Ijaz: Spectacular WMD Attack Planned for Iraq

NewsMax ^ | 1/15/04 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Plans for a spectacular attack on coalition forces in Iraq that would use chemical or biological weapons to kill up to 5,000 soldiers and civilians may be well underway, Fox News Mideast analyst Mansoor Ijaz is warning.

"I have now heard three times in the last week, from separate sources that I have been talking to, that something big is being planned for Baghdad," Ijaz told Fox News "Special Report" host Brit Hume on Tuesday.

"The idea that is being put forward is to kill as many as 3,000 to 5,000 people at one shot; something that would be similar to a World Trade Center type of attack," he said.

Ijaz, who in Dec. 2001 blew the lid off the Clinton administration's decision not to accept multiple offers for Osama bin Laden's extradition to the US, detailed the accounts of Kurdish sources, who say they intercepted a convoy carrying suspicious cargo.

"About three days ago in the northern part of Iraq," said Ijaz, "a convoy of trucks and jeeps and cars was brought across from Iran where some of the Kurdish Peshmergah . . . They intercepted one of those trucks that were carrying a large warhead that had extremely sophisticated plastic -- C- 4 plastic explosives in it."

Ijaz said that once interrogated, the driver admitted that there were a total of 30 warheads that were scheduled to be imported to Iraq from Iran.

"We are told now that somewhere between six and 12 of them may have, in fact, been laden with chemical explosives that would be then attached to a rocket of some sort inside Iraq that's already there in a separate convoy."

There whereabouts of both convoys is currently unknown, said Ijaz.

How credible are his sources?

"They're unimpeachable," he told Hume. "I think they've been right all along."

[Political Junkie Too]

I recall, as you do, that Ijaz made many predictions that haven't panned out. Maybe it's because he blew the whistle, or may it's because he was blowing smoke. I don't know.

My guess as to why the Bush Administration isn't using Ijaz is that he "outed" himself over the Sudan/OBL affair, and is no use as a discrete negotiator anymore.

-PJ

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Actually, he and Woolsey belong in the same Think Tank and run in the same group. From what I have seen they are pretty much in agreement.

[eastforker]

When you want to get info out without drawing attention to yourself you use someone you can obtain deniability. Read some pre 911 bio on Ijaz, he may not be what he appears to be. He may not be CIA but but I would wager one of the other alphabets handle him.

[Lady Heron]

If the WMD have to be imported from Iran, isn't just boosting the argument that there were no WMD in Iraq?

No, look for all of the threads right before the war screaming about the convoys of trucks spotted leaving Iraqi army compounds headed for Iran and Syria. The weapons are getting away!!! If we do not go in now it will be to late! and so on...

[Boot Hill]

If Mansoor Ijaz and his sources are being truthful, then what they say should survive a little BS check or sanity check of the assertions presented in this story.

Claim:   "They intercepted one of those trucks that were carrying a large warhead that had extremely sophisticated plastic -- C- 4 plastic explosives in it."
Analysis:   Look at the unnecessary and telling hype in that sentence.

• LOL, "extremely sophisticated C4"? As opposed to what, merely sophisticated C4 or just plain old C4?
• While the claim of C4 adds an extra "gee whiz" factor to the story, the reality is that no professional would select C4 for a large warhead because the unnecessary plasticizer would reduce the explosive charge by about 10%.
• C4 is not widely available in the Middle East, but Semtex is.
• And how did they determine it was C4? Was it wrapped in polyethylene containers printed "Demolition Block, M5A1" LOL?
• They intercepted that truck out of a large convoy of trucks jeeps and cars and nobody else in the convoy noticed that happen or took any action? *cough*
• And that truck and "large warhead" are located where now, in the hands of coalition forces? And the other journalists are just sitting on this story?

Claim:   "Ijaz said that once interrogated, the driver admitted that there were a total of 30 warheads that were scheduled to be imported to Iraq from Iran"
Analysis:   Now does that make any sense? In a sneak attack where the only chance of success depends on absolute secrecy and stealth, that they would allow a low level truck driver to know such intimate details of the intended operations? Only Westerners are smart enough to respect operational security?

While it would be foolish to totally discount this story, my sense is that it just doesn't pass the smell test.

--Boot Hill

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Add to your list the fact that Pearl was born in Israel and held Israeli citizenship...

[nutmeg]

FoxFan ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my FoxFan list. *Warning: This can be a high-volume ping list at times.

[mike1sg]

Getting it out now, I really don't believe a word of this one.

[mystery-ak]

He may be right this time...where's your suit?

[mike1sg]

I have it on right now, didn't want you to worry. Seriously it's right here under my bed. Kind of dusty though.

[mystery-ak]

Print this out for your troops and show it to the Major.

[mike1sg]

OK, I think I just put it on my memory stick, not sure.
Will check it in a minute.

[mike1sg]

Love you new tag line line by the way.

[Ciexyz]

....we are justified establishing an offensive position in the midst of that nest.

Well said. I agree.