Syria captures Saddam's half brother and hands him over to Iraq

CBC News ^ | 2/27/05 | PATRICK QUINN

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

France must've pressured Syria.

A quick dividend from Bush's trip, is my read.

[SevenMinusOne]

A very interesting development if Syria actually did turn this man over (Saddam's half-brother) -

Part of all this reads like a US Op being provided cover to help placate all sides - after the fact - (just my read).

Though if Syria did willingly turn him over look for more names to drop in the very near future (this would signal a definite change is the Syrian position - and completely due to the successful Middle East policies of GWB).

As for WMD's in Syria (Iraqi WMD's - I think that is simply chasing a ghost).

[Uncle Miltie]

This is the precise result of the Bush Administration's pressure on Syria. They popped the zit, and look how many Assad can round up in a heart-beat.

Keep the pressure on, boys!

[Uncle Miltie]

"At least 1,494 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count."

This count after more than 2 years is far fewer than planned for the initial invasion. It also includes about one-third who have died in traffic accidents and other non-combat related fatalities. This represents the lowest casualty rate of any invading army facing any resistance at any time in history.

In addition, there were more murders in Los Angeles last year, and more people die on the highways of the U.S. each week (if recollection serves).

Thanks for clarifying, AP. (NOT!)

[TexKat]

Syria Comment Thoughts on Syrian politics, history and religion. - Blog

Josh's Weblog

In January, former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage went to Damascus, ostensibly to read Bashar Assad the riot act. But we're told his main message was a demand that the Syrians hand over Saddam's half-brother Sabawi Ibrahim Hassan (a.k.a. Sabawi the Tikriti), who is almost certainly supporting the insurgency [in Iraq] from Syria. Damascus has yet to cough him up, though now perhaps it might in an act of token cooperation.

Iraqi Insurgency Groups - GlobalSecurity.org

In January 2005 Iraqi intelligence service director General Mohamed Abdullah Shahwani said that Iraq's insurgency consited of at least 40,000 hardcore fighters, out of a total of more than 200,000 part-time fighters and volunteers who provide intelligence, logistics and shelter. Shahwani said the resistance enjoyed wide backing in the Sunni provinces of Baghdad, Babel, Salahuddin, Diyala, Nineveh and Tamim. Shahwani said the Baath, with a core fighting strength of more than 20,000, had split into three factions. The main one, still owing allegiance to jailed dictator Saddam Hussein, is operating out of Syria. It is led by Saddam's half-brother Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hassan and former aide Mohamed Yunis al-Ahmed, who provide funding to their connections in Mosul, Samarra, Baquba, Kirkuk and Tikrit. Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri is still in Iraq. Two other factions have broken from Saddam, but have yet to mount any attacks. Islamist factions range from Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's al-Qaeda affiliate to Ansar al-Sunna and Ansar al-Islam.

[iopscusa]

When the can of worms that is the ME is finally opened, those WMDs will show up, I'll bet you a 6-pack on it.

What say?

[Miss Behave]

I thank you too, McGavin999, for the info. And thanks, TexKat, for the ping and all your info, too.

[TexKat]

This count after more than 2 years is far fewer than planned for the initial invasion. It also includes about one-third who have died in traffic accidents and other non-combat related fatalities. This represents the lowest casualty rate of any invading army facing any resistance at any time in history.

In addition, there were more murders in Los Angeles last year, and more people die on the highways of the U.S. each week (if recollection serves).

I'm sorry, but I am not one to compare the number of our heros that give/gave their all for our freedom and for the freedom of others to other unfortunate deaths. I do not take their deaths lightly.

[TexKat]

See my post #45, especially the paragraph in blue.

[TexKat]

France must've pressured Syria. A quick dividend from Bush's trip, is my read.

France???

[TexKat]

Lol!!!

[Uncle Miltie]

Me either. But the AP dwells on this particular statistic in every story in an effort to undermine the whole enterprise. Just like they'll publish the number of dead Palestinians without talking about how many blew themselves up.

Just leaving a number hanging out there as an indictment is not reporting, it's advocacy.

[cake_crumb]

Thanks. Had to go do some things, but reading it now

[SevenMinusOne]

When the can of worms that is the ME is finally opened, those WMDs will show up, I'll bet you a 6-pack on it. What say?

You have a deal! - And to be honest in some ways I hope you are correct - But I am one that now believes Saddam's active WMD program ended with the first Gulf War (though, he was still was a threat, he still had all the capabilities to produce WMD's on short notice and after 9-11 we could no longer sit back and allow Saddam to be in power) -

With that said, I think our Intel on an active WMD program in Iraq was simply off - There have been no residuals found of any active WMD program - And while the end product could be moved out of Country - One cannot move all the residuals of a WMD program out of Country - We have had the best of the best hunting and searching for any residuals of an active WMD program - We have found none -

To me President GWB, VP Cheney and SecDef Rumsfeld are all honest men who don't play word games. All have said Saddam did not have the WMD programs we thought he did - (and that is really the bottom line) -

Nor do I see the payoff for Syria is harboring Iraqi WMD's -

But in a way - Here is to hoping I owe you a six-pack someday.

[cake_crumb]

It's no secret that Assad is a bit of a coward, so this could be a start.

[cake_crumb]

"There were death threats against Arabiya's staff in Beirut by the Syrians," the source told Reuters, referring to Syrian intelligence.

Not surprising. Appearing to cooperate to appease the Great Satan on the one hand and trying to maintain a grip on Lebanon with the other. Knew there had to be something more to the story than 30 Saddamites miraculously "captured" and handed right over.

[cake_crumb]

"The videos were broadcast as the Bush administration steps up pressure on Syria to stop meddling in Iraqi affairs by allowing insurgents to cross into the country to fight coalition troops..."

The Sudanese, Egyptians and Syrians are NOT "insurgents".

[SevenMinusOne]

But the AP dwells on this particular statistic in every story in an effort to undermine the whole enterprise. Just like they'll publish the number of dead Palestinians without talking about how many blew themselves up. Just leaving a number hanging out there as an indictment is not reporting, it's advocacy.

You are 100% right about this and the reasons for it by the MSM - However, the bottom line is the American public overwhelmingly support the WOT and with that the War in Iraq - The MSM can try and spin all they want but the fact remains GWB won reelection with the most votes in history and the war effort was the main theme of the entire election.

And the MSM did everything possible to spin, lie and degrade our successes within the WOT during the whole election cycle .....and they still lost to boot.

[TexKat]

The Iraqi Liberation Army - Who are the Iraqi resistance?

4. Other Small Factions: Hamzah Faction, The Iraqi Liberation Army, The White Banners and the Al-Haqq Army share a similar Islamic/nationalist ideology to their larger counterparts.

And

MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base

[cake_crumb]

The mass media has also never kept a running count of IRAQIS killed by terrorists...which they INSIST on calling "insurgents" no matter what country they come in from.