Posted on 04/16/2003 9:26:51 PM PDT by knak
Documents Found by ABCNEWS Reveal a Lot About Saddam’s Regime
B A G H D A D, Iraq, April 16 — The United States has failed to collect, or even protect, huge numbers of secret Iraqi intelligence files and documents that could help lead to some of Saddam Hussein's most loyal followers — and, perhaps, Saddam himself.
Documents — most marked "top secret" — were discovered by ABCNEWS in the basements and offices of two luxurious, riverside Baghdad homes that were already looted of furniture and decorations.
One of the houses was the personal home of Saddam's eldest son, Odai, and the other home, next door, was used by the head of Iraqi intelligence, Gen. Taher Jaleel Ajboush.
"He and Odai came here when the war started," said former CIA Agent Bob Baer, indicating the homes were secret hideaways. "And that's where intelligence was run out [of] until the Americans got to Baghdad."
Many of the files had been burned or shredded, but what ABCNEWS recovered included a current, detailed listing of top generals of Saddam's fighting force, the Fedayeen, as well as a rare photo of the Fedayeen hierarchy gathered with Odai Hussein.
Using flashlights because of the power outage in Baghdad, two ABCNEWS consultants — Baer and former U.S. diplomat Peter Galbraith — analyzed the documents.
"This is the raw material, which in the intelligence business is priceless," said Baer.
Evidence Shows Odai as ‘Cruel Man’
The papers ABCNEWS discovered in Odai Hussein's personal office included what Galbraith called "extraordinary documents" that confirmed reports of grisly executions, including a brochure for a giant grinding machine.
"Obviously it's a machine intended for slaughtering animals. But we have evidence from witnesses who describe how Odai and his brother used such a machine to chop up human beings alive," said Galbraith.
Also among the documents were secret bank account numbers, bags of informant reports, long lists of women and documents indicating Odai suffered from alcoholic liver disease.
"It's a real picture of a very cruel man, but a man with a lot of personal problems," said Galbraith.
Baer and Galbraith said they were astounded that U.S. forces had either failed to collect the documents or were unaware of their existence.
U.S. officials have sealed off the presidential palaces and ministry offices to protect the documents there. But it is clear many of the most sensitive files were hidden away in places American intelligence has yet to locate.
One official put the apparent lapse down to the difficulty of identifying and controlling a vast number of locations. "It's a big country and there are thousands of potential sites we are trying to secure," the official said.
I don't think some people understand that we sent in a very well-trained military, and document finding wasn't part of the training. And the amount of looting had to have been unexpected, and the military has strict orders not to go randomly shooting civilians.
Soldiers at war have other priorities. yitbos
1. With intelligence and the special operations forces on the ground in Baghdad, do you think we knew about these 2 homes?
2. Which network has been a (fairly) vocal opponent of the war in Iraq (Petah' Jennings, in particular)?
3. Is it convenient or purposeful that "secret" documents were found that prove, without question, the brutality of the regime, something that a certain network has doubted?
"Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.'"
John 20:27
Is it possible that ABC was the doubting Thomas? Is it possible that they have just been given what Thomas needed...irrefutable proof?
They won't stop doubting and start believing the President, but on the Iraq issue, they are done. They have even found "secret" evidence.
Uh, yeah. Sure, he fed people into shredders but the poor guy had issues...
I think the only thing that could 'help lead to Saddam himself' is a shovel.
We have relatively few troops in a country of millions of people. Perhaps if we develop the ability to put the same soldier in a hundred places at the same time, we will satisfy the critics.
The truth is that the Hussein family had a lot of very unpleasent experiences and job related stresses to deal with. Is it any wonder that Uday turned to alcohol to help drown out the pain?
Maybe if some of the insensitive posters here had to cope with being despotic overlords, then the idea of feeding your comfort women to the animals in your private zoo wouldn't seem so unreasonable. Shooting your own relatives, slowly lowering people in acid, and videotaping the rape of your enemies family members can be very draining emotionally.
That they found creative ways of expressing their inner anguish should be a cause for celebration, not for condemnation.
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