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Aziz: I want home in UK
The Sun (U.K.) ^ | 04/26/03 | DAVID WOODING

Posted on 04/25/2003 7:14:04 PM PDT by Pokey78

SADDAM’S deputy PM Tariq Aziz is pleading to move to Britain.

The schemer has told his US captors he will reveal all about the Iraqi regime in exchange for a new identity and cushy life here.

Cigar-smoking Aziz, 67, was Saddam’s best-known mouthpiece and condemned the UK. Now he wants to live here because he is terrified of being executed by Iraqis and is desperate to dodge US strict justice.

Aziz, who gave himself up on Thursday, is the most senior Saddam aide caught so far.

Human rights groups last night said: “The guy is a murderous scumbag and we don’t want him here. He has got the blood of hundreds of thousands on his hands.”

The Iraqi Community Association, representing 250,000 Iraqis who fled to Britain, condemned any deal.

Spokesman Hashim Ali said: “It is unthinkable that Aziz gains protection in this country. He is a nasty, murderous man.”

Within hours of his capture in Baghdad, Aziz — a top member of Saddam’s Revolutionary Command Council — hinted to US forces about his knowledge of weapons, crimes against humanity and Saddam’s last-known whereabouts.

He even threw the name of Labour MP George Galloway — accused of being on the Iraqi payroll — into the conversation.

An insider said: “Aziz has made it clear he is ready for a total sell-out. He knows we are anxious to retrieve this information and is playing hard-to-get. He has his price and he’s sticking out for it.

“He is trying to do a deal to get himself off the hook. Aziz is a walking goldmine of information about Saddam and the regime — and he knows it.

“He sees his knowledge as an insurance policy which he is now trying to cash in to buy himself out of jail.”

The monster’s greatest fear is being sent to face trial before an Iraqi people’s court — and a death sentence.

Cigar-smoking Aziz also dreads being sent to Cuba, where his favourite Havanas are made, to be detained at America’s Camp X-Ray.

The source added: “He knows that as a Christian and a key member of the regime there is no chance of Iraqis showing any leniency towards him.

“He is terrified of spending his last hours swinging from a crane in the centre of Baghdad. He’s worried about being on American soil. Aziz is asking for assurances that if he provides detailed evidence and acts as a witness, he’ll be treated like one.

“He wants immunity from prosecution and a witness protection deal, involving a new identity. He’s also suggested a move to France if they would take him, but Britain is his top choice.

“He says there is no record of him having taken part in any war crimes but he can help nail those who did.”

Desperate Aziz made his demands as CIA chiefs quizzed him at a PoW camp. He will be flown to a high-security cell — possibly on a US airbase.

Aziz gave himself up after two days negotiating through an intermediary.

A Pentagon official said: “He wanted assurances he wouldn’t be taken into a back room and shackled and beaten.”

Aziz’s son Ziab said the handover was dignified and US forces arranged treatment for a heart condition.

A Home Office spokeswoman last night said: “It’s a ridiculous suggestion that asylum will be granted to this individual.

“The 1951 Refugee Convention allows us not to give asylum to people involved in war crimes or abuses of human rights.”

The former chief of Saddam’s Mukhabbarat intelligence service Farouk Hijazi was seized by US troops near the border with Syria yesterday.

He is suspected of plotting a failed attempt to assassinate George Bush’s father in Kuwait in 1993.

US officials said Hijazi was the third highest ranking Iraqi intelligence official at the time and has close ties with al-Qa’ida. Former CIA director James Woolsey said: “It’s a big catch.”


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: aziz; immunity; newid; witnessprotection
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To: Nick Danger
ROTFLMAOL
Wiping tears of mirth.
I, also, want to know who the reliable source was for this bit of information.
Lord knows I love Tom Clancy's work, but to think any Intel agency feeds any press agency anything other than pablum is rather, well, to put it nicely, naieve.
I would put my tin foil hat on, if I did not have my special government issued ability to morph into an alternate reality.
LOL
81 posted on 04/25/2003 8:31:01 PM PDT by sarasmom (Punish France.Ignore Germany.Forgive Russia.)
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To: Pokey78
No deals for this lying bas----! Wait a minute! Maybe tell him if he talks, life in prison, if he doesn't, Iraqi's deal with him.
82 posted on 04/25/2003 8:31:03 PM PDT by whadizit
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To: PianoMan
Someone remind me why we can't truth serum this guy?

Yeah!

Send him to section 1 and let Madeline have her way with him.

83 posted on 04/25/2003 8:35:54 PM PDT by HIDEK6
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To: Pokey78
You people are cold, cruel, and unrealistic. I have read that Aziz is NOT that hated amongst the Iraqi people, they just saw him as the mouthpiece. We SHOULD make a deal with this guy, pump him for everything he knows, get it verified. If he holds up to his end of the bargain, he gets what he wants....

A new identity and a new life in England. After they force him to undergo a sex change operation, maybe he can start a movie career..


84 posted on 04/25/2003 8:36:43 PM PDT by Paradox
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To: dighton
Fisk works for the Mossad..Pass the word..LOL
85 posted on 04/25/2003 8:39:45 PM PDT by MEG33
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To: MEG33
Oops, sorry. That might get Fisk in trouble.
86 posted on 04/25/2003 8:43:38 PM PDT by dighton (Amen-Corner Hatchet Team, Nasty Little Cliqueâ„¢)
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To: Pokey78
Britain won't want him, despite what the BBC will say.

Perhaps we could send him to the Barbra Streisand compound near Los Angeles where he could be secretly interviewed by Peter Jennings. Might as well make him feel at home while he spills his guts.

Ever notice how much he looks like Henry Kissinger?

87 posted on 04/25/2003 8:43:40 PM PDT by Jack of Clubs ("Are the cameras rolling?" -- JFKerry)
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To: Smedley
"Hmmmmmm! Personally, I have no problem with this. However, this guy better be willing and able to "shock and awe" us with his information."


And proven to be reliable. I don't think he would ever feel safe no matter what. He would always be looking over his shoulders and I really don't think he would last long. If he gave us truly vital info and we let him off we certainly shouldn't give him any extras. He should get some hole in the wall somewhere and be made to support himself just like anyone else.

I hate the idea of letting him off but I think he would always be in misery and fear. He should only be let off if his info is able to "shock and awe" and save American lives.
88 posted on 04/25/2003 8:44:02 PM PDT by Bellflower
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To: dighton
We couldn't have that!
89 posted on 04/25/2003 8:46:42 PM PDT by MEG33
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To: geedee
You must have watched the same Cold-War spy movies that I did, LOL.

Leni

90 posted on 04/25/2003 9:09:29 PM PDT by MinuteGal (THIS JUST IN ! Astonishing fare reduction for FReeps Ahoy Cruise! Check it out, pronto!)
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To: Pokey78
“He is terrified of spending his last hours swinging from a crane in the centre of Baghdad. He’s worried about being on American soil.

Guess he should have thought about this before he decided to go along with and encourage that brutal regime. He sure is an arogant son of a gun isn't he?

91 posted on 04/25/2003 9:11:48 PM PDT by WomanofStandard (Life is Hard, but God is Good)
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To: Paleo Conservative
#34....... Thats the ticket, and he looks soooo much better.
92 posted on 04/25/2003 9:31:35 PM PDT by Great Dane
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To: Paleo Conservative
Make that #31
93 posted on 04/25/2003 9:32:25 PM PDT by Great Dane
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To: Nick Danger
Has anybody seen another source reporting any of this?

No, but we are having fun.

94 posted on 04/25/2003 9:37:00 PM PDT by Great Dane
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To: Paradox
"After they force him to undergo a sex change operation, maybe he can start a movie career.."

...Hmmmmm.. I think that would just be Devine!

(sorry.. couldn't resist that one!)

95 posted on 04/25/2003 9:38:13 PM PDT by In The Defense of Liberty (Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.)
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To: Pokey78
The UK and not France? Shocking.
96 posted on 04/25/2003 9:45:04 PM PDT by onyx
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To: Pokey78
Maybe he and George Galloway can spend Christmas together as bunk buddies in a prison cell.
97 posted on 04/25/2003 9:59:05 PM PDT by mass55th
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To: ysoitanly
'Pacer'

Yikes! From the day those things hit the street... they reminded me of little tiny herses... like cars to carry dead clown midgets or something... And you;re right! Nobody ever expects to see a used one that runs,

98 posted on 04/25/2003 10:29:53 PM PDT by Way2Serious
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To: Pokey78
Within hours of his capture in Baghdad, Aziz — a top member of Saddam’s Revolutionary Command Council — hinted to US forces about his knowledge of weapons, crimes against humanity and Saddam’s last-known whereabouts.

Gee, this reminds me of something......what now? Hmmmmmmmmmm....


99 posted on 04/25/2003 10:34:36 PM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: Pokey78
Within hours of his capture in Baghdad, Aziz — a top member of Saddam’s Revolutionary Command Council — hinted to US forces about his knowledge of weapons, crimes against humanity and Saddam’s last-known whereabouts.


100 posted on 04/25/2003 10:36:01 PM PDT by SkyPilot
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