Al-Jazeera to air interview: Iraq ex-Republican Guard Chief of Staff to reveal all? (Jack of clubs)

BBC Monitoring service ^ | 6 April 2007 23:06

[Int]

Al-Jazeera to broadcast interview with former Iraqi commander on 8 April

Doha Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel Television in Arabic at 1028 gmt on 6 April carries the following announcement:

"In the first interview with the media, Staff General Sayf al-Din al-Rawi, commander of the Iraqi Republican Guard and number 14 on the playing cards list of most wanted people, will speak about why the Baghdad defence plan collapsed and where the Iraqi Army's weapons and equipment went following the occupation of the Iraqi capital.

The commander of the Iraqi Republican Guard will speak to Al-Jazeera in an exclusive interview.

The first part of the interview will be aired at 1705 gmt on 8 April."

The video shows a man wearing a keffiyeh, sitting in a dim-lit room which blacks-out his face.

Source: Al-Jazeera TV, Doha, in Arabic 1028 gmt 6 Apr 07

[neodad]

He quotes Saddam as saying that "if the enemy manages to achieve its goal, new leaders from the people will emerge" and will force "the enemy" to leave Iraq, and that "the United States will fall."

Saddam, for all of his many faults, seems to have had a pretty good understanding of the Democrat party.

[Int]

Al-Jazeera: Former Iraqi Republican Guard commander says US used "neutron bombs"
8 April 2007, 18:56, BBC Monitoring Middle East

Text of report by Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite TV on 7 April

General Sayf-al-Din al-Rawi, former commander of the Iraqi Republican Guard, said that the US forces used neutron bombs during the battle of the [Baghdad] Airport in 2003. Al-Rawi said this in an exclusive interview conducted by our correspondent with General Al-Rawi.

[Begin Al-Rawi video recording] The airport had 2,000 fighters from the Special Guard, a tank brigade from the Special Guard, four combat units that include two mechanized divisions and two Special Forces divisions. Each unit had 500 elite troops. They were well equipped with the best weapons, and they had excellent air defence. The forces were prepared for defence, but not for countering an attack that constitutes a major effort by the enemy. May God help the Special Guards! The enemy used neutron weapons against Baghdad Airport. There are bombs that are dropped on the airport; they kill people, but do not destroy buildings or equipment. They showed burned bodies, which were left in bones only. They used 9-tonne bombs and incendiary bombs that burn the area of an entire brigade. They were phosphorous bombs. They used elements that paralyse movement. None of those who went to defend the airport returned. They fought until they were martyred.

Source: Al-Jazeera TV, Doha, in Arabic 2037 gmt 7 Apr 07

[bpjam]

Int, thanks for the heads up.

[bpjam]

Notice that Saddam didn’t say the “Iraqi” people would rise up or that new “Iraqi” leaders would emerge to cause the US to fall. I’m sure he had somebody like Pelosi in mind....

[jveritas]

I will check Al Jazeera website in Arabic and see if they have the interview posted there and try to provide some translation.

[Jo Nuvark]

Thanks jv,

I found the transcript in English on FR this
afternoon, but now it’s gone. I’ll send it to
you if I run across it again.

Please post me when you finish your analysis.

Thx... Jo

[Jo Nuvark]

Duh. It was pinged to me this morning.
Sometimes I wonder how I get through the
day.

Al-Jazeera to air interview: Iraq ex-Republican
Guard Chief of Staff to reveal all? (Jack of clubs)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1813886/posts

[daybreakcoming]

BTTT

[Southack]

The way that General Sayf-al-Din al-Rawi talks about “martyrs” and Iran as the enemy of the entire state of Iraq makes me think that the General is still allied with Sunni insurgents.

[jveritas]

No doubt about this. Now we need to track how AL Jazeera terrorist TV conducted this interview and try to locate Al Rawi and capture him.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Fred.