Report: Aziz Tells Interrogators Saddam Is Alive

Reuters ^ | Mon April 28, 2003

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

Tareq Aziz

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iraq's former deputy prime minister, Tareq Aziz, has told U.S. interrogators that Saddam Hussein survived two air strikes launched to kill the ousted Iraqi president, USA Today reported on Monday.

But the newspaper also quoted a senior defense official as saying that interrogators had concluded that Aziz was lying about other matters that had come up in questioning. Aziz, who is being questioned at an undisclosed location, said he saw Saddam alive after the March 19 and April 7 air strikes on Baghdad targeting the former Iraqi leaders and his two sons, USA Today said, citing the senior defense official.

Aziz, the most recognizable of the 13 former Iraqi officials known to be in U.S. custody, surrendered to U.S. forces last Thursday. He was No. 43 on the U.S. list of 55 most-wanted members of Saddam Hussein's administration.

U.S. officials have said the fate of the toppled Iraqi president remains unknown amid mixed reports about whether Saddam was dead or alive. If he is alive, Saddam would mark his 66th birthday on Monday.

U.S. war commander Gen. Tommy Franks said on Sunday Aziz was providing a lot of information to U.S. intelligence interrogators. He did not elaborate.

"What we don't know is the veracity of it. It will take time," Franks was quoted as saying.

[Semper Paratus]

Have to consider the source.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

Saddam's Birthday Marked Without Fanfare

[epluribus_2]

and the threats to his extended family

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

I hear ya but he was their "mole," right? Why would he lie at this stage? His loyalties were not to Saddam, he was afraid for his and his families life. But why did we not see video of Saddam's birthday party :-) as today is his birthday?

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

No Sign Of Birthday Boy Saddam

[republicanwizard]

Why the hell can't we use lie detector tests?

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

TARIQ AZIZ OFFERED MANSION, NEW IDENTITY FOR INFO... He'll live like a king

Witness protection ... Aziz

[BrooklynGOP]

*gasp*
Lie detectors are inhumane!

[republicanwizard]

I'm tired of having to see everything confirmed. Just strap a lie detector to these idiots, and at least we'll have some idea.

By the way, you are a Republican in Brooklyn? They should take you to the Bronx Zoo. :)

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

Iraqi scientist: We lied about bioweapons Says Baghdad 'produced huge quantities' of liquid anthrax, botulinum toxin

Any relation to SARS???????????????????? I do, wonder.

[realpatriot71]

If Saddam is still alive, it wouldn't surprise me. You don't take control and rule a country in that part of the world without being a bit of a survivor. If he's alive, he'll show up. Where could a guy like him hide out, and stay hidden? I don't think Saddam has the smarts to stay hidden.

[republicanwizard]

Very good question. I hadn't thought of that possibility. It is well-known that the essential ingredient of bio-weapons is immunity to antibiotics.

[republicanwizard]

Neither do I.

[republicanwizard]

Neither do I.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

He was given a future through the witness protection program (see post 8) so he is safe now...why would he lie...unless he had some loyalties to Saddam and is now a spy, enemy on our land. But sodium pentathol is not a bad idea.

[the Deejay]

"Why the hell can't we use lie detector tests? "

Connected to a car battery and wires attached to the earlobes should do it.

[Steel Wolf]

Where in the article does it say we didn't? If they think that he is telling the truth on Saddam, and not on the other things, and can verify none of it, then I'd have to assume that the polygraphy is in play.

Not to be trite here, but lie detectors only detect levels of stress caused by lying. He seems to believe what he is saying about Saddam, and not about the other things. The lie detectors can't MAKE him tell the truth until he wants to tell it.

[InvisibleChurch]

if saddam is dead then aziz is less useful to anyone

[Sam Cree]

Why is Aziz wearing a uniform? Does he have a military rank? I suppose he must have, but wonder what it may have been.