[propertius]

Here is story in full:

Headline: Khidhur (or Khidhir) al-Douri, back from the dead, reveals three nuclear missiles

Sources in the Interior ministry and the National Security Advisor's Office refused to comment on news reports that three missiles with nuclear warheads had been seized during the arrest of Khidhur al-Douri, the former Ba'ath party member.

Iraqi political sources, who requested anonimity, inisisted that Iraqi security authorities arrested al-Douri and seized the missiles.

The same sources told al-Sabah that al-Douri, who held meany Ba'ath party positions during the former regime, was falsely pronounced dead on its demise. Forged death certificates had been circulated.

He was arrested in an area between Oja and al-Dour, in Salahidine province.

The same sources said three missiles were found with nuclear heads attached in a tunnel six metres underground.

A cement layer six metres thick had been built over the tunnel to hide it from scientific ray detection that could detect the radiation emitted by the nuclear heads.

The tunnel leading to the three missiles is connected to a small hole that opens out on the main road between Ouja and Dour.

The sources said al-Douri was arrested after sending an email, specifying the location and a meeting place in Tikrit.

Authorities analysed the message. Iraqi forces then moved into the area, laying a trap that snared al-Douri and his son.

Al-Douri then revealed the location of the missiles. Various light weapons and money was also seized during the operation.

ENDS

[adam_az]

please update the story with the post I am replying to.

[Keith in Iowa]

Oy vey...again. Crikey!! If confirmed, the 'Rats are going to be deeply saddened.

[vger]

I hope its true. If it is Bush has been vindicated and al Kerry is history (down the tube socks).

[Keith in Iowa]

Meanwhile, over at DU...

That story of three nukes found in Iraq has to be total BS...but if they're there, Bush planted 'em to screw up the coverage of the convention...

[Travis McGee]

Khidhur al-Douri, if this story is true, has decided to "come in from the cold." Running and hiding must have gotten rather tedious.

A standard procedure when defecting is to deliver a "bride price" as part of a negotiated settlement, to ensure that one is not going to go to the gallows or to a small cell for life. Typically defecting spies bring over the most valuable secrets they could steal before flipping sides as their bride price.

Three hidden nukes is a hell of a convincing bride price, if true.

[conservative in nyc]

Ouja is near Tikrit. It is Saddam's birthplace. From MSNBC:

Situated along the banks of the Tigris just south of Tikrit, the village of Ouja was once the ultimate bastion of loyalty to Saddam Hussein. Dun-colored villas until recently owned by the dictator's family members, including Saddam's sister and his first wife—mother of his late sons Qusay and Uday—loom along the palm-fringed banks of the Tigris, not far from the hut where the former Iraqi dictator was born more than six decades ago.

[MEG33]

This will be all over our national TV if true...I await confirmation and thank you. I always wait for verification because of false alarms we have endured.

[weegee]

Media Schadenfreude and Media Shenanigans PING

See post #171 for translated article.

[conservative in nyc]

There's a map of the Tikrit area here:

I think the article is talking about the area on the right (east) side of the Tigris river from the town of Ad Dowr (another spelling of Dour) to the point where the Tigris takes a sharp left turn, where Ouja should be (Ouja means "the turning" so named because of its location on a sharp bend of the Tigris River 8 kilometers south of Tikrit).

Saddam was born in Ouja and captured in Dour. And Khidur's name suggests he's from Dour, as well.

This makes the story a little more credible, but it's still rumor, not fact.

[nopardons]

bttt