Iraq Scud boss poisoned

The Sun ^ | March 1, 2003 | GEORGE PASCOE-WATSON

[MadIvan]

SADDAM Hussein’s top missile expert has been murdered to stop him blabbing to the UN.

General Muhammad Sa’id al Darraj died on Thursday after Saddam’s men poisoned his drink.

Relatives say he was ordered to hide details of Iraqi Scuds from the UN — but devious Saddam did not trust him.

The revelation came as President Bush warned war was imminent.

He said Saddam would be forced to give up his weapons — whatever the UN decided. He added: “If he had any intention of disarming, he would have disarmed. We will disarm him now.”

Bush called war the “last option” but said Americans fully understood an attack may be launched soon.

He added: “I’ve thought long and hard about the consequences and the price that could be paid.”

His comments came as UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix said Iraq was expected to start destroying its outlawed Al Samoud 2 missiles on Saturday.

The rockets can carry chemical and biological warheads and travel more than 90 miles — the maximum range laid down by the UN.

General al-Darraj was murdered hours before Saddam agreed to the destruction. The engineer had been called to a meeting at one of Saddam’s palaces for talks about how to mislead UN scientists over Iraq’s Scud programme.

Moments before he died, he managed to tell his family Saddam’s officials had spiked his drink with poison.

British intelligence chiefs said the murder was another example of Saddam’s ruthlessness.

They said it underlined his total disregard for human rights.

Saddam had his own son-in-law assassinated when he exposed the tyrant’s weapons of mass destruction.

[MadIvan]

I ran a search here and did not see this posted; certainly it is not being widely reported.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[tet68]

I think we will see more of this as Saddam ties up loose ends.
It will only hasten the end of his regime.

[US_MilitaryRules]

sadmans koolaid strikes again!

[livius]

Wow! Where was this publicized? I haven't seen it anywhere. Bump.

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

Damn...

If this is true, just wow!

We gotta get our big ole butts in there and double time it.

Oh the stuff we will find.

TMT

[Thane_Banquo]

Hmm. It could have been Saddam, or it could have been the CIA. Time will tell.

[Happygal]

You think the Sun can be trusted to have a 'breaking' story like this first? (Sorry for being skeptical about this publication, but ... well, they've gotten it wrong in the past)

[not-an-ostrich]

Here we have another journalist who says "son-in-law" when it was "son-in-laws". Two defected, were lured back and then killed. So widely reported how can a journalist who gets it wrong be trusted?

[Leisler]

Stalin, whom Saddam looks like, used to say, "No man, no problem."

Was it Franklin that said, " Two men can keep a secrete, if one is dead?"

[b4its2late]

I'd hate to be the guy that was in line to succeed him......

[MadIvan]

You think the Sun can be trusted to have a 'breaking' story like this first? (Sorry for being skeptical about this publication, but ... well, they've gotten it wrong in the past)

Once in a blue moon they do get it right, darling...this sounds about right.

Love, Ivan

[Mo1]

Hmmm ... I wonder what lame excuse the UN will come up for this murder?

[sinkspur]

Here we have another journalist who says "son-in-law" when it was "son-in-laws".

Actually, it's "sons-in-law."

[dennisw]

Hmmmmm... Think this brutality might harm Saddam's image with the peaceniks?

[Russell Scott]

Saddam poisons the General, then props him up in a chair just before Blix shows up.

Saddam to Blix: ask General Darraj if we have any weapons.

Blix to the Gen: General, what can you tell me about your WMD program.

(Silence)

Blix: Ok

In U.N. Report: After thoroughly interrogating General Muhammad Sa’id al Darraj, I have reached the conclusion he knows nothing, nothing, about WMD's.

[Siobhan]

Saddam murders another one - ping....

[NonValueAdded]

Here we have another journalist who says "son-in-law" when it was "son-in-laws". Two defected, were lured back and then killed. So widely reported how can a journalist who gets it wrong be trusted?

Well, not-an-ostrich, too bad you stuck your neck out. Shouldn't that be sons-in-law? Since you got that wrong, how can we trust you?

[VOA]

General Muhammad Sa’id al Darraj died on Thursday after Saddam’s men poisoned his drink.

Hmmm...I've heard that Saddam's usual modus operandi for taking care of
"disposals" was death by car accident.

Maybe he's decided that "car wrecks are nice, but poisoned liquor is quicker".