Al-Jazeera Satellite Television at 1707 gmt on 8 April carries an exclusive interview with General Sayf-al-Din al-Rawi, former commander of the Iraqi Republican Guard, on the 4th anniversary of the fall of Baghdad. Al-Rawi is shown sitting in the shadow. Al-Jazeera TV carries a screen caption saying that Al-Rawi's picture was obscured "upon his request."
Asked about the general situation of the Iraqi military commanders during the 48-hour ultimatum US President George Bush gave in March 2003 for Saddam Husayn and his two sons to leave Iraq, Al-Rawi says this ultimatum served the former Iraqi Army to be more prepared for confrontations with the US Army.
He adds that a meeting chaired by former Iraqi President Saddam Husayn was convened in the Republican Palace following Bush's ultimatum.
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."
Al-Rawi confirms that the Iraqi military or political commanders did not convene any meeting in Al-Dawrah, which the US forces announced as the "target of opportunity" to hit Saddam and other Iraqi commanders.
Al-Rawi notes that several meetings were held with commanders of the air defence and the Republican Guard forces and chaired by Qusay Saddam, who was the supervisor of the Republican Guard forces then.
Al-Rawi speaks of the military tactics used during the first days of the US strike on Baghdad and how the Iraqi Army dealt with the US bombardments on the city.
He notes that during the first US strike on Baghdad, code-named as Shock and Awe, the casualties among the Iraqi Army were "limited."
Al-Rawi then speaks of the distribution of roles among the various corps, regiments, and brigades of the former Iraqi Army during the 2003 US strike on Baghdad.
At 1734 gmt, Al-Rawi speaks of the distribution of the Republican Guard forces across Iraq before and during the 2003 war.
Al-Rawi says that if Qusay Saddam had been tasked with defending Baghdad only, defending Baghdad would have taken a different course. He adds that Qusay's efforts were dispersed and his focus was diverted from the centre to the outskirts of Baghdad.
Speaking of chemical weapons and weapons of mass destruction, Al-Rawi says: "We are accused of possessing weapons of mass destruction while we have none. Yet, they struck us." He adds that the political leadership in Iraq showed the "highest degree of flexibility" to avoid the war.
Commenting on the Iranian role in the region, Al-Rawi says that "Iran is the enemy of the entire Arab nation."
Speaking of the Jordanian role in the US war on Iraq, Al-Rawi says that some US defence forces and collaborators entered Iraq through Jordan.
Asked about the Iraqi Army commanders' expectations about the US attack, Al-Rawi says that the ground offensive by the US forces on the first or second day of the war was not expected. He adds that the Iraqi Army did not expect the US forces to launch air strikes and ground offensives simultaneously.
At 1755 gmt, Al-Jazeera TV ends what it says is the first part of the exclusive interview with General Al-Rawi. Al-Jazeera's correspondent Abd-al-Azim Muhammad says the second part will discuss the remaining days of confrontations between the Iraqi forces and the US Army in the 2003 war on Iraq.
Source: Al-Jazeera TV, Doha, in Arabic 1707 gmt 8 Apr 07
The Qatar-based network gave no date for the purported footage of elite Republican Guards chief Saifeddin Fulayh Hassan Taha al-Rawi, who was number 14 on the most wanted list drawn up by the US military for the 2003 invasion.
Rawi, who carries a one million dollar US bounty on his head, was also jack of spades on the "deck of cards" of 55 most wanted supects distributed by the Pentagon at the outset of the invasion.
In the footage shown, Rawi accuses US forces of using neutron and phosphorus bombs during their assault on Baghdad airport ahead of the capture of the Iraqi capital.
His face is difficult to identify due to low light, but he is seen sitting in what appears to be a living room wearing a black and white kefiya, the traditional Arab headdress.
"The enemy used neutron and phosporus weapons against Baghdad airport... there were bodies burnt to their bones," he says, adding that elite Iraqi soldiers "fought until they were martyred."
The channel said that the clip was an excerpt from a longer interview, more of which it would air later.
Saddam, for all of his many faults, seems to have had a pretty good understanding of the Democrat party.
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
Int, thanks for the heads up.