Iraqi let Baghdad fall for payoff

UPI ^ | 5/25/2003 | Elizabeth Bryant

[sjersey]

A senior member of Saddam Hussein's government handed Baghdad over to U.S. troops in exchange for a pay-off and a safe exit from Iraq, Le Journal du Dimanche claimed Sunday.

Citing a senior Iraqi source, the French newspaper reported that Soufiane al Tikriti, head of the Special Republican Guard in Baghdad, ordered his troops not to defend the capital against attack by U.S. and British forces, and particularly to hold fire against coalition helicopters circling over the city.

In exchange, Le Journal claimed, Tikriti was paid several hundred thousand dollars and, along with 20 family members, was ferried in a U.S. aircraft out of the country on April 8.

Baghdad fell in about 48 hours, the newspaper observed, with very little fighting.

"Soufiane al Tikriti was the man of the Americans in Baghdad," the newspaper wrote. "He signed onto an agreement guaranteeing that the 10,000 elite soldiers of the Special Republican Guard would not fight."

Citing their Iraqi "source," Le Journal reported Tikriti had come into contact with U.S. intelligence officers via a close associate, Ezzedine al-Majid, living in London.

According to the newspaper, the Pentagon sent notice to reporters that Tikriti had been killed as he fled the capital in a white Toyota Sedan.

Tikriti's disappearance "interested nobody," Le Journal said, because he was not among the 52 most-sought-after members of Saddam's government.

An official reached at the U.S. Embassy in Paris said she had not seen the article. "We would not be commenting from here, in any case," she added.

[SamAdams76]

Well, if true, we certainly got our money's worth.

[FLCowboy,]

Doesn't "al Tikriti" mean that the individual is from Tikriti> and that the appendage to one's name simply identifies the region from whence the individual is from?

If my understanding is correct, then this news article is uninformed, and perhaps ficticious

[KC_Conspirator]

Leftists have reported this unsubstantiated story in attempt to cheapen our victory.

[vbmoneyspender]

Citing a senior Iraqi source, the French newspaper reported that Soufiane al Tikriti, head of the Special Republican Guard in Baghdad, ordered his troops not to defend the capital against attack by U.S. and British forces, and particularly to hold fire against coalition helicopters circling over the city.

Baghdad wasn't taken with helicopters.

[xm177e2]

I don't see how this cheapens our victory if it's true. Rumsfeld said from the beginning we would rely heavily on special forces and secret, unconventional operations to undermine their conventional capabilities. Paying off commanders is just an example of that.

That having been said, I don't trust anything that comes out of the mouth of an al-Takriti (someone from Saddam's clan) or from a French newspaper citing secret sources.

[JimSEA]

Tikriti [sic} was paid several hundred thousand dollars and, along with 20 family members, was ferried in a U.S. aircraft out of the country on April 8.

All this at a time when the Baathists were looting the banks of billions in gold and USA currency? Also, no explaination exists for how this guy was supposed to convince "elite" troops to roll over with no benefit to them and a shakey (at best) future. Total BS poorly done. Why this must be . . . . French?

[John Valentine]

I agree with your assessment of this story. Utter fantasy, riddled with assumptions and speculation.

I thin thais is a French attempt to dodge the "bullet" heading their way - the provenance of the French passports our forces have apparently seized in Iraq.

[snooker]

And all those burning tanks and dead soldiers were stage props left over from the 'Lynch rescue film'. So now we know le truth.

[RightWhale]

Leftists have reported this unsubstantiated story in attempt to cheapen our victory.

No doubt. However, when alQaida falls the same way, sellout, Leftists around the world will purple with rage. The Noble Terrorist. Right.

[Tunehead54]

Lessee ... A couple hundred grand, we take whole divisions out of the fight, save thousands of lives on both sides.

---

I do not know how we can live with ourselves. I am so ashamed. We could have killed lots more.

[Thud]

ping

[Bubba_Leroy]

If its true, why are they writing this like its a bad thing? Money well spent.

[ladyinred]

I don't trust the sources either, but agree with you that who cares how it was done, as long as it was done. If it saved lives, so be it.

[KC_Conspirator]

I agree with you that it does not cheapen our victory even if it was true, but in the minds of leftists, they believe it does.

[the Real fifi]

(1) I don't care how we won--if payoffs worked, so be it..better money than the unncessary loss of life;(2) every victory dminishes the terrorists' claims that Allah is on their side and undermines their legitimacy in the world--no matter how it was achieved;(3) I don't believe the source;(4) Like Afghanistan, Iraq fell quickly in large part because the leadership was hated and distrusted by the people;(4)This cannot be a happy time for the other despots in the area;(5) Say goodbye mullahcracy--you're next...and no one will lift a finger to help you.

[UpNAtEm]

It seems to me that this story, to the reasonable man, makes our military and civilian leadership look wise. Less than a million to spare dead and wounded U.S. soldiers, in whom we likely have millions "invested" (for lack of a better term), along with perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of ammo. If the left wants to use this in Campaign 2004, I dare them. Imagine how intelligent they'll sound: "During the war for oil, George Bush wasted hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to spare the lives of only a few hundred American sons, daughters, fathers, and mothers - just so he could get tax breaks for the rich."

[Howlin]

I thin thais is a French attempt to dodge the "bullet" heading their way - the provenance of the French passports our forces have apparently seized in Iraq.

Move to the head of the class!

Absolutely!