed,damaged or looted by the coalition forces.
Took a quick glance at the other articles,basically they say anything that belonged to Saddam's government and was not nailed down belongs to the Coalltion.Also in the case of Communist country's,since everything belongs to the state everything can be siezed.
The United States believes that at least seven senior Iraqi officials are now in Syria, including a figure who is No. 8 on the American wanted list, defense officials said today. The most senior Iraqi identified in American intelligence reports as being in Syria is Kamal Mustapha Abdullah al-Tikriti, secretary of the Republican Guard and Special Republican Guard.
In recent days, the State Department has relayed to Syria the names of Iraqi officials believed to be there, with a request that they be expelled. The American military has also stepped up its search efforts in parts of northwestern Iraq near the Syrian border where some senior Iraqi officials are now suspected to be hiding. For more than a week, administration officials including Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld have said that they believed some Iraqi officials or their families escaped to Syria and perhaps beyond. The only other Iraqis that administration officials said they believed were in Syria and cited by name were Farouk Hijazi, Iraq's ambassador to Tunisia and a former senior intelligence operative, and possibly President Saddam Hussein's first wife, Sajida Khairallah Telfah.
The concerns about the flight of Iraqi officials have aggravated an already difficult relationship between the United States and Syria. Bush administration officials have long expressed concern that Syria is developing chemical weapons and about its support for organizations the United States considers terrorist, including Hezbollah and the Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell has said he plans to travel to Syria later this spring to discuss all those issues with its leader, President Bashar al-Assad.
The Syrian government has repeatedly denied having granted refuge to any Iraqi officials, and said it had closed its border to Iraqis. American officials say those border posts have indeed been closed in recent days, a step they have characterized as positive, but they say it is possible that Iraqi leaders may be finding other routes into Syria. Of Iraq's six neighbors â the others are Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Jordan â Syria had by far the closest economic and political ties with the Baghdad government, and it is regarded by intelligence officials as being the most likely escape route for fleeing Iraqi officials.
Posted by: John Phares ||
04/19/2003 09:35 am ||
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From Debka (yup, apply all the usual disclaimers...) : "DEBKAfileâ Exclusive sources: Syria offers to expel 8 members of Saddamâs inner circle in a message reaching Washington through âRussian intelligence channelsâ.
They are former vice president Izzat Ibrahim Al-Douri, Saddamâs bureau chief Abd Hamoud, Baath party boss Aziz Salah, special security service chief Hanni Tefalah, Republican Guards Secretary Kemal Mustafa, Republican Guards Commander Seif A-Din Suleih, Iraqi Intelligence Commander Taher Jaloul and Special Republican Guards commander, Gen. Barzan Suleiman Tikriti."
Well, wait & see...
#2
Isn't Farouk Hijazi the external intel guy suspected of masterminding the attempted hit on G.H.W. Bush? I think he needs a dirt nap - not extradition
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/19/2003 13:05 Comments ||
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Lessee, which nation was the most recent to have harbored terrorists, were asked to give them up, said no, and got plastered against the wall of history?
IslamOnline.net: Syria will not bargain with the United States over Hizbollah in view of the latest bellicose threats against Syria after Saddam Husseinâs regime had passed into history, Hizbullahâs Spokesman Hassan Ezzudin told IslamOnline.net. âAnti-U.S. occupation powers are, in fact, rallying behind Syria and in harmony with its stances and Syria will never fail such powers,â Ezzudin said. That is why âHizbullah has no worries that Syria might be armtwisted by the US pressures and fail anti-Israeli resistance movement like Hizbollah,â he said, noting that such movements were serving as the stronghold against occupation.
The Hizbullah media official ruled out that some countries, which forged strategic and diplomatic relations with Hizbullah such as Iran and some Arab countries, would pressure Syria into toeing the American line. Ezzudin said Israel may be behind the latest string of U.S. threats against Syria, pointing out that Israel was fishing in troubled waters to provoke the U.S. into taking military action against Syria or Lebanon. Hizbullah resistance movement was able to drove the Israeli occupation army out of the Lebanese south, except fro the Shaba farms, in May 2000. He, however, said such pressures would prove futile given the high-profile diplomatic performance of Syria and its open dialogue with the U.S. as well as its commitment to the international legitimacy.
Qassim Quseer, a Lebanese political researcher, said Hizbullah is a close ally to Syria and Lebanon, noting that the movementâs role was not only confined to resistance against the Israeli occupation, but it also had âpolitical and social dimensions that would enfeeble speculations that Syria would yield to the U.S. threats or marginalize Hizbullah.
Syria's got a pretty large problem in Hezbollah. They're protectors, but Hezbollah doesn't belong to them — it's an Iranian creature. It's deeply involved in internal Lebanon politics, even while acting with near autonomy in southern Lebanon — a stateless army that would give Syria grave problems if it ever turned on her. Bashar can't just drop Hezbollah — or any of the other major groups it gives shelter to. But at the same time, the U.S. is going to continue building diplomatic pressure to do just that, and now we've got a military force that's just demonstrated that it's essentially unstoppable by a Third World rathole like Syria. If either the rock or the hard place moves an inch, Bashar gets squeezed.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
04/19/2003 09:43 am ||
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It is time for Assad to pay the piper. He keeps company with rats and now the rats will bring him down one way or another. We need to keep the HEAT on Assad and his regime and we also have to keep the HEAT on France or any AoW partner that enables Syria's dirty little business. From news reports, etc etc, I think that the Bush strategy is starting all over with Syria. Rummy the bad cop, armies massing near the border, with Powell doing the good cop diplo-act.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
04/19/2003 12:06 Comments ||
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Goody. I hope the murdering leaders of Hezbollah continue to believe that Israel is behind the pressure against Syria. Makes black ops sooo much easier to do when they are all too willing to blame Israeli for anything that goes wrong. It's easier for Israel because they expend no effort as more of those suicidal bastards present themselves as targets, as the US destroys this festering shithole that allows Hezbollah to operate unimpeded.
It's kinda funny that they just cannot bring themselves to believe their number is really up. Its crunch time: either they go out of business or they die.
IslamOnline.net: Keening not to miss the lion's share of post-war Iraq cake and securing the utmost profit of the war it waged, the United States awarded a 50-million-dollar contract to a private firm to recruit 'advisors' to train police in the war-battered country, the State Department and the Virginia-based firm said Friday, April 18. "We have awarded a contract to DynCorp International to identify, deploy and support up to 1,000 police, justice and prison advisors to Iraq," said Brenda Greenberg, a department spokeswoman. The value of the contract could be as high as 50 million dollars in the first year, she said, confirming a statement from DynCorp's parent company Computer Sciences Corporation. The final amount of the contract will depend on assessments of Iraqi capabilities and needs by initial 'advisors', who are expected to arrive in the country shortly, the company said.
"Advisors will work with Iraqi criminal justice organizations at the national, provincial and municipal levels to assess threats to public order and mentor personnel at all levels of the Iraqi legal apparatus," it said. The company said it would be recruiting advisors from the ranks of current and retired US law enforcement officers with a minimum of 10 years of general experience and two years of specialized experience. DynCorp is a private military and security consulting company that has extensive past experience in dealing with US government contracts.
Oh, dear. Having the Iraqi police trained in not only western police techniques, but by American police! It violates all cultural norms! What will they do with all those auto batteries?
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
04/19/2003 09:23 am ||
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"MEGA" policing huh? $50 mil is probably less than LAPD spends on overtime
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/19/2003 9:41 Comments ||
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Isn't Dyncorp the company that provides security at a lot of nuke plants? Must have a pretty good resume....hope they're armed though
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/19/2003 9:47 Comments ||
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One State trooper in a Smokey the Bear hat teaching Iraqi traffic cops about radar guns would be seen as a major Zionist conspiracy by all of these clowns. 50 million bucks in terms of the work to do ain't diddly squat.
Posted by: Someone who did NOT vote for William Proxmire ||
04/19/2003 12:44 Comments ||
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Heard a report(not sure of accuracy)that they will be paying $48,000-96,000.Not much for 10 yrs experience.Must have a kick butt perdiem package.
Figure avg.$65,000/yr x 1000=65,000,000 looks like they lose money.
Unlike the accommodationists who foresee an easy American victory, the confrontationists believe that U.S. involvement in Iraq could become "the beginning of its end." "Iraq is a swamp," Khamenei said in his address to the guards. "The Great Satan will get caught in that swamp; and that will speed up its inevitable collapse." In a recent article Velayati spelled out a strategy aimed at "confronting the Great Satan in a number of fronts." Iraq will be one front. Iran has concentrated the so-called Badr Brigade, named after the Prophet Muhammad's first major military victory, along the border with Iraq. The brigade is a 10,000-man force of Iraqi Shiite gunnies guerrillas. On March 14 some of the men organized a highly publicized parade inside Iraqi Kurdistan.
Iran also has a 6,000-man Kurdish force, known as the Hezbollah of Kurdistan, and positioned astride the border close to Sardasht.
I think he was thinking one thing there and wrote another. SAIRI would be on the confrontationist side. Badr Brigades is a SAIRI armed wing...
The confrontationists for their part have close ties with two other Shiite groups: the Hizb al-Daawah ("Party of the Call") and the Islamic Labor party, both of which have headquarters in Damascus.
Another front, according to Velayati, will be Afghanistan, where Iran has forged close ties with Ismail Khan, the "emir" of Herat, and is arming the Hazara Shiites in Bamiyan and Maydan-Shahr. Still another front could be Azerbaijan, where Iran has won influence in the Talesh region on the Caspian Sea. Ironically, Iran's allies in Azerbaijan are Sunni Muslims opposed to the Shiite majority whose leaders have opted for a pro-American foreign policy complimented by close ties with Turkey. Iran also has considerable influence in Armenia, where, in tandem with Russia, it helped Armenian forces capture the Azerbaijani enclave of High Karabagh [Nagorno-Karabakh] a decade ago.
Don't know where he got that. Any help provided by Iran was minimal. Armenia has historically had ties with both Persia and the west, from the time "Persia" was Parthia and the west was Rome, and they've always made it a balancing act, usually to their detriment...
Velayati insists that Iran should avoid direct confrontation with the U.S. He recommends "the lighting of countless small fires here and there" designed to stretch U.S. forces and, in time, persuade American public opinion that Pax Americana in the Middle East is not worth the price. The major front Velayati envisages will be opened against Israel. Iran is speeding up military supplies to the Lebanese branch of Hezbollah. According to Teheran sources the Lebanese Hezbollah is already in possession of over 10,000 rockets of various descriptions. These include Fajr III and Fajr IV, upgrades of the Soviet-designed Katyusha, with improved ranges of between 50 and 70 km. Although fairly unsophisticated weapons â the rockets lack a proper guiding system â they could, nevertheless, wreak havoc if used in large numbers in a compact and densely populated area.
The fight between the accommodationists and the confrontationists has split Shiite religious opinion with regard to Iraq. Most senior Iraqi and Iranian ayatollahs have issued fatwas approving an alliance with "the Americans infidel" to get rid of Saddam. These include Grand Ayatollah Ali-Muhammad Sistani (in Najaf, Iraq) and Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Muhammad Shirazi (in Qom, Iran). Mullahs linked with the confrontationist faction, however, have issued fatwas urging alliance with "the infidel Saddam and his Baathists" against the U.S. Among these mullahs are Muhammad-Hussein Fadhlallah, spiritual leader of the Lebanese branch of the Hezbollah, and Taqi Muddaressi, a Syrian-backed Iraqi mullah. For the time being then, the confrontation camp seems to be in the ascendant. It is not only gathering wood for the "many fires" envisaged by Velayati, it is also speeding up Iran's nuclear program in the hope of having an "effective deterrent" within two years, the period needed before things become clear in Iraq.
Posted by: Paul Moloney ||
04/19/2003 06:29 am ||
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Sounds like it is time to tell Iran,and Syria"Nail these bastard or we will hammer them".
#2
The logic of liberating Iraq leads directly to the liberation of Iran. Syria is a feint because it is a client state of Iran. Good thing is, Iraq proves that Americans can feel confident the current administration thought about this a long time ago, and that plans for liberating Iran, whatever those plans might be, have long since been established.
#3
A start would be providing support to groups in Iran that seek to throw out the mullahs, and making no effort to hide it. That will be as clear a message as can be sent.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
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Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
