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

[tm22721]

Saddam could save the US a lot of trouble by just lobbing a chem/bio missile into Televiv.

The Israel response would make Baghdad uninhabitable for 10,000 years.

BUMP

[r9etb]

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

Think of the Russians during WWII -- they had "political troops" stationed behind the lines to kill any soldiers who might retreat. Same for these guys.

[r9etb]

This is tied more into the World Trade Organization and globalization.

Rather, this is tied to France and Germany a) wanting the EU to become a major power; and b) wanting to be the folks who control the EU.

[RummyChick]

they dont even get adequate foot, clothing and boots. I am sure they know they will be sacrificed. I predict massive surrender once the war starts.


God Bless the men and women on the front line that are risking their lives against a madman for our safety .

[RummyChick]

Russia says it will veto. I think we will go in before the 17th if Russia says no. FNC has a guy on now that says this is a tactic for the smaller countries with the idea of why should they vote for it when they know it will fail. You get people not to vote for it and then no veto is needed because they don't have the basic necessary vote count

[Terriergal]

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

We already knew that.

[RummyChick]

I wonder if any of these embedded reporters will have second thoughts about being on the front line. Btw, is Geraldo going to go on the front line so we can see him ducking sniper fire again.

[Cacophonous]

We have put Saddam in a position where his generals that make the decision to use WMD have everything to lose if the try it.

They have everything to lose anyway. We have made it clear from the start that we are going to invade, irrespective of what the inspectors found or did not find, what he confessed to having or did not confess, or what he destroyed or did not destroy. It should surprise noone that they are willing to resort to desparate measures.

Of course, waiting 15 months didn't help.

[CyberAnt]

Hmmmm? What if this is just a ruse to try to keep us from attacking.

Remember one thing - these people watched the x42 admin in operation for 8 years - everytime there was TROUBLE, we ran away. Could Saddam be thinking we would do the same thing - if he could use a threat of death by chemical weapons.

This is just tooooooo convenient for me - and a member of Saddam's Republican Guard - puhleeeeeeze!!

I don't doubt Iraq has the chemicals - it's the delivery systems that are sorely lacking.

[Terriergal]

ducking sniper fire again.

Again? Like if any sniper was actually shooting at him, he'd have time to duck! lol

[BossLady]

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

That's not what we've been hearing from the other defectors.....they said they didn't have food and clothing, let alone gas masks and first aid kits.

Also, reports last week confirmed Saddam is paranoid about his army defecting so he's not equiping them properly.

[CyberAnt]

And ... I believe the latest dozen or so who tried to defect to the British - were poorly clothed, etc., which confirms the former info that these people didn't have food, clothing or supplies.

And ... I do believe there were reports that Saddam has told certain military people to kill anyone who tries to defect.

[BossLady]

Nooooo...say it isn't so....... :o /sarcasm

And those land mines he's supposedly planting....are they to keep US out or them in???

[cynwoody]

I was thinking of that woman..ganine geraffalo

Janeane Garofalo

[Valin]

Because of soldiers' protective gear?
yes amoung other reasons. Environmental conditions also can also restrict there use(rain, wind etc.)

Will all our troops in the region be wearing such gear?
From what I've seen everyone has them on their persons at all times.

[EODGUY]

I haven't read all the comments, so if my hypothesis has already been made, I apologize.

Is it possible that this military officer was "allowed" to defect and provide the info he did in order to stimulate even more anti-war sentiment and anti-Bush action around the world?

Having been in our military, I question how disguising the officer for the interview to protect his family in Iraq would make any sense. Unless accountability is much more relaxed in the Iraqi military, it should be relatively easy to identify an officer who is absent from his assigned duty position.

I know it sounds a little like a tinfoil hat comment, but the entire situation has a strange odor about it.

[Kenton]

Think of the Russians during WWII -- they had "political troops" stationed behind the lines to kill any soldiers who might retreat. Same for these guys

I saw this defector on FoxNews last night. He pretty much confirmed what you say.

I expect that our plans will seek to take out the bad guys and the nasty stuff in the "inner defensive circle" in such a way as to allow the cannon fodder out in front to surrender, as it sounds like they will get a better break from our troops than they would their own leaders.

[Freedom2specul8]

ah thank you for the post and pic....that's it. There's a new article about her complaining about being harassed for her anti-war stance. LOL do a search under her name.