Syria Offers to Expel 8 Members of Saddam's Inner Circle Through Russian Intel Message [debka]

DEBKAfile Security Newsletter Exclusive ^ | April 19. 2003 | Gioria Shamis Retired Economist Magazine Reporter

[ewing]

Syria offers to expel 8 members of Saddam's inner circle in a message reaching Washington through 'Russian intelligence channels.'

They are: Former Vice President Izzat Ibrahim Al-Douri, Saddams' bureau chief Abd Hamoud, Baath Party Boss Aziz Salah, Special Security Service Chief Hanni Tefalah, Republican Guard Secretary Kemal Mustafa, Republican Guard Commander Seif A-Din Suleih, Iraqi Intelligence Commander Taher Jaloul and Special Republican Guard Commander, General Barzan Suleiman Tikriti.

This is Damascus's first admission to harboring Saddam Hussein's top aides.

[ewing]

Not enough-wrong answer...all 55 or trouble is headed West!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Not enough-wrong answer...all 55 or trouble is headed West!

What about those who have already emigrated to France via Syria?

[ewing]

I havent seen the numbers on how many are in Paris already..

[Congressman Billybob]

DEBKA is such an odd source. Their breaking stories are very precise, way ahead of anyone else, but turn out to be either baseless or frighteningly accurate. They are like a cross between James Bond and the National Enquirer.

It makes sense that some Iraqi officials have fled to Syria. That is the only other country in the world which is run by the Ba'ath Party. The border between the two countries was highly pourous the week before the Americans took the one Iraqi city right on the border. It remains somewhat pourous today.

It also makes sense that Syria does not want to make itself a lightning rod for America's hostile intentions. They are in a much weaker position than Iraq. Their oil supplies come from Iraq (and the US has just closed the spigot on that). Most of their water supplies come from Turkey (and they might be persuaded to close that spigot).

So it may well be that Syria has decided that the US is the pony to bet on in this geopolitical horse race. Couple that with the specificity of this DEBKA report on exactly which Iraqi bigwigs Syria now has on hand. I am therefore inclined to believe this report.

But as always with DEBKA, it ain't true until other sources than this confirm the story. So, we wait.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, not yet up on UPI, and FR, "Who's Next?"

Latest book(let), "to Restore Trust in America."

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

I heard accounts of French visas being issued in Syria for Iraqi's the French government is trying to protect. Don't know how many. France must pay for this treachery.

[NonValueAdded]

Reminds me of my favorite quote from Baghdad Bob: "It has been rumored that we have fired scud missiles into Kuwait. I am here now to tell you, we do not have any scud missiles and I don't know why they were fired into Kuwait"

So should it now be "... we don't have any Iraqi ministers and I don't know what they are doing in Damascus."?

[ewing]

I couldn't have put it better, DEBKA is like the Presidents 6:30 AM NSA 'hot intel' briefing mixed with the NY Post (and not as accurate as Page Six)

[ewing]

I miss B-dad bob, too bad he may have hanged himself.

[ALS]

Iraqi Perp Playing Cards SlideShow

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I can't believe France is getting away with this.

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I have a feeling these 8 may be some face cards on the deck.

[BagCamAddict]

As well as I can figure, the Iraqi Regime folks who are "not being harbored by Syria" are as follows.... not exactly "tokens"...


Former Vice President Izzat Ibrahim Al-Douri
#6 on Most Wanted List
King of Clubs

Saddam's bureau chief Abd Hamoud
#4 on Most Wanted List
Ace of Diamonds

Baath Party Boss Aziz Salah
#17 on Most Wanted List
King of Diamonds

Special Security Service Chief Hanni Tefalah
#7 on Most Wanted List
King of Hearts

Republican Guard Secretary Kemal Mustafa
#8 on Most Wanted List
Queen of Clubs

Republican Guard Commander Seif A-Din Suleih
#12 on Most Wanted List
Jack of Clubs

Iraqi Intelligence Commander Taher Jaloul
#14 on Most Wanted List
Jack of Diamonds

Special Republican Guard Commander General Barzan Suleiman Tikriti
#9 on Most Wanted List
Queen of Hearts

[EaglesUpForever]

What about those who have already emigrated to France via Syria?

MOAB.

[ewing]

Three Kings, Two Queens and Two Jacks..a full house anyway you break it down.

[ppaul]

DEBKA = DUPKA

[Captain Shady]

Ironic thing that the Ba'ath Party is full of such dirty politicians.

[GraniteStateConservative]

If they do surrender these people, I bet Syria will ask us to say we captured them in Iraq and not Syria since Syria has denied these people are in Syria.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Hunt on FNC thinks with the captures we have and the ones we'll likely get next week, that we'll know Saddam's fate by next weekend. Bringing in these guys would really make that job easier.

[ewing]

Those 8 are probably the only ones that haven't fled to Paris by now.

[CyberAnt]

Well ... several of the inside circle were with Saddam in the Monsoor area and are among the 14 bodies which are now in the identification process.

And since we have already captured a few - if Syria offers up 8 which we agree are members of the inner circle - we might take it. I'll leave that decision to the people who are there and have more information than I do to make that decision.