Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

U.S. Negotiates Directly With Iraqi Commanders (buildings designated as safe zones for defectors)
Washington Post ^ | March 21st, 2003 | Dana Priest and Walter Pincus

Posted on 03/21/2003 7:46:46 PM PST by Sabertooth

In an intensified effort to divide Iraqi President Saddam Hussein from his inner circle, U.S. military and intelligence officers in recent days have communicated with Iraqi commanders and they have secretly designated buildings in the capital for defectors to occupy, promising they will not be targeted in U.S. airstrikes, senior U.S. officials said today.

U.S. military and intelligence officers also have gained promises from some Iraqi commanders that they would not fire chemical weapons at American ground forces, the officials said, although U.S. officials said they are monitoring one Republican Guard unit outside Baghdad that they believe has been issued artillery shells filled with chemical agents.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iraqidefectors; roadtobaghdad; warlist
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-25 next last
To view the article without looging on to the WP, go here, and click on the headline "U.S. Negotiates Directly With Iraqi Commanders."




1 posted on 03/21/2003 7:46:46 PM PST by Sabertooth
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: CheneyChick; vikingchick; Victoria Delsoul; WIMom; one_particular_harbour; kmiller1k; mhking; ...
((((((growl)))))



2 posted on 03/21/2003 7:47:47 PM PST by Sabertooth
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sabertooth
Odd that the unit is outside Bagdad. I would put them in and amongst lots of civilians myself if I were the prince of darkness. One doesn't want to be in a lonely place when doing this sort of thing.
3 posted on 03/21/2003 7:50:00 PM PST by Torie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sabertooth
Somebody studied Sun-Tzu before this war.

If this war ends as meekly as it's been fought so far, it will be studied by military historians for centuries to come.

The psy-ops is brilliant!

4 posted on 03/21/2003 7:50:19 PM PST by sinkspur
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Sabertooth
The all too real potential for use of WMD is just around the corner for our troops as they approach Baghdad.
5 posted on 03/21/2003 7:51:37 PM PST by PFKEY
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sabertooth
This is so amazing to see the war being run with such precision, flexibility and compassion. The enemy has been studied very carefully.
6 posted on 03/21/2003 7:53:26 PM PST by CheneyChick (Lock & Load)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: sinkspur
If this war ends as meekly as it's been fought so far, it will be studied by military historians for centuries to come.

The psy-ops is brilliant!

So far, so good. I hope it doesn't look so easy that people don't appreciate just how risky the stakes are.




7 posted on 03/21/2003 7:56:03 PM PST by Sabertooth
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: CheneyChick; sinkspur
The campaign to encourage defections within the Iraqi leadership includes activating phone trees between Iraqi commanders and relatives living outside those parts of Iraq controlled by the Hussein government who are being used as conduits for U.S. information, intelligence sources said. It also includes Internet and short wave radio communications and hand-delivered messages being brought into Baghdad by individuals who frequently visit the capital.

Asked how the Iraqi inner circle would surrender if it wanted to, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said only: "They know precisely what to do."



8 posted on 03/21/2003 8:02:28 PM PST by Sabertooth
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: sinkspur
i've been wondering why there hasn't been a sun tzu thread - this whole process has been dang near straight from the book

marlin
9 posted on 03/21/2003 8:23:05 PM PST by marlin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Sabertooth
Note to Appeasement Activists: Iraqis Cheer U.S. Troops
10 posted on 03/21/2003 8:24:50 PM PST by concerned about politics (Anti-American protestors are inbread liberal Notsosmartso's.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sinkspur
The psy-ops is brilliant!

My thoughts exactly. If Saddam is still alive, he's spending every waking moment in a state of paranoia. LOL!

11 posted on 03/21/2003 8:26:19 PM PST by Nita Nuprez
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: marlin
loose lips sink ships. The terrorists are still reading the koran, which is hardly much of a guide to anything, especially war strategy. Let that continue until the last one surrenders.
12 posted on 03/21/2003 8:30:54 PM PST by EaglesUpForever (Pave france: the Brits need more parking space)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Sabertooth
Sounds good, Saber. Thanks so much for the update!
13 posted on 03/21/2003 8:32:52 PM PST by Victoria Delsoul
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Sabertooth
A high risk,, high payoff game that requires incredible on-going, real time intelligence capability -- because the opportunities for double-cross are plentiful and the results of double-cross possibly quite harmful (on the chemical weapons issue).

However, on the other side of the coin, if, as appears inevitable, we succeed invest Baghdad fully, then these communications, even if unreliable and insincere of the Iraqis part, will have done no particular harm. Targets avoided at this point to provide safe-havens can be picked off individually at leisure during the siege.

It'd be a bummer, however temporary, if Saddam or a son were wounded and holed up in one of those safe places.

14 posted on 03/21/2003 8:37:35 PM PST by Scott from the Left Coast
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sabertooth
I hope it doesn't look so easy that people don't appreciate . . .

It looks easy. But only fools think it is easy. This is the most serious, ultimate high stakes game known to man.

15 posted on 03/21/2003 8:42:31 PM PST by Cboldt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Scott from the Left Coast
It'd be a bummer, however temporary, if Saddam or a son were wounded and holed up in one of those safe places.

I'm sure, if an offer is made, that it is clearly understood the presence of Saddam or sons or others changes the nature of the space from "safe."

16 posted on 03/21/2003 8:46:48 PM PST by Cboldt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: EaglesUpForever
The terrorists are still reading the koran, which is hardly much of a guide to anything, especially war strategy. Let that continue until the last one surrenders. is killed.
17 posted on 03/21/2003 8:47:01 PM PST by bigdog (eany,meany,miney,moe...look out now it's time to roll!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Cboldt
Well, yeah, for sure, if we knew they were there. That's one of the double-crosses that are possible with this sort of thing (and not the worst, by a far shake).
18 posted on 03/21/2003 8:55:39 PM PST by Scott from the Left Coast
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Sabertooth
I can't find that headline on your link. Am I blind?
19 posted on 03/21/2003 8:59:34 PM PST by justshe (FREE MIGUEL !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #20 Removed by Moderator


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-25 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson