Powell cites report that Iraq plans chemical attack

Reuters | 3/24/03

[kattracks]

Powell cites report that Iraq plans chemical attack

WASHINGTON, March 24 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Monday the United States had heard reports that the Iraqi authorities planned to use chemical weapons against Iraqis in the south and blame it on the United States.

"There are such reports. I have no doubt that he (Iraqi President Saddam Hussein) would do such a thing if he thought it served his interest," Powell told the Fox News network in an interview.

"We are concerned about it. We will follow this matter carefully. We will also get everything we can together -- all the intelligence that we can," he added.

A senior State Department official who asked not to be named said the report was that Ali Hassan al-Majid, Saddam's cousin and the commander in the south, had authority to use chemical weapons against the local Shi'a Muslim population. He declined to say where the information came from.

Majid, known in the West as Chemical Ali, has been blamed for the chemical attack on the Kurdish town of Halabja in 1988, which killed about 5,000 people.

The United States and Britain invaded Iraq last week to overthrow Saddam Hussein and get rid of any weapons of mass destruction Iraq might have.

The State Department official repeated a report, first circulated at the Pentagon early this month, that the Iraqis were trying to acquire uniforms similar to those worn by U.S. and British forces "in order to carry out massacres, which would then be blamed on coalition forces." He gave no details of the source or credibility of the alleged report.

[johniegrad]

So, the country with the chemical weapons would use them against their own people in order to blame the country trying to disarm the country with the chemical weapons for using them? How much sense does that make? There may be many voices against us but not many of them would believe that we used chemical weapons.

[Calpernia]

So does this mean France will join the war? And on whos side?

[templar]

There may be many voices against us but not many of them would believe that we used chemical weapons.

Don't bet on it. I just heard an allegedly conservative woman (very well known) on an allegedly conservative radio station (well known in Colorado) claiming that it was the U.S. that set the oil well fires in Iraq. I don't think it's a really big leap to claiming we were the ones using chemicals (if they should be used).

[johniegrad]

Some people's cynicism knows no bounds.

[ex-snook]

"How much sense does that make?"

Well you know if that atomic bomb forgery was believed anything is possible. Maybe it will blow away like Condi's smoking mushroon cloud.

[Stentor]

Not the Scruffington chick?

[jerseygirl]

Wasn't chemical Ali killed? Or did I get him mixed up with a different leader?

[ThinkDifferent]

Wasn't chemical Ali killed?

IIRC he was one of the five leaders believed to be in the bunker that we hit the first night, so maybe.

[b4its2late]

I think I read somewhere that the administration believes he is still alive and running the south quardarant of Iraq.

[jwalsh07]

Who??

[RetiredArmy]

If France does join on the Iraq side, they will move their people into combat positions and quickly surrender.

[templar]

Who??

Joyce Riley (sp). On KHNC (American Freedom Network) out of Johnstown Colorado.

[js1138]

Don't bet on it. I just heard an allegedly conservative woman ...

Sounds like the conservatives who spam up CSPAN. Or the ones who call up talk radio shows and say "I'm a lifelong Republican, but [fill in the blank] has done something so terrible that I will never vote for a Republican again."

[Reagan Man]

Chemical Ali, first class scumbag!

[juzcuz]

"The Iraqis were trying to acquire uniforms .. by the US and British to carry out massacres..."

I see that Iraqis soldiers are doing & can do major massacre type attrocities with wearing citizen/non combatant type clothing. The potential of catastrophic harm from Iraqi militants, to their own citizens while dressed as a Iraqi civilians, is grave.

I think that more bombing in Bagdad, even amoungst the civilian population, might provide more incentive for innocent citizens to evacuate to a safe zone. I don't see a good outcome for the innocent citizens, they face being gassed/slashed/or shot by Saddam's regime. I think if we-America would bomb more in Bagdad more innocents may be more encouraged to seek to evacutate to shelter...... I know this doesn't read/sound well, but I don't see many innocents coming out well out of this no matter how precise US bombing campaigns are. I say they should get out now.......... Why don't they???????

Either Iraqi citicens are complacent, or they what rulership by Saddam. We won't be able to tell by dress. I also say now is the time to find out. Why not Bomb some of them, especially where the anti-aircraft guns are. Flush out the innocent/fearful civilian dressed out and expose the quilty civilian dressed before our troops get in there.

[jerseygirl]

Maybe give civilians a deadline to get out, then bomb.

[juzcuz]

Good Idea.....

I don't think they the innocents know... what's coming down upon them... Saddam is probably telling them through Iraqi TV- that every thing is just peachy....

[rintense]

Yo'd be surprised. The leftist hollwood peacenik activists would believe it in a heartbeat.

[Ditto]

I just heard an allegedly conservative woman (very well known) on an allegedly conservative radio station (well known in Colorado) claiming that it was the U.S. that set the oil well fires in Iraq.

I'm willing to bet it's the Gold Digging Greek whore. If she's a Conservative, I'm Winston Churchill.