Loyalty of Iraq's elite in doubt

The Guardian ^ | Friday September 20, 2002 | Brian Whitaker

[Robert_Paulson2]

Seems that Hussein fears his "elites" are ready to slit his throat...

[Robert_Paulson2]

Elite forces from Iraq's Republican Guard may not be called upon to protect Saddam Hussein in the event of an American attack - for fear that they might turn against him

We may not even have to fight... to make them switch.

[Robert_Paulson2]

This led to an expansion of the super-elite Special Republican Guard

Would these be the "suicide squads"?

[sneakypete]

I still think there is a small chance he will wait until the last minute,and then go for a villa on the Rivera and keeping his billions in exchange for him stepping down.
"Baby Doc" in Haiti went for this deal,and he was/is every bit as nutty as Hussein.

[Robert_Paulson2]

Indeed...

He must be feeling very threatened... to send his RG's out of town. He must also be thinking the threat is imminent, or he would wait to move them...

[McGavin999]

Darn! Now I'm going to have to sell my villa on the Riviera!

[RightWhale]

Thanks for finding and posting these articles. It's a fair amount of work, and it is appreciated.

And same to the others who also do this in the effort to keep FR informed on the War on Terrorists. Many thanks.

[PhilDragoo]

The multiplicity of forces, intended to keep watch on each other and control Iraqi civilians, leads to rivalries and jealousies which are not conducive to a well-coordinated defence of the regime against an external threat.

But are great fun to watch when the jar is heated and shaken.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Apparently the only "elites" still backing and protecting Sadaam are Kofi Annan, Germany, France, Russia and the rest of the no-account, rotted-out Western European states.

[Robert_Paulson2]

Things are going a little slow tonight... the calm before the storm?

[Scott from the Left Coast]

then go for a villa on the Rivera

They'd like him in France, and he could shack up with Mrs. Arafat until the ol' man comes for his exile. Be a hot time in the chalet that night!

Sadaam and Arafat would fit right in with the sordid buffoons in France or Germany.

[Robert_Paulson2]

daschle... you forgot osami bin daschle....

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Daschle....oh, yeah...he is easy to forget, isn't he?

[Robert_Paulson2]

did you see there is an outbreak of "listeria" in the New Jersey, and New York areas?

CDC is getting SERIOUSLY involved... and they are all from the same strain of the bacteria...

[Robert_Paulson2]

Saw a blurb of breaking news tonight on porland station that we have 800 special forces in a tiny little nation next to YEMEN in potential preparation for an attack on Al Queda in YEMEN in the next few days... KOIN TV...

Probably just misdirection by the defense department... but the calm out there tonight... seems a little unusual.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

What's "listeria"?

[Robert_Paulson2]

Daschle....oh, yeah...he is easy to forget overlook, isn't he? YES, because he's a freakin' midget.

[RightWhale]

a little slow tonight... the calm before the storm?

Maybe so. I have a feeling. . . But then, I have felt this way since 1957, so it isn't something to bank on.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

That would be Oman (the only nation bordering Yemen by land except Saudi Arabia). I'd heard that there were some U.S. forces at a French base in Djbouti (across the straits off the Horn of Africa), but I hadn't heard about any in Oman.

A French base! Go figure.

I bet they do go in and clear out Yemen -- it's a true cess pool of radical Islamics. Wouldn't take all that much and it'd be damn nice payback for the Cole.

[Robert_Paulson2]

http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/chap6.html

Its a bad bug... and one of potential bacteriological and deadly infections that CDC watches... cases are usually very sporadic... and hard to trace. THESE are focused and specific, with the same genetic traits in the different cases reported. per a wnbc4.com "feed room" report