US troops in Iraq: report

news.com ^ | July 1, 2002 | AFP

[Nachum]

BEIRUT: Dozens of US troops and intelligence services had been sent into northern Iraq from Jordan under a plan to overthrow President Saddam Hussein, a Lebanese newspaper reported yesterday.

In a story datelined London, As-Safir daily quoted "well informed diplomatic sources" as saying Washington "has launched a security and military operation in Iraq".

Central Intelligence Agency chief George Tenet had "personally visited northern Iraq during his last tour of the region and had given orders to start the security plan after US President George W. Bush (recently) approved a decision to ask the CIA to overthrow Saddam", the source said.

The paper, which maintains close relations with the Syrian leadership, said forward bases for US troops had been set up in Jordan.

"Jordanian King Abdullah has given orders to clear two military airports in Jordan for the US forces. About 2000 US troops have been deployed in Jordan so far," the newspaper said.

"Dozens of those US soldiers, along with CIA agents, have been sent into Iraqi territory."

The sources said the US had started a "flurry of contacts with various forces among the Iraqi opposition, and there are great difficulties in forming a coalition similar to the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan".

"Intensive contacts are being held with both the Kurdish and Shi'ite opposition in order to establish springboards for potential operations," sources said.

They added that Washington had first approached Saudi Arabia, which "refused to let its territory be used for any military attack against Iraq".

Jordan vehemently denied the newspaper report.

"Nothing that was written is true, there is not a single American soldier on the Jordanian territory," Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan Moasher said.

Meanwhile, an Iraqi opposition leader has told Arab satellite news channel Al-Jazeera that the US has drafted a plan to kill Saddam.

Former Iraqi intelligence chief Wafiq Sammarai said Washington was tracking Saddam's movements through satellite data and human intelligence, with the plan to order air strikes "to try to kill him".

Mr Sammarai, who defected from Iraq in 1994 and joined the London-based Iraqi National Congress opposition group, called the plan "serious".

But he stressed he did "not think this operation was going to come soon".

"If they fail (in killing Saddam), they could conduct raids against several targets," Sammarai said, adding he was in contact with the Kurdish opposition enclave in northern Iraq.

Mr Sammarai also dismissed the Lebanese newspaper report.

The Washington Post reported last month that Mr Bush had ordered the CIA to draft plans for toppling the Iraqi dictator.

[Dog Gone]

When we invade Iraq, we won't first learn of it from a rag in Lebanon.

[RightWhale]

They ought to go ahead and build a couple of bases inside Iraq. Fortify them against Scuds and let Saddam try to attack with ground forces.

[Husker24]

I say we forget this coalition crap and just kill him ourselves.

[Brilliant]

My suspicion is that this story was put out to make Saddam take action.

[BlackVeil]

Interesting story. It is useful to see what is being reported, and there might be some basis for these reports. I think that there must be some people on the ground in Iraq - intelligence gathering - but probably not in any numbers, because what of the risk of being killed or captured?

[Paleo Conservative]

BEIRUT: Dozens of US troops and intelligence services had been sent into northern Iraq from Jordan under a plan to overthrow President Saddam Hussein, a Lebanese newspaper reported yesterday.

I wish the press would give us precise coordinates instead of vague generalities. Also I would like to know the date and time that this attack is supposed to occur. The press is really dropping the ball on this story.