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ABC News - Three Key Leaders Believed Killed in Baghdad
ABC News ^

Posted on 03/21/2003 3:20:29 PM PST by steveegg

Edited on 03/21/2003 3:50:02 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

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.


TOPICS: Breaking News; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: aldouri; chemicalali; decapitation; justice; majid; ramadan; warlist
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To: Smedley
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

61 posted on 03/21/2003 4:41:03 PM PST by Becki (Pray continually for our leaders and our troops!)
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Comment #62 Removed by Moderator

To: demlosers
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's top aide Izzat Ibrahim is
just about as ugly as they can get.
63 posted on 03/21/2003 4:42:27 PM PST by tessalu
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To: aristeides
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.
64 posted on 03/21/2003 4:46:43 PM PST by doug from upland (Saddam, bend over and kiss your terrorist posterior goodbye.)
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To: Howlin
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...
65 posted on 03/21/2003 5:07:27 PM PST by txrangerette
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To: JCEccles
Have we heard anything on Uday's other brothers : Aday,Eday,Iday,Oday and sometimes Yday ?
66 posted on 03/21/2003 5:09:59 PM PST by Farnham
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To: mhking
"And like that....he was gone...."

"He's dead, Jim."

67 posted on 03/21/2003 5:13:06 PM PST by Mad_Tom_Rackham (Let's Roll Already!)
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To: blam
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.
68 posted on 03/21/2003 5:13:43 PM PST by Fury
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To: SuziQ
he'd have been on LIVE TV already

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

69 posted on 03/21/2003 5:15:24 PM PST by Semper Paratus
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To: Howlin
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.

70 posted on 03/21/2003 5:16:59 PM PST by Mad_Tom_Rackham (Let's Roll Already!)
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To: Mad_Tom_Rackham
So, it was sort of like "One, two, three, GO, bam?"
71 posted on 03/21/2003 5:19:31 PM PST by Howlin (Posting from an undisclosed location!)
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To: Mad_Tom_Rackham

72 posted on 03/21/2003 5:20:02 PM PST by Howlin (Posting from an undisclosed location!)
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To: steveegg
(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.
73 posted on 03/21/2003 5:25:40 PM PST by EarlyBird (The wheel is turning -- it's time for them to go.)
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To: Howlin
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".

74 posted on 03/21/2003 5:25:57 PM PST by Mad_Tom_Rackham (Let's Roll Already!)
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To: Mad_Tom_Rackham
I'm picturing the fight at the Hole in the Wall in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
75 posted on 03/21/2003 5:30:39 PM PST by Howlin (Posting from an undisclosed location!)
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To: 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.
76 posted on 03/21/2003 6:35:40 PM PST by Atchafalaya
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To: demlosers
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
77 posted on 03/21/2003 6:46:35 PM PST by Ditter
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To: steveegg
"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?

78 posted on 03/21/2003 6:50:09 PM PST by green team 1999
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To: 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.

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

79 posted on 03/21/2003 7:27:56 PM PST by Interesting Times (Eagles Up! Join the Rally for America...)
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To: Howlin
I kind of figure that 9/11 was the justification.
80 posted on 03/21/2003 7:56:02 PM PST by Sam Cree
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