Posted on 09/21/2003 10:51:28 AM PDT by Brian S
Sun September 21, 2003 11:57 AM ET
TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) - The U.S. military on Sunday denied a British media report that Saddam Hussein had offered money and information on weapons of mass destruction in return for safe passage to the ex-Soviet republic of Belarus.
The Sunday Mirror newspaper said an aide of the fugitive ex-president had approached U.S. forces in Tikrit and led them to a house in the suburbs. There, they were given a letter, purportedly handwritten by Saddam, proposing talks.
It said negotiations had been going on for nine days covering weaponry and bank accounts containing tens of millions of dollars.
Lt. Col. William MacDonald, spokesman for the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division which controls Tikrit north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, said the story was wrong.
"The 4th Infantry Division has not had any contact with any former regime members regarding Saddam Hussein's disposition," he told Reuters.
U.S. commanders in Tikrit say they believe Saddam, on the run since he was ousted by U.S.-led forces in April, could well be in hiding in his home-town area where he still enjoys strong support and has close tribal and family ties.
The newspaper suggested Saddam had chosen Belarus as a country with a leadership still rooted in a Soviet past that might show sympathy to an erstwhile ally.
The United States, which invaded Iraq in March citing a danger from weapons of mass destruction, has said it would not negotiate with Saddam. It has so far failed to find any evidence of nuclear, chemical or biological arms.
Oh really? Have they read the Kay report that has yet to be delivered?
"Lt. Col. MacDonald went on to add, however, that they would now have to kill the British reporter."
That means it is true.
No kiddin' rooters. It may come as a shock that rational beings dismissed this report already. It's the second time in 6 months that I've heard it.
"The United States, which invaded Iraq in March citing a danger from weapons of mass destruction, has said it would not negotiate with Saddam. It has so far failed to find any evidence of nuclear, chemical or biological arms"
And how does rooters know this? Because they heard it in the media? Because of couple of unnamed "military officials" allegedly said it? Besides, even if we HADN'T found any evidence yet, there is still no reason to "negotiate" with a lying POS like Saddam IF he's even still alive : Saddam has never once made a deal and stuck to his end of the bargain.
Quagmire hype.
Does anyone seriously doubt that the American military is under a similar standing Order to capture Saddam Hussein, now, until it is definitively established that he is dead? Click below for the German/Iraqi comparison.
Congressman Billybob
There are lots of Americans that are excluded by this denial.
Why should we do Saddam a favor.
One day real soon we will raid a house and there will be Saddam......and if he so much as twitchs......he is dead.
No way will we allow Saddam a life in exile.....to stalk the Iraqi people.
Saddam will die.
There are lots of Americans that are excluded by this denial.
My thoughts exactly. What's more there are three ways for this "denial" to be technically true, while basically false.
Enough wiggle room to drive a truck through.
The above quote is from your profile, and I hope you can live up to those words.
You might think what you wrote is funny, but I see it as a slur upon the honor and integrity of the U.S. Military.
What say you, Brutus?
Sun September 21, 2003 11:57 AM ET
Orange County, CA (Peuters) - California gubernatorial candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger on Sunday denied a British media report that Tom McClintock had offered money from Indian gaming interests in return for an appointment to the state gaming commission.
It said negotiations had been going on for nine days covering tax-free cigars and bank accounts containing tens of millions of wampum.
"I have not had any contact with Chief McClintock regarding a position," he said.
Schwarzenegger campaign supporters believe that McClintock could well be in hiding in his home-town area where he still enjoys strong support and has close tribal and family ties.
Oh really? Then why did the US military find a group of 20 buildings that were so radioactive that they couldn't enter the area safely? They had to wait for a special team to arrive with protective suits and better Geiger counters than the field units had. From 100 yards away, the buildings pegged high on the Geiger counters that the field units had.
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