Free Republic

Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, on Saturday said that the Iraqi security forces captured a leading figure in Saddam Hussein’s Baath party in an operation based on intelligence reports. Al-Abadi said this in his address to a ceremony in Baghdad for the 146th anniversary of the Iraqi press. “The security forces managed to arrest the terrorist Abdul Karim al-Sadoun by the efforts of the Iraqi intelligence,” Abadi said. Abadi did not give further details about how or where the arrest took place, saying he preferred an official statement to declare the details later as interrogation was still underway. Al-Sadoun was...

Izzat Ibrahim Addouri has resurfaced despite a $10 million U.S. bounty on his head. By Nicola Nasser Addouri Outlines Anti-U.S. Strategy For the first time since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in April 2003, the deputy of Saddam Hussein, the late President of Iraq, Izzat Ibrahim Addouri has resurfaced, despite a $10 million U.S. bounty on his head, in a lengthy interview with Abdel-Azim Manaf, the editor-in-chief of the Egyptian newspaper Al-Mawqif Al-Arabi, not a mainstream, on May 26 to lay out the strategy and tactics of the Iraqi resistance led by the former ruling party, Al-Baath. Addouri's resurface and...

It is unclear whether the cause of the syndrome is viral or bacterial – a distinction with implications for treatment – although autopsies have indicated that those who died were suffering from other complications, such as Chikungunya.Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever (VHF) is endemic in the two states of Portuguesa and Barinas, but transmission from person-to-person is uncommon.While samples have been sent to the Venezuelan National Institute of Health, the results have not yet been released publically and there is no suggestion from health officials that VHF is behind this particular outbreak.One doctor, who wishes to remain anonymous, attended a meeting last...

In an open letter, Saddam Hussein told Iraqis "victory was at hand" and urged insurgents to show magnanimity to opponents, saying he himself forgave Iraqis who aided the killers of his two sons. In the letter dictated to his chief lawyer Khalil Dulaimi during a four-hour meeting on Saturday in his prison, the former Iraqi leader also said Iraqis should put aside differences and set only one goal - to drive U.S. troops out of Iraq. "Victory is at hand but don't forget that your near-term goal is confined to liberating your country from the forces of occupation," Saddam said...

Peace upon those who believe in peace and desire it, and the mercy of God and His blessings. I address you in this letter from the place of my confinement, as my attempt on the basis of my moral, human, and constitutional responsibility so that no one among you might say that no one came to us with a message of peace after the war began, refuting the arguments for it and desiring peace for you and for our upright, loyal, heroic people. And as I say this, I do no know whether my brothers and comrades who are leading...

The Iraqi government's list of 41 most-wanted people, with accusations against them and rewards for information leading to their arrest, translated from Arabic by The Associated Press. Rewards were not promised for everybody. ___ 1 — Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, $10 million bounty. Vice president of dissolved Revolutionary Command Council. 2 — Mohammed Younis al-Ahmed al-Muwali, $1 million bounty. Former Baath Party member accused of funding and leading terrorist operations. 3 — Tahir Jalil Haboh, $1 million bounty. Former intelligence director and member of the Baath Party regional command. 4 — Saif al-Din Flayeh Hassan Taha al-Rawi, $1 million bounty. Chief...

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq released a most-wanted list of 41 names Sunday, including Saddam Hussein's wife and eldest daughter, as well as the new leader of al-Qaida in Iraq and one of the ousted president's closest allies. The government also announced a bounty for several figures on the list. "We are releasing this list so that our people can know their enemies," National Security Adviser Mouwafak al-Rubaie said at a news conference. He added that countries hosting those on the list and Interpol had been informed. The largest reward was $10 million for Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, a former top official...

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq on Wednesday announced the arrest in Lebanon of a nephew of Saddam Hussein for crimes allegedly committed after the fall of Saddam's regime. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki did not say when Bashar Sabawi Ibrahim Hassan al-Tikriti was arrested in Beirut or give details on the accusations against him. The announcement said he was arrested with the help of Lebanese police. "Bashar Sabawi al-Tikriti is an important element on the most wanted list due to his ugly crimes against the Iraqi people after the fall of the former regime," the announcement said. It was not clear if...

Sunni Arabs gain American backing in negotiations to form a new government.BAGHDAD – One month after Iraq's Dec. 15 election, a shift is afoot that will probably weaken Shiite political clout as the country's factions enter serious negotiations to form a new government. Increasingly, the US is throwing its weight in Iraq behind Sunni Arabs, about 20 percent of the country, to ensure they are part of a new coalition government. Analysts say the US is convinced reconciliation with Sunni Arabs will help stop the insurgency. There is also an American unease with the growing influence of Iran on Iraq's...

Yaa, you repukes are not doing so well, huh? Imagine, you repukes control the presidency, both houses of Congress, and appointed 7 of the 9 Supreme Court justices. Yet the Supreme Court thre out sodomy laws in all 50 states and recognized the right of government to seize land for any reason. And you couldn't pass your Social Security changes could you? Sorry, that was your last shot. Come November, we're going to start seeing more Democratic faces in the House. It's the end for you guys. You guys are celebrating when Bush's numbers go *up* to 45%. Then Faux...

BAGHDAD, Jan 5 (KUNA) -- Paratroopers of the Multi-National Forces have carried out a special operation in the hometown of the toppled Iraqi dictator and snatched a relative of the former president, a security source said on Thursday. The source said the elite squad landed in the town of Ojah, the hometown of Saddam, late on Wednesday, and detained Sheikh Ali Al-Nadda, and two of his relatives, Saad Addawi Al-Hdoush and Abdel Karim Al-Nadda. The latter was let go a few hours after detention.

Bush’s giant Right Wing Noise Machine (RWNM) loves to preach about the Bush economic miracle. In fact, the RWNM’s current thinking is Bush doesn’t spend enough time talking about his economic triumphs. If only he did, then everyone would fall in line and believe in the great Bush economic miracle. There is one problem with this argument: it’s a lie. Any way you look at the Bush economy, it comes up short. Today, I want to compare Bush’s job creation record with other economic recoveries. As usual, Bush comes up way short. The national Bureau of Economic Research has identified...

Why does anybody support George w Bush as President? He is clearly the worst President I have ever seen -- a complete disaster. And before you say anything, I have been a registered Republican for 25 years.

Lies of omission about 9/11 -- stoking fears of terrorism THEY WANT YOU TO BE AFRAID The following post was censored by freerepublic.com shortly after it was posted on their "public" forum on 9/11/04. That forum is designed to appear as though it is a community forum open to all, but this post only received three responses before it and its replies were deleted, and a repeat posting at 4 am PST on 9/20/04 didn't stay online for 5 minutes! Someone is apparently watching closely over the content of the freerepublic.com forums and censoring them 24/7 (though they might have...

In the middle of the War on Terror, October 15 was a great achievement of the United States, but above all an Iraqi victory. If we divide the number of US soldiers who died in the conflict till October 15, we'd realize that for each fallen hero, 4,500 Iraqi voters were given the right to vote against Terror. In the global conflict with Jihadism, U.S. efforts and sacrifices are triggering greater resources against the empire projected by Ayman Thawahiri and Usama Bin Laden.

Learning from Walesa Difficult choices for a democratic Syria. By Farid Ghadry A disturbing trend has emerged recently on the part of a number of analysts, policymakers, and pundits: They are condemning the nascent democratic opposition in Syria to a premature stillbirth. These observers argue that revolutionary anti-Baath organizations like the Reform Party of Syria could not possibly command the popularity and respect of the populace to mount any credible challenge to Baath dictatorial hegemony. Essentially, what they are saying is that because of such drawbacks, native opposition to the Baathist authoritarian regime is futile, and that the U.S. and...

Cindy Sheehan just finished her morning media event. When asked by reporters, Sheehan said she believes that while she supports the continued hunt for Osama bin Laden she believes the U.S. should withdraw from Afghanistan and “stop bombing innocent people.” She also described Osama bin Laden as being “allegedly” behind the attacks of 9/11. To those who have criticized her political stance, which includes allegations that the war in Iraq was “done for Israel” that George Bush is “the world’s biggest terrorist” and that al Qaeda may not be behind attacks on America, Sheehan said, “I know my son better...

As Trial Approaches, Saddam Casts Himself as Martyr for the Arab Cause By Jamal Halaby Associated Press Writer Published: Aug 21, 2005 AMMAN, Jordan (AP) - Facing trial and possible execution for the massacre of his fellow Muslims, ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein sought in a letter published Sunday to cast himself as a martyr, writing that his "soul and existence is to be sacrificed" for the Arab cause. A Jordanian friend received the letter through the International Committee of the Red Cross, which verified its authenticity and said it had been censored by Saddam's American captors in Iraq. "My...

For almost a quarter of a century Syria's foreign policy has been based on three certainties. The first was that the United States, hoodwinked into believing that there could be no peace in the Middle East with Syria, would continue not only to tolerate the Baathist regime but to prop it up against its Islamist opponents.... The second certainty of the Assad regime's strategy was that Saudi Arabia would continue to bankroll Syria through free oil quotas, cash hand-outs and emergency loans that would never be repaid. At the same time Saudi patronage would prevent other Arab states, notably Egypt...

BAGHDAD, July 30 (KUNA) -- Iraqi Interior Minister Bayan Baqer Jabr said Saturday that Iraqi law and order forces would be on hand, in intensive numbers to make sure that an upcoming referendum on a new draft constitution would take place without problems. "They (forces) will strike with iron fist strength against all those rotten-headed who gained entry to Iraq," he said about mostly foreign armed groups who are involved in regular violence. He was speaking after attending exercises by law and order forces, who have been preparing for referendum day.