unconfirmed reports: tariq aziz executed [Archive]

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tandem

03-19-2003, 08:23 AM

according to army radio, there are unconfirmed reports that deputy prime minister of iraq tariq aziz was executed because he tried to defect. baghdad denies the report

cerulean

03-19-2003, 08:37 AM

Interesting. I had previously seen rumors that Aziz had tried to defect or had defected in northern Iraq. There's no way anyone could be foreign minister for Saddam Hussein without being despicable himself, but he gave the impression that he at least had some reasoning power left. I hope we hear more.

Hierophant

03-19-2003, 08:38 AM

i had heard sketchy reports earlier that he did defect into northern iraq. it'll be interesting to see which way this plays out. I suspected he didnt have long to live after his trip to rome.

Johnny Yuma

03-19-2003, 08:40 AM

Originally posted by tandem
according to army radio, there are unconfirmed reports that deputy prime minister of iraq tariq aziz was executed because he tried to defect. baghdad denies the report

My sources inform me that this news link (debka.com) was absolutely correct during the first Gulf War:
Click here! (http://www.debka.com/index.php)

Alfred

03-19-2003, 08:40 AM

I heard he was with the Kurds.

Johnny Yuma

03-19-2003, 08:42 AM

Originally posted by Alfred
I heard he was with the Kurds.

That's what the newslink is saying....

There's much more than just that!

cerulean

03-19-2003, 08:53 AM

Direct from Iran's official news agency:
http://www.irna.com/en/world/030319171950.ewo.shtml
UK trying to clarify rumors Tariq Aziz has been killed

London, March 19, IRNA -- Foreign Office Minister Mike O'Brien said Wednesday that the British government was trying to clarify the rumor that Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz had been killed.
"The rumor and it is no more than that at this stage, and I want to emphasize that and I understand our source is Bulgarian source at the moment -- is that Tariq Aziz . . . may have been killed," O'Brien told MPs in the House of Commons.
"There are rumors -- we do not know if they are true," he stressed but pledged to keep parliament informed as soon as the matter was clarified.
Earlier O'Brien confirmed that the British government was aware of 'reports' that Aziz may have been trying to defect to Iraqi Kurdistan.
HC/BH/AH
End
========
If anyone feels like visiting the UK Parliament site, you could probably find out if the discussion is as reported here. I'm not sure when this discussion is supposed to have taken place, but right now it's about 5 PM in Britain.

cerulean

03-19-2003, 09:15 AM

This article was updated about 15 minutes ago.

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-12271955,00.html
AZIZ RUMOUR 'CHEAP LIES'

Washington and Baghdad have agreed on one fact - Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz has not left the country.

Iraq said reports that he had defected were "cheap lies" and a US official said: "These rumours are just not true".

The rumours which affected oil prices in New York first surfaced in the House of Commons in London.

Junior Foreign Office minister Mike O'Brien said the rumours came from a Bulgarian source and Labour MP Ann Clwyd said: "We do have reports that are as yet unconfirmed that Tariq Aziz has defected to Northern Iraq to Kurdish Democratic Party territory.

"It would be very useful to have a statement if that is confirmed."

Mr O'Brien said: "We too have heard these rumours and we are seeking confirmation, or not, of them."

A senior Kurdish source also scoffed at the rumour that Aziz was being held by Kurdish forces.

Rumours of the imprisonment, flight or death of members of Saddam Hussein's administration are common, but rarely turn out to be true.

Aziz was seen in Iraqi TV coverage of Tuesday's cabinet meeting with Saddam.

Last Updated: 17:08 UK, Wednesday March 19, 2003

NewsGuy

03-19-2003, 09:44 AM

FWIW, Debka is reporting that Aziz in is Kurdish custody, and being questioned by the CIA.

MichaelC

03-19-2003, 09:55 AM

Originally posted by NewsGuy
FWIW, Debka is reporting that Aziz in is Kurdish custody, and being questioned by the CIA. Aziz is on MSNBC at this very moment, from Iraq, assuring everyone that he is alive and well and not in anyone's custody.

Damn!

Johnny Yuma

03-19-2003, 10:16 AM

Originally posted by MichaelC
Aziz is on MSNBC at this very moment, from Iraq, assuring everyone that he is alive and well and not in anyone's custody.

Damn!

Figures! I'm not able to access the debka link. Keeps telling me the server is down. Must be getting too many hits.

Still. I'm told that it was "dead-on" the last time we had to implement an urban renewal program with Iraq.....

minusthejihad

03-19-2003, 10:22 AM

Iraqi Soldiers Surrender on Kuwaiti Border

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,81558,00.html

"Fifteen Iraqis surrendered to American forces at the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border on Wednesday, a U.S. Army officer said.

Capt. Darren Theriault of the headquarters company of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division told journalists with the unit that the Iraqis had been turned over to Kuwaiti custody.

A Kuwaiti official who declined to be identified said only three or four Iraqi soldiers had surrendered and that they had turned themselves over to the Kuwaiti army."

Getting very interesting. I think rumors like Tariq Aziz may as well be another front in the war by the Americans.

Johnny Yuma

03-19-2003, 10:23 AM

Originally posted by NewsGuy
FWIW, Debka is reporting that Aziz in is Kurdish custody, and being questioned by the CIA.

Well hey.... even if he is.. being captured right out of the chute is kinda un-sporting, don't you think?

I'd like to keep an image of him clawing up a hill, clothes tattered and filthy, looking back over his shoulder with a sweaty brow and fear in his eyes, as our boys are tight on his heels.

Chalk it up to the romantic in me...

Run rabbits, run......

MichaelC

03-19-2003, 10:25 AM

Originally posted by Johnny Yuma
Figures! I'm not able to access the debka link. Keeps telling me the server is down. Must be getting too many hits. Roger that. I was getting "page unavailable" from Debka when Aziz appeared on the screen. I missed his words since the sound was turned down, but the usual summaries of news were rolling along the bottom of the screen explaining things.

Johnny Yuma

03-19-2003, 10:55 AM

Did you see this? It's from the AP:

Tuesday, March 18, 2003

PARIS — The French military could help the United States if Iraq uses biological or chemical weapons against U.S.-led invaders, the French Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

France has led opposition to U.S. war plans in Iraq, but the Foreign Ministry said Iraqi use of biological or chemical weapons in a war could change France's position.

"France would assess what measures of assistance to take in a spirit of friendship and solidarity," a ministry statement said. It gave no other details.

France's ambassador to the United States made similar comments earlier on in a televised interview. Ambassador Jean-David Levitte also did not specify what kind of help France could offer, saying only, "We have equipment to fight in these circumstances."

JustPat

03-19-2003, 11:01 AM

minusthejihad

03-19-2003, 11:02 AM

Originally posted by Johnny Yuma
Did you see this? It's from the AP:

Tuesday, March 18, 2003

PARIS — The French military could help the United States if Iraq uses biological or chemical weapons against U.S.-led invaders, the French Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

France has led opposition to U.S. war plans in Iraq, but the Foreign Ministry said Iraqi use of biological or chemical weapons in a war could change France's position.

"France would assess what measures of assistance to take in a spirit of friendship and solidarity," a ministry statement said. It gave no other details.

France's ambassador to the United States made similar comments earlier on in a televised interview. Ambassador Jean-David Levitte also did not specify what kind of help France could offer, saying only, "We have equipment to fight in these circumstances."

I'd give them the big middle finger! You had your chance, and now that Iraq will probably use WMD that you provided them with against us, you want to "help". More like, cover your own tracks!

NewsGuy

03-19-2003, 11:24 AM

I've learned that whenever quoting Debka, to precede it with "FWIW" :)

Johnny Yuma

03-19-2003, 01:12 PM

Originally posted by NewsGuy
I've learned that whenever quoting Debka, to precede it with "FWIW" :)

Translate FWIW for me. Send privately, if you need to.

Am Yisrael

03-19-2003, 01:23 PM

Originally posted by Johnny Yuma
Did you see this? It's from the AP:

Tuesday, March 18, 2003

PARIS — The French military could help the United States if Iraq uses biological or chemical weapons against U.S.-led invaders, the French Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

France has led opposition to U.S. war plans in Iraq, but the Foreign Ministry said Iraqi use of biological or chemical weapons in a war could change France's position.

"France would assess what measures of assistance to take in a spirit of friendship and solidarity," a ministry statement said. It gave no other details.

France's ambassador to the United States made similar comments earlier on in a televised interview. Ambassador Jean-David Levitte also did not specify what kind of help France could offer, saying only, "We have equipment to fight in these circumstances."

The last thing US and British troops want is to have French troops with them aswell. Apparently I suspect there would be alot of tension between French and US troops when the war starts. Hell, maybe there will even be a war between them.

I suspect Saddam will launch a few war heads, but I reckon the actual main fighting will finish after the first week. After that there will just be peacekeeping and stuff.

cerulean

03-19-2003, 01:23 PM

FWIW = For What It's Worth
(I might as well throw in a few others.)
BTW = By the Way
IMO = In My Opinion
YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary

Mediocrates

03-19-2003, 01:23 PM

For What It's Worth

Johnny Yuma

03-19-2003, 01:33 PM

Thanks for the education.

My kids know 'em. But I never have liked communicating in acronyms, so I've neglecting learning them.

I'm not a Window fan, either. :D I miss DOS....

Johnny Yuma

03-19-2003, 01:36 PM

Originally posted by Am Yisrael
I suspect Saddam will launch a few war heads, but I reckon the actual main fighting will finish after the first week. After that there will just be peacekeeping and stuff.

I hope, when you say a couple of warheads, you're talking about conventional weapons. I fear that anything other than that could cause the Sun to come out at night, in a tactical way.

That's well within the realm of possibilities.