Iraq recruits suicide army from neighboring states (al-Qaeda alert)

World Tribune ^ | 3/19/03 | World Tribune

[Angelus Errare]

Iraq recruits suicide army from neighboring states

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM Wednesday, March 19, 2003 LONDON — Iraq has mobilized thousands of Islamic volunteers from nearby countries for suicide missions in defense of the Saddam Hussein regime..

Iraqi opposition and Western diplomatic sources said the Islamic volunteers were recruited by Iraqi intelligence agents in Jordan and inspired by Al Qaida and its war against the United States. They said the volunteers have been given a range of duties by Iraqi security forces. They include digging trenches in and around Baghdad and filling them with oil to block the path of advancing U.S. troops. So far, about 100 trenches have been reported.

Other volunteers have been trained in suicide operations. The Islamic combatants have also been instructed in how to kidnap U.S. soldiers.

Many of the foreign volunteers are said to have come from Saudi Arabia and Yemen, Middle East Newsline reported. The sources said the volunteers have arrived from a range of Arab countries and Pakistan. The volunteers were wooed by the prospect of killing American soldiers as well as attractive salaries and incentives pledged by the Saddam regime.

"We are talking about thousands of people and they could play a major role in Saddam's defense as the military collapses in the first wave of U.S. bombings," a diplomatic source who is monitoring the Islamic aid to Saddam said.

On Tuesday, Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz acknowledged that Saudi nationals might have crossed the border into Jordan and made their way to Iraq to fight against the United States.

"We have no information about this," Prince Nayef said. "At the same time we cannot deny it totally. Saudis travel abroad as they wish and I see no point in their participation [in the Iraqi war]."

The sources said a main training ground is located at the Saad military camp northeast of Baghdad. The training is being given by the Special Security unit, or Amn Khass. The unit is headed by Saddam's son, Qusay, who is responsible for defense of the Baghdad area.

The London-based Al Hayat reported on Tuesday that the Islamic volunteers are also being trained in urban warfare. Al Hayat quoted what it termed reliable Iraqi sources that reported that 130 foreign volunteers have arrived in Saad for training.

[Angelus Errare]

And this from a supposedly "secular" regime.

I suspect that these guys may well have been sent or recruited by Zarqawi to reinforce Iraq as repayment for the assistance al-Qaeda has been receiving from the regime.

Anybody surprised that most of 'em are Saudis?

[Grampa Dave]

Nice of them to provide the oil for their own weenie roasts!

[Angelus Errare]

Ping

[VRWC_minion]

No, Iraq offers no terrosit threat. None at all.

[momma mayo]

Hey, this makes eliminating the terrorists much easier, they are all in one place!!!

[dirtboy]

I guess Saddam figured out during the last war that Iraqis are smart enough to surrender to overwhelming military superiority, and is forced to recruit abroad for someone stupid enough to die for him. If this report is true, it's a good sign for our troops.

[eyespysomething]

Saudis travel abroad as they wish and I see no point in their participation [in the Iraqi war]."

except that they all hate us...

[MadJack]

I'd say the more Saudis as suicide bombers, the better. However, considering the "diplomat" source of much of the info, this is probably just another throw-away media piece. Are there suicide bombers there? Yep, probably so. Will we kill them too? Yep. So what's the issue?

[dirtboy]

The volunteers were wooed by the prospect of killing American soldiers as well as attractive salaries and incentives pledged by the Saddam regime.

I guess they're not all that interested in the health plan...

[adam_az]

Our "friends" the Saudis! right.

I wonder how a news agency can have such detailed information about Saudi recruits for Saddam's Martyrs brigades, but the authoritarian Saudi regime which involves it's self in the lives of it's citizens down to monitoring the books and clothing they posess has "no information"...

[N. Theknow]

Behold the Day of MOAB cometh!

Mother Of All Beatings!

[swarthyguy]

Bingo! More two faced weaselly words from the swishy men of the tragic kingdom.

[Angelus Errare]

I think we may well be facing some Kashmiri alumni as well. Note that some these folks are apparently coming from Pakistan.

[FreeTheHostages]

"I see no point in their participation"

There's our "ally," Saudi Arabia. They don't condemn Saudi Arabians who fight against America. They simply "see not point" in it.

It's hard to tell whose a closer ally, Saudi Arabia or France.

[Saturnalia]

Q: How do you deal with a man willing to die for his beliefs?

A: Oblige him.

[Steve_Seattle]

This might actually be good news - get as many Al Quaeda-types as possible into Iraq, so we can finish them off.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Our troops will be happy to assist their suicide.

[MississippiMan]

With the trench digging and other such going on, I find it fascinating that these people in large part continue to prepare for a war as it would've been fought in WWII. Have they no clue what's coming? Seems they would've been at least a LITTLE bit educated in Gulf War I.

MM

[Grampa Dave]

Or the MOAD! MOTHER OF ALL DESERTIONS!

[Grampa Dave]

The Russians taught them how to fight!