Saddam 'Actively Involved' In Directing Attacks On US Troops (New)

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 12-21-2003 | Philip Sherwell

[blam]

Saddam 'actively involved' in directing attacks on the US forces

By Philip Sherwell in Baghdad
(Filed: 21/12/2003)

Saddam Hussein was personally directing the post-war insurgency inside Iraq, playing a far more active role than previously thought, American intelligence officers have concluded since his capture.

Despite the bewildered appearance of the deposed dictator when he was hauled from his hiding-hole last weekend, he is believed to have been issuing regular instructions on targets and tactics through five trusted lieutenants.

US soldiers arresting former Iraqi officers and Ba'ath party members in Tikrit last month

This conclusion could have serious implications for his status in United States custody. American officials have made clear that he will lose his rights as a prisoner of war if he was involved in the post-war violence.

Documents found in his briefcase when he was caught indicated that he had been kept informed of the progress of the insurgency but they did not suggest he had overall control of operations by former Ba'ath Party loyalists.

However, since the arrest and interrogation of guerrilla leaders named in the paperwork, US investigators believe that Saddam was at the head of an elaborate network of rebel cells.

They have put together a detailed picture of Saddam's support structure while in hiding. This enabled him to issue commands without the use of satellite phones that could be picked up by monitoring devices.

The Telegraph has also learned that millions of dollars to support the insurgency were recovered in raids on other suspected Saddam safe houses. US officials say he was in regular contact with five "enablers" - veterans of his feared security services drawn from his power base of Tikrit.

Each man had his own responsibility: logistics, financing, planning, operations and as chief of staff. It was the last of these, picked up in a swoop in Baghdad nine days ago, who gave away Saddam's hiding place.

"They knew where he was and they were able to travel to him or meet him somewhere," said Major Stan Murphy, the intelligence officer for the 4th Infantry Division's 1st Brigade, which captured the deposed dictator.

The enablers kept Saddam informed and passed his commands to a second layer of subordinates, who headed rebel cells in flashpoint cities such as Samarra and Fallujah and who passed the orders down through several tiers to the lowest level operatives.

"He would give very general guidance like, 'Hey, I'd like to see more attacks,' " the major said. "His enablers would then go out to the various tiers below them and give specific guidance, money and weapons."

By capturing Saddam and several leaders of his Fedayeen fighters, the Americans believe that they have dealt a serious blow to the Ba'athist insurgency.

It is unclear, however, whether the recent breakthroughs will have a significant impact on the home-grown and foreign Islamic fundamentalist guerrillas motivated by religious fervour and hatred of America.

Meanwhile, two more attacks were reported on former senior Ba'athists in the holy city of Najaf, where Shia Islamic leaders have also been targeted. In one incident, the five-year-old son of a former Ba'athist official was shot dead when attackers fired at his mother.

[sam_paine]

American officials have made clear that he will lose his rights as a prisoner of war if he was involved in the post-war violence.

Stick a fork in Dean. This makes the "Mission Accomplished" and "End of Major Operations" pronouncement by Bush as the time when war hostilities should've ceased. Beyond that, Saddam was a terrorist.

Dean etal have to make the case that Bush shouldn't have marked that point and that Saddam should then still deserve POW treatment.

[Lazamataz]

Despite the bewildered appearance of the deposed dictator when he was hauled from his hiding-hole last weekend, he is believed to have been issuing regular instructions on targets and tactics through five trusted lieutenants.

Now we know why liberals were so upset Saddam was caught.

It means less dead American soldiers.

That is something that must crush their spirit.

[Lazamataz]

Stick a fork in Dean.

That ain't good. We should prop Dean up.

Clarke is aiming to put Hitlery as the VP candidate. It's a win-win-win for them all. The libs will flock to the Clarke ticket. Hillary, if she loses, will have national presidential campaign exposure. And if Clark/Clinton wins, Hillary makes sure the bolts on Air Force One are loose.

[SandRat]

I can hardly wait for this to break into the media. Ought to be good for a real laugh to see how they try to spin this.

[CasearianDaoist]

Clark/Hillary? that is more of a losing ticket than Dean/Gephart. Bring it on!

[Squantos]

............. RATS !

[TomGuy]

Alright!

Penalty flag for piling on!



Come on, now, give the libs and the Dems a break....they've had enough bad news this week to last a whole Presidential election cycle.

Penalty assessed: 1"

Onward.....O Osaaaaaaammmmaaaaa! [during the Dem Convention???????? ]

[Agnes Heep]

Now we know why liberals were so upset Saddam was caught.
It means less dead American soldiers.
That is something that must crush their spirit.

True, and I think it goes a bit beyond that. They were banking on dead American soldiers in order to achieve political gains. Disgusting pieces of filth, to a man.

[truth_seeker]

A friend (x-navy enlisted) just commented proudly, on behalf of all enlisted, that Saddam was captured by a private and a corporal.

[cwb]

Maybe it's my imagination...and wishful thinking, but it seems that since the capture of Saddam, not only do the attacks appear to be down, but US forces seem to be on the offensive. I'm just not hearing the daily barrage of bad news I've become accustomed to from the media. Am I missing these stories or is this the turning point.

[TomGuy]

A friend (x-navy enlisted) just commented proudly, on behalf of all enlisted, that Saddam was captured by a private and a corporal.

It would be great to see some of their letters to family and friends. lol.

[TomGuy]

The media, the left, the liberals, the Dems were so shocked and awed by so many recent events, they had to take a breather. They couldn't spin fast enough to keep up with the great news items. It tuckered them.

But, not to worry; they will recover and be just as, or more, vicious between now and Nov election 2004. It is still almost a year away and they haven't even begun their attacking.

[07055]

I believe that most FReepers were opposed to the Kosovo war. However, I can't remember any of us who wished that American solders/airman would die so that we could show that Clinton was wrong in getting us involved in that pointless war.

The RATS high five each other each time an American serviceman is hurt in Iraq. They are disgusting and we can't let them win.

[okie01]

"A friend (x-navy enlisted) just commented proudly, on behalf of all enlisted, that Saddam was captured by a private and a corporal."

And the intelligence officers who figured out where to send the private and corporal were a.) a reserve lieutenant (female) and b.) a corporal who was a 34-yr old English teacher on 9/10/01, quit his job and enlisted.

All in all, it was a triumph of the ordinary American. Special people from a special country...

[PISANO]

Stick a fork in Dean. This makes the "Mission Accomplished" and "End of Major Operations" pronouncement by Bush as the time when war hostilities should've ceased. Beyond that, Saddam was a terrorist.

Don't count on the average Socialist/Marxist Dean supporter to understand what you just pointed out, however IF they do get it, don't expect them to give a damn.

[AF68]

But..but, on the Today Show, Qatie al-Qouric grit her teeth and told Lt. Gen. Sanchez that it was obvious that Saddam was in no position to be in command of anything. The farmhouse didn't even have a phone!

[Ann Archy]

Even Clark isn't stupid enough to have Hillary as VP.....although they could leak it to the media and then VOILA Clark could not accept the Hildebeast. It's the same scenario that Gore got with Joey....the Cliontons leaked Joe as VP 6 HOURS before Gore called Joey.

[basque69]

Dean's comment that America is no safer than before 9/11 is utterly scurrilous.It says that he is betting that America will be hit this year and he will be able to reap the harvest. The Democraps have a vested interest in disaster.

[Lazamataz]

Even Clark isn't stupid enough to have Hillary as VP....

Let's remember this. If I'm wrong, I'll be embarrassed. If you're wrong, you get to be embarrassed. :o)