SOLDIER'S CHILLING WARNING

Sky News ^ | Last Updated: 09:04 UK, Monday March 10, 2003

[maquiladora]

An Iraqi defector has told Sky News that Saddam Hussein will use chemical weapons if the country is invaded.

In an exclusive interview, the man said the use of such weapons against British and US soldiers was "100% guaranteed".

The 26-year-old soldier, who is an officer, defected 10 days ago near the city of Sulaymaniyah in Northern Iraq.

He is being guarded in a safe house and is said to have provided valuable intelligence information to authorities.

"A chemical attack is guaranteed," he warned.

"We have been fully provided with complete protection gear, gas masks, first aid kit, injections."

In the 1991 war, Saddam Hussein deployed his chemical weapons but they were not used.

Reports suggest he is planning to use pilotless drone planes to spray British and US troops with anthrax and sarin gas if they advance towards Baghdad.

"We are sure about the chemical bombardment," said the defector, whose identity is being protected.

"In the last stage, he will use it as a last resort."

The defector was part of Saddam's crack Republican Guard and has emphasised its role in ensuring the loyalty of other troops.

The privileged soldiers had their own bunkers for protection during air raids in the Gulf War.

"When it is time for war we are fully prepared to fight into the ground. If we don't fight hard, they will execute us," he said.

He said Baghdad was full of such loyal troops and special forces and the city would see heavy fighting.

"In Baghdad there will be a lot of killing," he added.

Video of the interview

[Cap Huff]

Sure, it could be psyops, but I find it hard to think of what their objective would be here. I doubt that this frightens anyone on our side --- I think they have already assumed that chem weapons will be used, and I would assume that they are prepared. I also agree that this tends to strengthen Bushes' case.

I don't think we need to focus on public opinion on things like this. Unless it is something super dramatic, public opinion is not going to sway much before shooting in ernest starts. What is of some concern is how stuff like this influences the swing votes at the UNSC. That doesn't at all mean the difference between go/no go, but it does have some effect on the PR battle in the long run, and the hoped for demise of the U.N. in the somewhat longer time. At least that is my opinion, for what it is worth.

[Kenton]

The defector was part of Saddam's crack Republican Guard and has emphasised its role in ensuring the loyalty of other troops... "When it is time for war we are fully prepared to fight into the ground. If we don't fight hard, they will execute us," he said.

Who will execute you? You are the Republican Guard. If you defect there's nobody left.

[ought-six]

It was reported that we destroyed our cache of chem weapons quite some time ago. Although it was trotted out as an arms reduction treaty between U.S. and Russia, the real reason was we were not comfortable with the storage issues, especially because of domestic political fallout. It was easier to get rid of them before we faced some kind of environmental problem. Experts all say we can ressurect the chem weapons program quite easily if we wanted to.

[rintense]

Dime to donuts that the gear and kits are for the Republican Guard only. The grunt Iraqi soldiers will be sacrificed- which is another reason why they seem to be defecting in large numbers already.

[Kevin Curry]

Many people assume Saddam Hussein has used chemical weapons only once or twice. The popular image is that of a dead Kurdish woman and her infant child lying near a street gutter in the town of Halajba. And it is true that Iraqi forces killed more than 5000 Kurds with checmial weapons in that particular attack.

But Saddam Husesein has used chemical weapons far more often and freely than many people suppose. In Iraq's long war with Iran in the 1980s chemical wepaons were often his weapon of choice. He has used them hundreds of times, almost always as offensive weapons. Chemical attacks are one of the few military operations his otherwise incompetent soldiers and airmen have developed a knack for.

[Pharmboy]

The "defector" was a plant to scare us...

[Publius6961]

Who sold the drones?

[concerned about politics]

"When it is time for war we are fully prepared to fight into the ground. If we don't fight hard, they will execute us," he said.

Damned if they do, damned if they don't. It's a bitch to be an Iraqi.

[Cap Huff]

Your absolutely right about the fact that S.H. has used chem weapons many times and that they have had experience. We can be sure he has the means and the will to do so again. Our guys know this in greater detail than must of us on FR. That is why I have to wonder what psychological effect he thinks will benefit him by sending over a a young guy to tell us what we already know. If this is psyops there has to be a reasonable benefit, and I have difficulty seeing what that might be. I wouldn't rule out psyops, but I tend to think this is legit.

[Kevin Curry]

That is exactly how I see it. If this is all the defector is telling us, he is telling us nothing we do not already know--and are fully prepared for.

If he is telling us anything new, our interrogators are likely keeping it close-hold.

[mrb1960]

For a country that isn't supposed to have chemical or biological weapons, they're making darn well sure they have enough to hit us with.

[Kevin Curry]

And oh, BTW, who built Saddam Hussein's chemical weapons facilitites and trained his technicians?

That's right: the Zyklon-B crew, the Germans.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Who sold the drones?

Col. Klink?
Sgt. Schultz?
Insp. Clouseau?
Dr. Zhivago?

[prairiebreeze]

I don't think that it's even about Iraq anymore at the UN. It's about trans-Atlantic power struggles more and more it seems.

Prairie

[TADSLOS]

"In the last stage, he will use it as a last resort."

Yeah, but Saddam's gotta be alive during the last stage if he wants his last resort option to play out.

[Freedom2specul8]

I thought one of the reasons the peaceniks and hollywood folks was against this war was because they don't want the chemicals sprayed on our soldiers? I was thinking of that woman..ganine geraffalo (Sorry I really don't know how to spell her name..this is called spell as I hear it, one of those famous liberal methods of figuring out how to read and right :D

[Cap Huff]

There definitely is that dimension. I don't think it is our main goal --- I think that's still Iraq and the instability in the M.E. and other parts of the world. France, Germany and Russia are playing it at the other level. Pull us down, and stick it to Britain (I think it was Mark Steyn who said that it was mostly about Blair). We know it, but can't articulate it without distracting us from what needs to be done.

There also is the dimension of what may be uncovered in Iraq. I don't completely disregard that as well.

[Salvation]

**An Iraqi defector has told Sky News that Saddam Hussein will use chemical weapons if the country is invaded.**

But, but, but, but, but, but, but, Saddam say he has no chemical weapons -- that they have all been destroyed.

Oh, rats! Caught telling a lie, again, eh, Saddam? </sarcasm off

[Semper Paratus]

but I tend to think this is legit.

Maybe legit. Our debriefing of him would confirm that, what,where, means of delivery, detailed deployment orders, etc.

[Cap Huff]

Right, and then somebody holding him let him talk to Sky News. I think our guys wanted that info out.