Posted on 04/01/2003 2:24:56 PM PST by MadIvan
THE SAS has arrested four busloads of suspected suicide bombers and would-be fighters in Iraqs western desert.
The men, who are being held as prisoners of war, came from various Arab countries but all carried Syrian passports. They are thought to be among thousands of Arab zealots making their way to the battle front.
Syria has issued about 2,000 passports to people volunteering to fight for President Saddam Hussein in recent weeks, raising serious concerns in Britain and America, which suspects Damascus of smuggling war supplies to Iraq. The coalition is to protest to the Syrians.
Syrian officials have made no secret of their sympathy for the resistance of the Iraqi people to coalition attacks, although they have not voiced public support for Saddam.
Damascus has rejected accusations by Donald Rumsfeld, the US Defence Secretary, that Syria has provided Iraq with night-vision goggles.
The big worry is that many of the volunteers receiving passports may be suicide bombers, including Palestinians hoping to avenge themselves for US support of Israel. A captured Iraqi general said last week that up to 4,000 suicide bombers were ready.
British sources believe that up to 600 volunteers have crossed from Syria into Iraq or are about to do so. Sending fighters to join a combatant army is a clear breach of neutrality. The Syrians are playing with fire, one source said yesterday.
In Jerusalem, Shaul Mofaz, the Israeli Defence Minister, said that Israel viewed as very grave Syrias role in helping the volunteers. He also issued a veiled warning to President Assad over comments in a Lebanese newspaper that Syria could be the next target in Americas War on Terror as long as Israel exists.
Mr Mofaz said that Mr Assad had effectively ruled out a peace agreement with Israel.
Nam Vet
Syria gets rid of a bunch of PITAs (Pains In The Ass) and we get some more easy targets, If we confine them rather than perforating them, well at least we know where they are.
Please take this term "thousands" with a grain of salt.
The coalition of the willing has control of the western deserts and the principal highway from Aman to Baghdad. The coalition also blew up the key bridge (along with a busload of terrorists 6 days ago) twenty miles inside Iraq on the principal highway between Damascus and Baghdad.
"Thousands" may be leaving Syria by bus but they face a 350 mile walk or a long camel ride to Baghdad soon after entering Iraq.
From the Nuclear Threat InitiativeChemical:
According to open sources, Syria has one of the most extensive chemical weapons (CW) capabilities in the Middle East and among developing countries worldwide. Syria allegedly received initial chemical warfare assistance and supplies, including chemical agents, from Egypt prior to the October War against Israel in 1973. Analysts claim that the country now has an indigenous capability to produce and weaponize nerve (e.g., sarin and VX) and blister (e.g., mustard) agents. There are some allegations that Syria received Russian assistance in developing these agents, and that it acquired dual-use technology and equipment from various European countries and India. Syria possesses Scud-B and Scud-C ballistic missiles capable of being fitted with chemical warheads, and in 1999 it allegedly tested a Scud-B carrying a warhead designed to disperse VX. Open sources assert that there are at least three Syrian facilities currently engaged in producing CW, located near Damascus, Hama, and Safira village (in the Aleppo area). Damascus ratified the Geneva Protocol in 1968, but so far has declined to sign the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).Missile: Syrias missile program began in the early 1970s as a means to counter Israels superior conventional military capabilities; since that time, the missile program has grown in tandem with the development of chemical weapons (CW). Syria now has one of the largest arsenals of ballistic missiles in the region, made up of hundreds of Scud-derived missile systems. In the 1970s and 1980s, Syria relied on Soviet technology and support for its missile program and imported the Soviet FROG-7, Scud-Bs, and the solid-fueled Scarab SS-21 missiles. In the 1990s, Syria looked to other states to supply it with missile technology and found willing partners in Iran and North Korea. Iran provided Syria with technical assistance for solid-fueled rocket motor production, while North Korea supplied it with equipment and technical assistance for liquid-fueled missile production. Syria, however, has had difficulty creating an indigenous production capability and has had to rely on continued imports from countries such as North Korea and China. Syria reportedly purchased 150 Scud-C missiles from North Korea in 1991. In September 2000, Syria tested a North Korean, 700 km-range Scud-D, revealing its commitment to expanding its missile capability. Syria is not a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
Syria does not have the money for nukes, but what they have is bad enough. Also, I recommend reading the following:
My theory is that Assad noticed that his regime is nearly as bad as Saddam's and he must realise he's also on the hit list.
Regards, Ivan
Wacky....Iraqui...Hmmm.
Now being made available to Syria, for the first time ever, the:
ATOMS FOR PEACE Program
As Islam is the Religion of Peace, the Atoms for Peace program is a natural complement to indigenous religous practice and feelings.
It's simple! Just assemble all of your armed and paramilitary forces being gathered to fight the Infidel Jew and American and British running dogs and proceed toward the Israeli and Iraqi borders in good order.
Representatives of the ATOMS FOR PEACE Program will meet you and take it from there. NO WORRIES. EVER.
Such perfectly appropriate language!
And a pint to the man in the red cloak!
I thoroughly agree. Assad has chosen death, let us fulfill that choice.
Regards, Ivan
and let not forget Eygpt and the big fat one named BABYLON!!
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