Former Iraqi Defense Minister Said Given Immunity

Reuters ^ | 09/24/03 | Staff Writer

[bedolido]

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Iraq's former defense minister, who surrendered to U.S. forces last week, was given "effective" immunity from prosecution, and the United States hopes he will provide significant information on Saddam Hussein's weapons activities, a senior U.S. official said on Wednesday. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters other "lower level guys who were technical functionaries in Iraq's weapons programs" were also given immunity and have been assisting former U.N. inspector David Kay in his eagerly awaited inquiry on Iraqi arms.

Former Defense Minister Sultan Hashim Ahmed, seen at Saddam Hussein's side in what is thought to have been the ousted dictator's last public appearance, was No. 27 on Washington's wanted list of Iraqi fugitives.

He turned himself over to U.S. troops in the northern city of Mosul on Sept. 19 after several weeks of negotiations.

"I don't know what he's going to say, but he's knowledgeable about what their actual weapons capacity is and he is going to be very important. I think that's one reason why, when they agreed to accept this surrender, they, in effect, agreed not to prosecute," the U.S. official said.

[bedolido]

File television image taken March 21, 2003 shows Iraq's former Defense Minister Sultan Hashim Ahmed addressing a news conference in Baghdad. Ahmed, who surrendered to U.S. forces on September 19, was given "effective" immunity from prosecution, and the United States hopes he will provide significant information on Saddam Hussein's weapons activities, a senior U.S. official said on September 24. Photo by Reuters Tv/Reuters

[rockinonritalin]

I doubt that he would have been granted immunity on the "hope" that he will provide information on the weapons program. I hope we are not that stupid.

[Dog]

From reading different articles it seems he was one of the Iraqi's we were in contact with before the war started.

We don't give out get out of jail cards willy nilly.......so he must be offering detailed info.

[TUX]

Singing like the proverbial canary.

[reagan_fanatic]

Saddam must have paid this guy in Krispy Kreme denominations...jeesh.

[Coop]

Immunity? What are you talking about, Sultan? We said "community." You're going to enjoy your nice, new neighbors and comfy orange clothes. Do you like tropical weather?

[ken5050]

I guarantee you...his proffer had a lot of good info...I'd further bet that he was in fear for his life, and that of his family, from the Ba'athist die-hards..that's why he came in...they'd love to have killed him as a demonstration...wanna bet his deal includes relocation to the USA?

[Cobra64]

"...but he's knowledgeable about what their actual weapons capacity is and he is going to be very important. "

Tom Daschle, "I am saddened. Deeply saddened."

[BushisTheMan]

What does giving someone "effective" immunity mean? Does it means you get immunity if you provide us the information we know you know? And if you don't, you are effectively going to be sent to Gizmo?

[paws_and_whiskers]

Saddam must have paid this guy in Krispy Kreme denominations...jeesh.

[Orbiting_Rosie's_Head]

Man, what a head on that guy. Looks like Rosie with a moustache

[MinuteGal]

Looks like all they had to do to get cooperation from this guy is to threaten to put him on bowls of Tender Vittles for the next 10 years.

By the way, it was announced today on Fox that the "eagerly-awaited" report on Iraqi arms is coming out. It's said the report will neither verify or discount the existence of WMD's.

This is all good! You can bet this guy will sing like a bird, and undoubtedly has already. Perhaps this is why the arms report was quickly put into a "neutral" mode if it wasn't planned that way before.

Leni

[MinuteGal]

BTTT