Posted on 06/19/2007 11:06:17 AM PDT by Starman417
In December 2002, Russia’s Middle East envoy, Yevgeny Primakov (former Russian Intelligence Chief), flew to Baghdad under the front of making one last chance for peace with the dictator. As soon as his plane landed, it was allegedly loaded with “sensitive materials” and flown directly to Belarus. People speculate as to whether or not it was WMD, WMD equipment, documents, people, or things the Russians didn’t want the US to get their hands on, but in any event…the plane was loaded with things the US wanted. He also allegedly brought Russian GPS jammers to confuse American satellite-guided bombs, night vision goggles, special anti-tank missiles, and Russian advisors.
American forces found the jammers, and that’s no secret since the Air Force was happy to boast that the jammers were ineffective (USAF just boosted the signal from their satellites so that it was “louder” than those from the jammers).
Syria and Russia both sent night-vision sights and goggles to Iraq, and they were recovered by American forces.
The anti-tank missiles did stop an Abrams tank and kill its crew. Others reportedly were ineffective, but evidence of their use is indisputable given the unique signature that their shaped charge left on the tanks that were hit.
Two Russian Generals, Gen. Vladimir Achalov, a former commander of airborne and rapid-reaction forces, and Gen. Igor Maltsev, a leading expert in air defense systems were reported in Baghdad up until 6 days before the war. During their “visit” they were photographed being given medals by Iraqi Defence Minister Sultan Hashim Akhmed. Other smiley photographs include the two Russian Generals standing with head of the General Staff of the Iraqi Army Izzat Ibragim between them. Upon their return to Russia, the generals were asked why they went on a “last-chance” diplomatic mission. They replied, “We didn't fly to Baghdad to drink coffee.” One wonders if all the elements of the story were proven true, could the claim of “special weapons” being moved out be less true than the other elements?
Immediately after the arrival of the Russians in Baghdad, retired USAF Lt Gen. James R Clapper Jr-then head of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency-monitored an increasing flow of traffic and communication from Iraq to Syria. Former head of the UN’s WMD inspection group, UNSCOM, Richard Butler, was asked to review the imagery. He agreed that Iraq appeared to be moving weapons out of Iraq, but did not think that “the Iraqis wanted to give them to Syria, but…just wanted to get them out of the territory, out of range of our inspections.” Syria was prepared to be the custodian of them.” The entire idea was nearly identical to when Saddam sent his entire air force to Iran for safe-keeping during Desert Storm.
Israeli intelligence (flush with human intelligence sources in the region-particularly in Syria, and Lebanon) reported that the increased traffic was Saddam’s repositioning of WMD to Syria. On December 23, 2002, Ariel Sharon stated on Israeli channel 2 television, "Chemical and biological weapons which Saddam is endeavoring to conceal have been moved from Iraq to Syria.” About three weeks later, Israel's foreign minister repeated the accusation. The U.S., British, and Australian governments issued similar statements.
Opponents to the war like to point to the 1000+ pages of the Duelfer Report and summarize it as “NO WMD,” but there’s a lot more to Moby Dick than 5 letters. Not even an elementary school student would dare turn in a 5-letter book report on Melville’s epic. Similarly the ISG’s report contains a lot more than just “NO WMD.” It is a resounding verification that, yes, there was a great deal of ‘something’ secreted out of Saddam’s Iraq into Syria. While the ISG doesn’t claim that it was in fact WMD in those trucks, it does leave that door open because of the clandestine nature and the assembly areas for the convoys that left Iraq for Syria would be consistent with WMD, WMD equipment, documentation, and even personnel.
Given that there is so much evidence that Saddam’s illegal weapons, programs, documents, and equipment existed and were moved rather than did not exist and were destroyed, it seems that logic has turned. There’s simply more evidence it was moved than there is any evidence of WMD destruction. Yet, the debate from those who oppose prefers to ignore evidence and pretend that fictional evidence of destruction exists. That door to reality is creaking open for the opposition, and as such it’s no wonder that the anti-war movement is shattering, the Democratic Party is spinning, and opponents to the war are confused.
Part one here.
I’m not at liberty to answer...
What did Sadam get out of the deal?
Keepin’ dis one...bump
Hung.
F*cked by the Russians.
If only that last line were really true.
Unfortunately, I don’t think it is, but I hope I’m wrong.
As much as I love him, Bush has been piss-poor at communicating with and leading the American people.
He has allowed his opponents to define him and that in turn has left him and our troops vulnerable.
If we could have only kept the support of the majority of Americans in this war on terror and pushed forward HARD, we would be finished by now. Instead we let Kennedy & Reid & Pelosi and Durbin et.al. cause us to waver.
Of course there were WMD’s...he had already used them 3 times...but the media convinced many otherwise.
I don't agree with that. The naysayers have won the propaganda war. If they found anything or a high level Syrian defects with evidence of what Iraq stored there. It would be dismissed as planted evidence and lies.
The thing that no one has explained, however, is if Saddam had a WMD program and that program was then handed over to Syria, why didn’t Saddam ever use WMDs- except back during the Reagan administration.
If he had a program, why were none ever deployed to invade Kuwait, or to defend Kuwait once occupied, or to defend Iraq once they were driven from Kuwait, or why they were never used while we kept Saddam under our thumb during the 1990’s or during the invasion this time around. If they are in Syria, why didn’t the Syrians use them against the Israelis or Lebanese Army during the hostilities in Beiruit last summer or smuggle some back into Iraq to aid insurgents.
I think if this threat ever existed it would have been deployed.
He didn’t send them to Iran. In the 1991 engagement when Saddam invaded Kuwait and the elder Bush sent in the military, I remember reading that Saddam sent his up-to-date aircraft to be temporarily lodged in Iran. Afterwards, Iran refused to give the aircraft back to Saddam.
The American people aren't capable of supporting any war for more than a few months.
We don't do long protracted war well.
Unless our leaders learn that, and actually go into devastate mode we shouldn't even start.
I think if this threat ever existed it would have been deployed.
Likely reasons that it has not been deployed:
(1) Saddam and his forces no longer had access to the WMD material to deploy it;
(2) Those who have access/custody of the WMD would not benefit by using it and/or would face extreme retaliation if they chose to deploy it;
(3) Deploying the WMD would confirm that the material WAS there and WAS secreted out of Iraq during all the wrangling with the UN;
(4) Deploying the WMD would vindicate Bush and the US and refocus the War on Terrorism against the custodian nation/states (e.g. Syria);
(5) Deploying the WMD would validate the pre-emptive strike against Iraq by showing the danger they posed and would increase the perceived importance of dealing with Iran before it achieves true nuclear warfare capability (not to mention that it would probably result in massive airstrikes that would literally wipe Damascus off the map.)
The Syrians probably believe that once Bush is gone the US resolve to respond fiercely and decisively if they deploy the WMD will have waned.
Are you serious? Saddam used WMDs on the Kurds in his own country. It does not matter when he used them, Reagan administration or not. He had them. Unless you wish to deny that he killed the Kurds using chem weapons. I'm sure the Kurds have a different take on that.
Put a little thought into this. You don't need WMDs to overrun a small country like Kuwait so you don't use them there. You don't defend Kuwait with them either because the opponents are armed with much bigger, nastier stuff than what you have. And once you are thrown out of Kuwait, you only use them as a last ditch defence when you have nothing else to lose because the opponents are armed with much bigger, nastier stuff than what you have. And when the war is not hot, you don't use them anyway.
WMDs are a big escalator and despite the fact that he was a beast, Saddam was not nuts.
AUDIO TAPE of Gen Michael DeLong, deputy of general Tommy Franks, CENTCOM commander
“How the US army satellites saw trucks with Saddam’s WMDs driving to Syria”
http://www.eyeonbooks.com/ibp.php?ISBN=0895260204
A top Pentagon official who was responsible for tracking Saddam Hussein’s weapons programs before and after the 2003 liberation of Iraq, has provided the first-ever account of how Saddam Hussein “cleaned up” his weapons of mass destruction stockpiles to prevent the United States from discovering them.
“The short answer to the question of where the WMD Saddam bought from the Russians went was that they went to Syria and Lebanon,” former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense John A. Shaw told an audience Saturday at a privately sponsored “Intelligence Summit” in Alexandria, Va. (www.intelligencesummit.org).
“They were moved by Russian Spetsnaz (special forces) units out of uniform, that were specifically sent to Iraq to move the weaponry and eradicate any evidence of its existence,” he said.
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2006/2/18/233023.shtml?s=lh
Ask Israelis. They received Scuds in 1991.
If Scud is no WMD, please let me know what really is.
and the war was won!!!!
Maybe Reedi and Peeoso need a personal plunge of similar flavor to modify their opinions!
If he had a program, why were none ever deployed to invade Kuwait, or to defend Kuwait once occupied, or to defend Iraq once they were driven from Kuwait, or why they were never used while we kept Saddam under our thumb during the 1990’s or during the invasion this time around. If they are in Syria, why didn’t the Syrians use them against the Israelis or Lebanese Army during the hostilities in Beiruit last summer or smuggle some back into Iraq to aid insurgents.
I think if this threat ever existed it would have been deployed.
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This statement is light weight in logic. We told Saddam if he use WMD’s in Kuwait, we would turn Bagidad into shinny glass.
You need to read up on the backdoor communications that goes beyond the news the general sheep feeding level citizen sees.. IE MSM.
If he had a program, why were none ever deployed to invade Kuwait, or to defend Kuwait once occupied, or to defend Iraq once they were driven from Kuwait, or why they were never used while we kept Saddam under our thumb during the 1990’s or during the invasion this time around. If they are in Syria, why didn’t the Syrians use them against the Israelis or Lebanese Army during the hostilities in Beiruit last summer or smuggle some back into Iraq to aid insurgents.
I think if this threat ever existed it would have been deployed.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
This statement is light weight in logic. We told Saddam if he use WMD’s in Kuwait, we would turn Bagidad into shinny glass.
You need to read up on the backdoor communications that goes beyond the news the general sheep feeding level citizen sees.. IE MSM.
“You need to read up on the backdoor communications that goes beyond the news the general sheep feeding level citizen sees.. IE MSM.”
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Ahhh, see I didn’t know that we had threatened to put Saddam on super secret probation. Now it all makes sense.
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