ABC News - Three Key Leaders Believed Killed in Baghdad

B A G H D A D, Iraq, March 21 — Three top Iraqi leaders — including Saddam Hussein's cousin, the infamous "Chemical Ali" — are believed to have been killed in what would be a major blow to the regime's defense against the U.S.-led onslaught, CIA officials told ABCNEWS.

ABCNEWS' Brian Ross reported that the three critical Iraqi officials — Taha Yasin Ramadan, Izatt Ibrahaim al Douri, and Ali Hassan Majid, known as Chemical Ali — are believed to have died in Wednesday night's "decapitation attack," the opening salvo of the war. CIA officials said they reached this conclusion based on radio traffic analysis.

"Chemical Ali" earned his chilling nickname by using chemical weapons to suppress a Kurdish rebellion in Northern Iraq in 1987 and 1988. Hundreds of villages were razed, and more than 100,000 Kurds died.

Meanwhile, over Baghdad, sirens sounded another warning over Baghdad following U.S.-led bombings that pummeled the city, and bombs and missiles continued to rain over targets across the country.

"This is much, much, more than anything we've had earlier," ABCNEWS' Richard Engel reported from Baghdad as attack aircraft were heard over the city for the first time in this war. "It's hard to even see the western side of the city through all the smoke."

While the series of devastating bombings appear to have paused over Baghdad, there were reports of new explosions heard near the northern Iraqi cities of Mosul and Kirkuk and in the village of Sergat.

Defense officials said the air campaign would continue for 24 hours (until approximately 1 a.m. ET) as a "continually rolling operation" involving 1,500 total sorties by missiles and strike aircraft.

Meanwhile, in another major development, U.S. military sources said that the commander of Iraq's 51st division and his top deputy surrendered to U.S. marine forces today. This was the division charged with defending Basra, a key strategic city south of Baghdad. It was the first time that the commander of an Iraqi division has surrendered to allied forces.

Taha Yasin Ramadan is a member of Saddam Hussein's inner circle and is known as one of the Iraqi president's "enforcers. Vice-President Ramadan is often sent abroad as the Iraqi leader's envoy and has held numerous senior posts since the Baath Party seized power in 1968. He once led the Popular Army, a large paramilitary force tasked with protecting the regime. It was disbanded in 1991 when he became vice-president. When made industry minister in the 1970s, he reportedly told colleagues: "I don't know anything about industry. All I know is that anyone who doesn't work hard will be executed." He has been accused by Iraqi exiles of crimes against humanity for his role in crushing the Shia uprising in southern Iraq in 1991 and his alleged involvement in the killing of thousands of Kurds in the north in 1988. Born to a peasant family in the northern region of Mosul, he worked as a bank clerk after completing his secondary education. He rose through the ranks of the Baath Party, and joined the regime's powerful Revolution Command Council after the coup. He still sits on it today. (Well, actually, NOT ANY MORE!!!) Known abroad as a hawk who does not mince his words, he recently suggested that Saddam Hussein and US President George W Bush should settle their differences in a duel with weapons of their choice. Mr Ramadan once described the 1991 Gulf War as a victory for Baghdad since it marked "the beginning of saying no to the forces of aggression". Together with Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz and Foreign Minister Naji Sabri, he made the rounds of Arab nations during the pre-war standoff with the United States. "US threats will not scare us," he is quoted as saying. Washington has shown considerable interest in him for some time, after opposition forces claimed he hosted Osama Bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, in Baghdad in 1998. He recently told the pan-Arab MBC television channel the Bush administration "is Zionist... more Zionist than the Jews". Mr Ramadan has survived a number of assassination attempts, including two in 1997 and one in 1999. There are reports that he disagreed with Saddam Hussein over economic policies in the 1980s. Unlike others who have taken issue with the Iraqi leader, Mr Ramadan lived to tell the tale and is arguably stronger today than ever. (From BBC)

Islamic Summit Rocked as Iraq Slams Kuwait;Shut up you ... (U.S.) agent, you monkey.

In a clash caught on live television before the Qatar state broadcaster shut down transmission, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's top aide Izzat Ibrahim departed from his text to zero in on the Kuwaitis sitting across the conference chamber.

"Shut up you minion, you (U.S.) agent, you monkey. You are addressing Iraq," Ibrahim said. "You are insolent. You are a traitor to the Islamic nation," he spat out as Qatar's Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani tried to shut him up.

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's top aide Izzat Ibrahim

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Bad News for www.DemocraticUnderground.com