Saddam generals captured in Iraq

BBC ^ | 11-06-03

[Indy Pendance]

US troops in Iraq have captured two former Iraqi army generals in the town of Falluja, US officials have said.

Military sources said the pair are believed to have financed and organised anti-coalition fighters in the area, west of Baghdad.

The Pentagon, meanwhile, has announced plans to send thousands of additional troops to Iraq early next year.

But, defence officials said the number of US troops currently serving in Iraq could be reduced by next May.

Falluja raided

Military officials said the generals were captured by paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division in an early morning raid in Falluja, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Baghdad.

The two men have not been publicly identified, but defence officials say they are suspected of playing a key role into anti-coalition violence in and around the flashpoint town, a bastion of supporters of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

The BBC's Pentagon correspondent Nick Childs says it is not clear just how significant these two new detainees may be.

But, he says, at the very least, Pentagon officials say they hope they could lead to other members of the Iraqi resistance.

Call-up

General Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress that thousands of active duty and part-time National Guard and Reserve troops will be sent to Iraq in 2004.

"It does include a call-up of reserves, it does include use of land forces, it does include the Navy and Air Force with their capabilities to participate," he said.

He said they would be part of a rotation plan and the actual number of soldiers serving in Iraq will be reduced from 132,000 to just over 100,000 in six months' time.

While some US marines were still serving in Iraq recently, the withdrawal of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force in September largely placed the security burden on the regular US army.

'Secret pre-war talks'

Meanwhile, it is reported in America that the influential Pentagon advisor Richard Perle was contacted by an intermediary representing the Iraqis in the days before the war.

The New York Times says the contacts could have been an attempt to get a message from Saddam Hussein relayed to Washington.

Among the information that the Iraqis appeared to want to provide was that they had no weapons of mass destruction.

The New York Times says Mr Perle met an intermediary - a Lebanese businessman - but nothing came of the contacts.

[martin_fierro]

Quagmire.

[maestro]

US troops in Iraq have captured two former Iraqi army generals in the town of Falluja, US officials have said.

Ask any General,.......'When is any General NOT IMPORTANT?'

Good Catch!

Lotsa more fish,.....good fishing!

U.S.A. Troops hunting and fishing in Iraq for 'Largemouth Baathist'.

/sarcasm

[Aeronaut]

U.S.A. Troops hunting and fishing in Iraq for 'Largemouth Baathist'.

Gasping for air as I wipe down my screen...

[Finalapproach29er]

LM *!*&* 'n AO.

[snopercod]

Good news. Let's send Col.Lt. Col. Allen B. West up there to interrogate them.

[AngrySpud]

Put the Largemouth Baathists on a stringer. Keep 'em in the water 'cause they stink even while alive.

[Freebird Forever]

When is any General NOT IMPORTANT?'

When he's running for the presidency with a (d) after his name?

Sorry - couldn't resist.

[Peach]

A good morning news bump!

[DEPUTYMAYTAG]

Wish I'd said that!

[deannadurbin]

The libs will ignore this story.

[Sunshine55]

*whew* As I was scrolling down the headlines this morning before my first cup of coffee I thought the title was "Saddam genitals captured in Iraq"....maybe next time!

[sam_paine]

How many freaking generals did they have???!?!??! It's a new one every week! Are they regenerating? Were they all Chiefs in the IraqArmy and NO Indians????

[xzins]

The New York Times says Mr Perle met an intermediary - a Lebanese businessman - but nothing came of the contacts.

So, if I read this right, the Administration DID MEET with the Iraqi's spokesperson and NOTHING came of it.

So, where's the beef!

[Quilla]

Exactly my thoughts. If these generals have a clue where Saddam is hiding or could provide info to thwart attacks on our troops, let Lt. Col. West handle the interrogation.

[r9etb]

If the BBC's correspondent can come this close to saying they were important, they must be bigshots indeed.

According to a different thread on the topic, one or both generals were financing a lot of the Fallujah-area resistance, and they were caught with a significant weapons stash.

[Arrowhead1952]

Good News Ping

[daviddennis]

I think Saddam needed a lot of Generals because the mortality rate in that position is sky-high.

D

[Coop]

Posted yesterday.