Doctors Might Be Treating Saddam In Bunker

Yahoo/USA Today ^ | 3-25-2003 | Jack Kelley

[blam]

Doctors might be treating Saddam in bunker

Tue Mar 25, 6:00 AM ET

Jack Kelley USA TODAY

KUWAIT CITY -- CIA operatives and Army commandos who are hunting for Saddam Hussein believe that the Iraqi leader could be in a Baghdad bunker receiving medical attention from military doctors, U.S. intelligence and military sources said Monday.

''We know we hit him. We know he was wounded'' Thursday in a missile and bomb attack on a compound south of Baghdad, said a U.S. intelligence official involved in tracking Saddam. ''We also believe he hasn't left Baghdad.''

The assessment came on a day in which Saddam gave his second address on Iraqi TV since that attack, which U.S. officials said was aimed at ''decapitating'' his regime in the opening hours of the war. Saddam appeared more robust than the pale, shaken figure who was shown a few hours after the attack. He taunted coalition forces in referring to battles in southern Iraq .

''Have you found what the devil that besets your soul promised you?'' he asked, imploring Iraqis to fight coalition forces. ''Cut their throats and even their fingers. . . . We will make it as painful as we can. . . . Victory is imminent.''

U.S. intelligence officials said they believe the person in the latest video was Saddam. Even so, they and the White House said the tape could have been recorded before the war began and didn't necessarily prove that he was in control of his army. On the tape, Saddam praises his army's 51st Division. But some troops in the 51st have surrendered in southern Iraq, U.S. military and Kuwaiti government sources said.

Publicly, U.S. officials say they aren't sure whether Saddam is alive. But air attacks in Baghdad and elsewhere continue to make Saddam's residences and command centers a priority, suggesting an assumption that he is alive.

Intelligence and military sources said intercepted communications, captured Iraqi generals, spy satellites and aircraft are being used to try to track Saddam's movements. It's a difficult task, the sources said, because he can move from bunker to bunker via underground tunnels in Baghdad.

But two intelligence gains have given U.S. officials more hope. Intelligence sources said Delta Force commandos in Baghdad have tapped Saddam's underground phone lines, and said the CIA has recruited an Iraqi official who knows where Saddam sleeps.

Some of the bunkers are 300 feet underground and are beneath mosques, hospitals and schools to keep coalition forces from bombing them, U.S. intelligence officials said.

[blam]

"Wonder if it's some twisted Arab *thing* that warriors are supposed to hide?!"

He's not a warrior, just a thug.

[El Gato]

On the other hand Rumsfeld's mouth is his own worse enemy. "saddam is loosing control of his country..." Tell me that when you are in Baghdad and Saddam is in chains.

Wait a few days my friend. He'll either be in chains, hanging from a lampost or a greasy spot in one of his bunkers, assuming he's not already collecting his 72 Virgin goats.

[dinok]

Youc an call me names, but you apparently dont get my point.

I am for us wining, but I can't stand braggards who count their chickens before they hatch.

I have served in the Armored Cavalry in our Army as a 19Delta scout and have been through officer school after. I dont need your approval or afirmation of my commitment to our nations's victory.

You want to take my points apart feel free. Try doing it on the facts.

[dinok]

..."Wait a few days my friend. He'll either be in chains, hanging from a lampost or a greasy spot in one of his bunkers, assuming he's not already collecting his 72 Virgin goats."

I will be smiling as his nasty body is swaying back and forth like Musolini's.

[GirlShortstop]

Wonder if it's some twisted Arab *thing* that warriors are supposed to hide?!

     He's not a warrior, just a thug.

You are absolutely right.   My mistake was omitting the italics on warrior.

[error99]

STFU

[TominPA]

"I have served in the Armored Cavalry in our Army as a 19Delta scout and have been through officer school after. I dont need your approval or afirmation of my commitment to our nations's victory."

I never questioned your intent or or your commitment. My point was being ANYWHERE in the vicinity of a half-a-dozen 2000 lb LGBs is enough to "shock and awe" nearly anyone on this planet, even old Cav Scouts.

[GirlShortstop]

STFU         That makes me laugh whenever I see it... add fidiot to the end, and it says it all!

[speekinout]

They need air, don't they?

The air intakes can be miles away from the bunkers. And probably are. They could also be shared with air intakes for apartments, hospitals or schools.
You'd need the bunker plans to figure out where all the air intakes are. And if we're trying to save civilian lives, it wouldn't be a good idea to pump gas through one unless we knew where the outlets were.

[wireman]

See message #27

DITTO!!!

[Quix]

WARN THE CIVIES

THEN BOMB THEM TO OBLIVION ANYWAY.

Enough is enough.

[nicollo]

the UN will come around...never did
turkey will let us in...as if that would happen
decapitation...never happened
surrender of key officers...never happened
Shock and awe...no one was shocked or awed
But the worse of all was underestimation of the enemy and
sending too few troops...

Dude, they all suck, don't they?

Think.

The French started this war as much as Bush did. Our President presented them with the logical conclusion of his arguments that the French rejected. That rejection hastened Bush's conculsion. Check Mate.

Better yet, Saddam counted on the French/Russion interference, and he didn't prepared for war as he ought have. Thank God for that.

As for Turkey, your interpretation of Shock 'n Awe, Decapitation, etc.... get ready to eat your words.

Gulp.

[nicollo]

Thought you might enjoy, or have some elaboration upon, my no. 33

[Rocky]

Classic picture! Shock and enema.

[dinok]

Shock and awe was supposed to shock them, awe them and make the surrender, as we were told. Neither has happened.
What do I have to wait for?
(It was a glitchy stunt. An airforce pipe dream. Just bomb the crap out of the Republican Guards and shut up about surrenders.)

we gave up on Turkey and the liars are invading as we speak and lying about it. Good thing we stopped begging...it was embarasing. Maybe I should wait for that. NOT.

If the plan was to make the UN irrelevant, I would agree it was a master stroke...but I hear from GW and Powel that we are going to let them in Iraq after its over. Some plan...

saddam will loose eventually...I have no doubt. And I want him to. But if we can't talk here and criticise our side when it makes mistakes we are just like the Clinton coolaid drinkers.

I think we can handle it. I sure take my abuse here and come back. If I am wrong. I'm wrong...it wont be the first time. Or the last.

[ez]

We need to FReep sinkemporer with everyone holding signs that say

STFU!

[Balata]

Some of the bunkers are 300 feet underground and are beneath mosques, hospitals and schools to keep coalition forces from bombing them, U.S. intelligence officials said.

And the best thing is we can easily put them below the water level.

[nicollo]

This 'it all sucks now, but it'll be alright later' of yours is a cop-out, at best.

Let's start here: Bush has made the UN irrelevant, you applaud; yet he wants to use it for US purposes, you deny. 'Tis you, not the President who is inconsistent. Bush is interested in a UN that is useful.

That "shock and awe" "didn't" work is your judgement, based upon the idea that it's already been employed, or that it's been employed as you expected it. Please don't say you're of the nuke-em now crowd. Whatever our expectations to call it a failure is to call the entire campaign a failure. I woke up with a hangover. Must I have it all week?

I bothered with your complaints because they seemed directed. I don't mind the ocasional irrationality. This one reeks.

[blam]

"And the best thing is we can easily put them below the water level."

Had'nt thought of that.