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Iraq Gives Chilling Warning Of 'Unconventional Operations' (Tonight)
Independent (UK) ^ | 4-4-2003 | AP

Posted on 04/04/2003 3:12:02 PM PST by blam

Iraq gives chilling warning of 'unconventional operations'

Saddam Hussein appears in broadcast; 2,500 Republican Guards 'surrender'; US 'controls' road to Saddam's home town; 'Iraqi held' over deaths of UK soldiers; Allies cool prospects of onslaught; fresh 'Saddam' message broadcast

AP
04 April 2003

Iraq this afternoon delivered a chilling warning of "unconventional operations" tonight.

The Information Minister, Mohammed Saeed-al Sahaf, said the operations would be "nothing to do with the military" and there would be no chance for Allied forces to survive unless they surrendered.

It would be hard for the US forces to leave Baghdad airport alive, he said.

The Iraqis would not be using weapons of mass destruction but would conduct "kind of martyrdom operations", he said.

An hour later, Saddam Hussein appeared on Iraqi television, referring to an incident last week in which it was claimed that a peasant had shot down an Apache helicopter with his rifle.

Assuming it was not one of the president's reputed doubles - and there was no immediate suspicion from analysts that it was - the broadcast was seen as proof that he had survived the inital bomb attacks of the war.

He said that the Allies had failed to crack Iraqi resistance and called on called upon Baghdad's people to resist whenever the aggressors came closer and to stick to "your principles, your patriotism and the honour of men and women".

Meanwhile small arms fire could be heard from central Baghdad.

In other developments on Day 16 of the war:

The US is renaming Saddam International Airport; An Iraqi was reportedly arrested over the deaths of two British soldiers; US officials played down proects of an all-out attack on Baghdad; Saddam Hussein finally appeared on TV, referring to an incident a week ago.

2,500 Iraqis 'surrender': US Marines have reported that about 2,500 Iraqi Republican Guards surrendered between the cities of Kut and Baghdad, US Central Command said today.

The surrender apparently occurred after clashes of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force and the Republican Guard's Baghdad Division, said Navy Capt. Frank Thorp, spokesman at US Central Command.

He stressed that Central Command had only received the report from the Marines on the ground and could not confirm it outright. He said the reports indicated that there were uniforms, boots and helmets on the streets and that the surrender showed the division was "demonstrating an unwillingness to fight against the American forces".

There will be some confusion about reports of the surrender. It is two days since US Central Command said that the Baghdad division had been destroyed and was no longer "combat effective".

New name for airport: Baghdad's Saddam International Airport is now to be called Baghdad International, Brigadier General Vincent Brooks told a briefing at Central Command Headquarters.

He added that the US military was confident that it had breached the defensive ring around Baghdad.

He also said that US forces has "effective control" of roads between Baghdad and Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's home town and where some analysts suspect he could be.

Iraqi held over deaths: An Iraqi man was arrested for allegedly playing a "significant role" in the deaths of two British soldiers, said ITV News reporter Tim Ewart embedded with the Royal Tank Regiment.

The man was detained at a road block set up by British troops at Al Zubayr, 15 miles outside Basra.

On March 23 Sapper Luke Allsopp, 24, of north London and Staff Sergeant Simon Cullingworth, 36, from Essex of the 33 (EOD) Engineer Regiment, a specialist bomb disposal unit of the Royal Engineers, went missing after an attack on military vehicles near Al Zubayr.

Their bodies were later shown on Qatar based satellite broadcaster al–Jazeera, prompting condemnation from coalition commanders and politicians.

Played down: US officials were today playing down the prospects of an all-out assault on Baghdad.

Lt. Col. Scott Rutter, whose infantry battalion was trying to secure Saddam International Airport, said the approach of US forces should send a message to the people of Baghdad. He added: "We're here, and they can rise up and deal with the regime appropriately."

The front line message was reinforced from the Pentagon. President Bush's top military adviser, the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Richard Myers, said US troops forces might isolate Baghdad, rather than storming it, while work begins on forming an interim post-Saddam government.

"When you get to the point where Baghdad is basically isolated... you have a country that Baghdad no longer controls," Myers said at the Pentagon. He estimated that Saddam's regime already has lost effective control of 45 per cent of Iraq's territory.

Meanwhile the Allies today denied responsibility for the first Baghdad blackout since the war began. Group Capt Al Lockwood, a UK military spokesman at Allied Central Command in Qatar, suggested it may have been the "the last roll of the dice of a dying and finished regime".


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: chilling; iraq; operations; unconventional; warning
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Isn't it 'tonight' there already?
1 posted on 04/04/2003 3:12:03 PM PST by blam
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To: blam
Yup. It's 3:15 AM in Baghdad.
2 posted on 04/04/2003 3:14:44 PM PST by demnomo
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To: blam
The Iraqi regime lie about everything. Nothing they say is worth the breath they use to speak it. If they say they are going to initiate an uncoventional attack tonight it is almost as if they are announcing there will be no conventional attacks in the near future. The more they speak out the more I think they are nothing but a hollow group of cowards. I sure bet they have faced a rude awakening when the 3rd ID took over their airport in only 10 days.

The news now says there is shelling on the western edge of Baghdad. This means the Marines are already positioning on the other side of Baghdad.

Go Marines !
3 posted on 04/04/2003 3:19:20 PM PST by libertyfreedom28
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To: libertyfreedom28
I don't think they realize they're being squeezed on both sides. Seems to me if they find they need to split that human wave of theirs, its effectiveness will be greatly reduced. Now THAT I find comforting.
4 posted on 04/04/2003 3:23:25 PM PST by goldstategop
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To: libertyfreedom28
In Arab culture, there is no shame in lying. Indeed, the "truth" is just what you can make the other guy believe.
5 posted on 04/04/2003 3:27:57 PM PST by rageaholic
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To: rageaholic
So Bill Clinton was kinda like our first Arab President, too.
6 posted on 04/04/2003 3:38:40 PM PST by Steve Schulin
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To: Steve Schulin
I would be surprised if they told the truth for once. That's the Iraqi version of Shock n Awe!
7 posted on 04/04/2003 3:48:28 PM PST by ALS
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To: ALS
There conventional "WEAPON" is prating to "allah bubba" thats what he meant .
8 posted on 04/04/2003 3:57:40 PM PST by ruready4eternity ( Muslims have perfected an new form of psychological warfare. The Palestinians were first)
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To: ALS

Anyone know photography? Why would the pic be black/white yet the Iraqi eagle be color?

9 posted on 04/04/2003 3:59:17 PM PST by Calpernia (http://www.politicsandprotest.org/attack.swf)
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To: Calpernia
That's an overlay by the network.
10 posted on 04/04/2003 4:02:27 PM PST by ALS
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To: Aaron0617
Baghdad Bob lied again. I'm really upset

I was hoping a couple hundred martyrs with rifles would attack our tanks again. Yet, still 2 more hours 'til daylight. Night isn't over.

11 posted on 04/04/2003 4:04:08 PM PST by Aaron0617
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To: Calpernia
I believe that was superimposed over the video footage almost like a banner or header of some type over the vid.
THat doesnt mean its not authentic. Either way Hes finished whether he is alive or dead.Iraq is going to become a "tourist spot" after this war. Get your tickets ready !
12 posted on 04/04/2003 4:04:34 PM PST by ruready4eternity ( Muslims have perfected an new form of psychological warfare. The Palestinians were first)
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To: ALS
Oh, I thought it was part of the store front sign.
13 posted on 04/04/2003 4:06:22 PM PST by Calpernia (http://www.politicsandprotest.org/attack.swf)
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To: ruready4eternity
Thanks, but I may wait on tickets for a bit :)
14 posted on 04/04/2003 4:06:53 PM PST by Calpernia (http://www.politicsandprotest.org/attack.swf)
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To: rageaholic
In Arab culture, there is no shame in lying. Indeed, the "truth" is just what you can make the other guy believe.

Is this true? If so, it would explain their hyperbolic statements. We see this over and over in Saddam's and Osama's statements.

15 posted on 04/04/2003 4:17:38 PM PST by BunnySlippers
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To: demnomo
Well? Where are the unconventional attics? Are these attics with no stairs to get in them? What the heck is an unconventional attic anyway, one with no storage space? Jeeze these Arabs are a funny lot...

Oh..never mind...Emily Littella



Seriesly tho fokes, where are their sneaky petey attacks tonight? Have all the Bars let out yet? Are they all still inside watching Survivor--Iraq? LOL, THAT would be a funny "reality" series wouldn't it...

"The 5th survivor, voted out, "Ali bin Shaballi"...just because he wouldn't share his gas mask...

That is all...
16 posted on 04/04/2003 4:24:44 PM PST by GRRRRR (Is Baghdad Burning Yet...)
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To: rageaholic
Our little village has one liquor store, and it was sold several years ago to some Arabs. They had a cute little trick: If your tab was, say $4.49, you would give them a five, and they would not give you back your small change. The first time it happened to me, I said, I want my change. They responded with (in Apu accent) "Oh, but it is just pennies, nothing for you to worry about." Honest to God. They were doing this to everyone. I can only imagine how much they raked in daily. If you tried to complain further, they suddenly didn't understand English.

They sold out after a year and a half, and it is now owned by a lovely Middle Eastern gentleman who remembers his customers, excuses the odd pennies in your purchase, and just generally brightens up our little town. Go figure.
17 posted on 04/04/2003 4:30:08 PM PST by EggsAckley (Midnight at the Oasis......)
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Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: GRRRRR
Well, it's near dawn in Baghdad and still no word about the "beautiful martyrdom operations" that are supposed to occur. I have not yet heard or read of any reports that say Coalition forces have surrendered and that the airport is back under victorious Iraqi control. (That Ba'athist suck-up Fisk was claiming that he was taken to the airport and saw no Coalition troops. Yeah, right. That leftist jerk is obviously smokin the same stuff that his Iraqi minder pals are smokin.)

Still, it's awfully quiet...
19 posted on 04/04/2003 4:34:24 PM PST by demnomo
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To: BunnySlippers
>>We see this over and over in Saddam's and Osama's statements.<<

And in the statements of CAIR and AMC.

risa

20 posted on 04/04/2003 5:08:54 PM PST by Risa
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