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35 Iraqi officials arrested over coup plot: report
Reuters ^ | December 18, 2008 | Joanne Allen

Posted on 12/17/2008 10:33:19 PM PST by smokingfrog

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - About 35 Iraqi officials have been arrested at the interior ministry, some accused of planning a coup, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing senior security officials in Baghdad.

The arrests over the past three days were carried out by an elite counterterrorism force that reports directly to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, the report said.

Senior security officials said there was significant evidence tying those arrested to Al Awda, a group accused of working to reconstitute the Baath Party of late Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein, the Times reported.

The newspaper cited a high-ranking interior ministry official as saying those affiliated with Al Awda had paid bribes to other officers to recruit them and that huge amounts of money had been found in the raids.

Critics of Maliki accuse him of using arrests to consolidate power a month ahead of provincial elections, the Times said.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: alawda; coup; coupplot; coupplots; iraq

1 posted on 12/17/2008 10:33:19 PM PST by smokingfrog
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To: smokingfrog
Hmmm... A coup to impose the rule of a Hussein. Sounds like the Iraqis did a better job thwarting this, than we did.

Al Awda, a group accused of working to reconstitute the Baath Party of late Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein

A bit late... now that he and his sons are in hell. As a consolidation they can now cheer our Hussein.

2 posted on 12/17/2008 10:41:18 PM PST by SolidWood (Sarah Palin - Everything that is Sweetness and Light! WE STAND WITH HER!)
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To: smokingfrog

Watch and see how Iraq treats their dims.

LLS


3 posted on 12/18/2008 4:20:45 AM PST by LibLieSlayer (MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! so sue me!)
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To: smokingfrog
This is really weird because the Ministry of Interior is decidedly VERY Shia and they hated Saddam Hussein.

I spent a little over a year working directly with the MOI (just finished that mission April of this year before moving on to my current one) and it was Shia rule all the way.

I'm just getting back from three weeks at home on R&R. I just arrived in Kuwait earlier this eveining and will be back in Iraq this weekend. I will definitely check this one out.

4 posted on 12/18/2008 10:22:19 AM PST by Allegra ( Jet-lag...it's a state of being.)
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To: Allegra

Stay safe.


5 posted on 12/18/2008 12:45:37 PM PST by usurper (Spelling or grammatical errors in this post can be attributed to the LA City School System)
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To: usurper
Thanks. Will do.

Look for my shameless, useless "Five Years in Iraq Anniversary" vanity thread on January 18th. Heh, heh...

6 posted on 12/18/2008 12:50:58 PM PST by Allegra ( Jet-lag...it's a state of being.)
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To: smokingfrog

I’m sure that Syria’s president Assad was SHOCKED! Shocked to hear about a Bath’ist coup attempt in Iraq.


7 posted on 12/18/2008 4:06:55 PM PST by PsyOp (Put government in charge of tire pressure, and we'll soon have a shortage of air. - PsyOp.)
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To: Allegra
update & correction - NYT article

Sounds like some of it had to do with allegations of corruption.

P.S. Hope you enjoyed your R&R. Too bad you can't be home for Christmas.

8 posted on 12/18/2008 4:16:51 PM PST by smokingfrog (I'll go green when they plant me in the ground.)
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