Iraqi nuclear scientist surrenders

The Daily Telegraph ^ | April 14, 2003 | Neil Tweedie

[MadIvan]

One of Iraq's top nuclear scientists has surrendered, the US said last night, in another bonus for the coalition as it attempts to locate Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction.

The surrender of Jaffar al Jaffar followed that of Saddam's most senior scientific adviser, Lt Gen Amer al-Saadi, in Baghdad over the weekend. Jaffar had turned himself in over the past few days in Iraq, a US official announced yesterday on condition of anonymity.

He added that Jaffar "certainly would know about locations of nuclear-related facilities, and also would know a lot of people associated with Iraq's nuclear program, as well as likely other aspects of the WMD [weapons of mass destruction] programme".

"Hopefully he will be more forthcoming and candid than he has been to date." Al-Saadi, an expert on chemical and biological weapons, was being interrogated yesterday after handing himself over in front of the crew of a German television station.

In the television interview before he was taken away, Al-Saadi, the former head of the ministry of military industrialisation, maintained that Iraq did not possess weapons of mass destruction.

However, an American intelligence source in Baghdad said Al-Saadi was expected to know where weapons were hidden, how many of each type were produced and the possible whereabouts of Iraqi weapons scientists.

Ewen Buchan, spokesman for the UN inspections team, said: "He's a really big fish. But who knows whether he will tell them anything, or just stick to his guns."

There have been no confirmed discoveries of WMD in Iraq so far, despite American and British assertions that they exist. US marines yesterday said they had discovered 278 artillery shells in a school yard that contained substances that tested positive for chemical agents, but further analysis was needed.

[MadIvan]

It will be made clear shortly, to be sure. A regime that hides stockpiles of ammunition in schools, is likely to put its most lethal weapons in places of similar innocence.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[visualops]

I guess they're starting to figure out what side of the bread the butter is on.

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[Beck_isright]

"Ewen Buchan, spokesman for the UN inspections team, said: "He's a really big fish. But who knows whether he will tell them anything, or just stick to his guns."

Let's review the choices of the deck of 55 who are scientists:

1. Tell all and get a chance to survive.
2. Refuse to talk and get an all expensed paid vacation to Gitmo.
3. Be a smart ass, refuse to talk and be given to the Shi'ites in Basra.

I would pick #1 if I had a Phd in Nuclear sciences.

V

[firebrand]

This is a joke. They "surrender" and then say there were no weapons of the type they were responsible for before the Americans got there.

[RightWhale]

A regime that hides stockpiles of ammunition in schools, is likely to put its most lethal weapons in places of similar innocence.

Half the Iraqi air force is in Iran; been there for a dozen years. The noxious weapons are likely to have also been moved to a non-combatant's territory. Innocent Syria.

[McGavin999]

Well, the big guy better hurry up and make a deal before the smaller fish start telling everything. Information is only valuable when it's scarce.

[LonePalm]

The surrender of Jaffar al Jaffar followed that of Saddam's most senior scientific adviser, Lt Gen Amer al-Saadi, in Baghdad over the weekend.

In a related story, Jar Jar Binks attemped to surrender to US troops but was shot and killed by Marines who recognized him. Lance Corporal Hector Schmedlap was quoted as saying, "We did everyone a favor here, especially him."

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[geopyg]

"One of Iraq's top nuclear scientists has surrendered..."

"..... Al Saudi, an expert on chemical and biological weapons....."

Boy - talk about being over-qualified to work at Akham's Goat Market, 'cuz you know there were no jobs to be found in their fields in Iraq.

[Brilliant]

Assuming that Saddam does not have a nuclear program, why would he had a nuclear scientist?

[arasina]

Upon seeing his "surrender" on television, I wondered, "Why did he demand a German news video crew tape the surrender?" and "Why did he surrender if he isn't going to provide any information?"

Anyone?

[Sacajaweau]

bump

[Brilliant]

You misunderstood. The chem/bio expert was the guy who turned himself in earlier, and made the statement that Saddam has no WMD. This Jaffar fellow is the nuclear scientist.

[The G Man]

They "surrender" and then say there were no weapons of the type they were responsible for before the Americans got there.

LOL! Ya think these were like those mafia "no show" jobs they have with the unions?

"Ah, Abdul! You are my half cousin and the son of a camel! We shall make you Deputy Minister of Iraqi Space Program making 5000 dinars per week! And the beauty is ... we don't have space program! Bwahahaha!"

[The Great Satan]

Interesting that this guy and al-Saadi have surrendered, when they could have just run away. Was this part of the deal?

[js1138]

Half the Iraqi air force is in Iran; been there for a dozen years. The noxious weapons are likely to have also been moved to a non-combatant's territory. Innocent Syria.

My guess is that enough stuff has been well hidden so that it could take weeks , even months to find. The strategy was to bog the Americans down for long enough to turn public opinion against the war, before the weapons could be found.

[Paul_B]

I'd really like the see the Germ Lady in the bag.

[WOSG]

Yes, they have the world's largest reserves of oil, save for Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, they barely provide electrictiy to their own people, and yet feel the need for a more expensive nuclear program than we even have in the US.

And we are told, even though they were close to having nuclear weapons twice in the last 2 decades (1981, Osirak; 1991, when their program was uncovered by UN inspectors), not to worry, they are not even close to nuclear weapons.

Things that make you go HMMMMMMM.

[rs79bm]

Iraqi nuclear scientist surrenders

Again!!??