ABC News - Three Key Leaders Believed Killed in Baghdad

ABC News ^

[steveegg]

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."

Air War Has Begun

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.

[Becki]

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.

You lose!!!

Becki

[tessalu]

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's top aide Izzat Ibrahim is
just about as ugly as they can get.

[doug from upland]

Yes, I can't wait for official confirmation about Saddam and his two little demon seeds. If all these people were really there that night, this is one of the most brilliant military moves ever.

[txrangerette]

Howlin, this ? has been settled before
it even came up. A set of thugs, all
key to military command & control, in
war, meeting in one place. Too bad(ha)
if Saddam(a military guy, too) happens
to be among them - they're targets and
LEGIT ONES.

Not the same as civilian assassination
and not prohibited...

[Farnham]

Have we heard anything on Uday's other brothers : Aday,Eday,Iday,Oday and sometimes Yday ?

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

"And like that....he was gone...."

"He's dead, Jim."

[Fury]

Indeed, it is good news that Majid is not around to cause trouble. He was in Saddam's trusted circle and was one of the people that Hussein had confidence in to carry out his wishes. With Majid gone, a large part of the WMD wildcard is not an issue.

[Semper Paratus]

he'd have been on LIVE TV already

He would have named this by now as the "Mother-in-law of All Battles"

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

what was the justification for striking Saddam the other night? I know what they hoped to accomplish, but how did they justify getting around that prohibition?

Enemy combatant (including leadership) in war is fair game.

[Howlin]

So, it was sort of like "One, two, three, GO, bam?"

[Howlin]

[EarlyBird]

(To the tune of "Timothy Leary's Dead")

Chemical Ali's dead.
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, he's splatterred, on the wall.
Chemical Ali's dead.
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, he's splatterred, on the wall.
He'll fly his Al Sammoud,
Takes you trips that are one way,
He won't be back anytime today,
Chemical Ali. Chemical Ali.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

So, it was sort of like "One, two, three, GO, bam?"

That's about it. Or maybe it was "One, twothreego, WHAM!"

BTW, I heard on the radio this morning an account of the last minute decicion making that preceded this event, which was a last minute change in the war plan due to the opportunity that arose. After the round table discussion, GW said "OK, let's go" and the order was given with minutes to spare. Then GW had to give his hurried message from the oval office that the war was on. from what I have heard, the strike was probably VERY successful.

This can be contrasted with the recent revelations coming out about disgraced 42, wherein he passed up on an opportunity to take out OBL because he wouldn't break away from a golf tournament on TV (or so the story goes), this while having simultaneously misplacing the launch codes for the nuclear "football".

[Howlin]

I'm picturing the fight at the Hole in the Wall in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

[Atchafalaya]

I beleive Hamad made some reference to "the grave" in front of him or to come. Something like that. He should go work for the psychic hotline.

[Ditter]

Isn't he the one who said "I curse your moustache, you monkey" ? (I have used that line several times since I heard it) he he

[green team 1999]

"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.

and the un still want more proof?

[Interesting Times]

I beleive Hamad made some reference to "the grave" in front of him or to come. Something like that. He should go work for the psychic hotline.

No, I think that was Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia dissing Gaddafi. Something like "you are a liar and your grave awaits you."

[Sam Cree]

I kind of figure that 9/11 was the justification.