Saddam Hussein ordered the murder of General al-Darraj , a senior Iraqi missile engineer ...

http://www.theage.com.au/handheld/articles/2003/03/02/1046540068557.htm ^ | March-03-2003 | David Wastell, Julian Coman

[cutiedieuvan]

West seeks to verify murder of waverer By David Wastell, Julian Coman Washington March 3 2003

Western intelligence agencies are investigating claims that Saddam Hussein ordered the murder of a senior Iraqi missile engineer to prevent him from passing vital information to United Nations weapons inspectors.

General Muhammad Sa'id al-Darraj, in charge of Iraq's mobile Scud missiles until three months ago, died 24 hours after talks with President Saddam's officials, according to Arab newspaper reports. The officials wanted to discuss how the general would conceal his knowledge if he were called for interview by the UN.

The London-based Al-Zaman newspaper said General al-Darraj told relatives shortly before he died that he had been slipped a poisoned drink during the meeting at one of President Saddam's presidential palaces.

Iraqi opposition groups suspect the general's loyalty to President Saddam was in doubt after he was removed from his post at the end of last year. British Government officials are still trying to corroborate the report.

US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld put further pressure on Iraq by linking senior Iraqi officials to a new list of 24 crimes for which detainees in the war on terrorism could be tried by US military tribunals.

Mr Rumsfeld said war crime suspects in the regime might be taken to Guantanamo Bay, where about 650 al-Qaeda suspects are being held, after any military action. Pentagon officials said President Saddam and other top Baath Party activists could be tried for crimes against Kurds in northern Iraq and Shia Muslims in the south. Mr Rumsfeld said that the 19-page list was a codification of existing laws of war to take account of the new landscape of international terrorism.

- Telegraph

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[TADSLOS]

The officials wanted to discuss how the general would conceal his knowledge if he were called for interview by the UN

"Is that your final answer?!

General al-Darraj: "I'd like to phone a friend"

Very well, you have 60 seconds.

General al-Darraj: Hello, Hans?!

[princess leah]

"officials wanted to discuss with the general how we would answer questions from the UN officials" Saddam interrogators ask the general "IS THIS YOUR FINAL ANSWER?"
(I guess he was on the Iraqi TV show "Who Wants to Be A Dead Iraqi Scientist")

[Stultis]

Tip of the iceberg, as we will be learning soon enough in liberated Iraq.

[alloysteel]

A priceless liberty denied to the subjects of the regime now in control of Iraq: the right, indeed the duty, to blow the whistle on perceived unlawful activity.

It is a good thing when the whistleblowers come out and reveal serious dereliction of duty, in corporations or in government, in this country. First Amendment rights and all, and it makes a lot of interesting stories. But does it become a bad thing to do a similar thing in lands under extremely repressive regimes? Well, a whole lot more dangerous. Heroic acts are not always rewarded in this lifetime.

Those who would countenance this blot on humanity and justice are themselves defending only the forces of evil. One more little addition to the burden of guilt that lies upon the Ba'athist regime, and Saddam Hussein himself.

[VRWC_minion]

Did he leave a torn up suicide note in his brief case ?

[Teacher317]

Did he leave a torn up suicide note in his brief case?

Yes, he did. It was not his handwriting, it was on Saddam's personal stationery, and it was found 4 hrs after his autopsy, but Iraqi officers are sure that it's authentic. ;^)

[Redcloak]

Thanks... I just snarked Dr. Pepper all over my monitor.

[rs79bm]

MadIvan posted this on 2/28.

[Kay Soze]

Yes maybe but Martin Sheen, Susan Sarandon and george clooney held the guy down while Sadddam poured the elixer down the guys throat!

Saddam kills and tortures in their names.