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Developments tied to capture of ex-Iraqi leaderMSNBC News Services
Updated: 11:29 a.m. ET Dec. 15, 2003BAGHDAD, Iraq - Saddam Hussein’s capture is already reaping dividends for the U.S. military, providing intelligence that allowed U.S. soldiers to capture several top regime figures and uncover rebel cells in the capital, a U.S. general said Monday.
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The U.S. military hopes Saddam will clear up allegations that he had chemical and biological weapons and a nuclear weapons program, said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Mark Hertling of the 1st Armored Division.
“I certainly think some of that will come out,” Hertling told The Associated Press. “I think we’ll get some significant intelligence over the next couple of days.”
Since Saddam’s capture on Saturday, U.S. Army teams from the 1st Armored Division have captured one high-ranking former regime figure — who has yet to be named — and that prisoner has given up a few others, Hertling said. All the men are currently being interrogated and more raids are expected, Hertling said.
Briefcase found
The intelligence that led the military to the men came from the first transcript of Saddam’s initial interrogation, and a briefcase of documents Saddam, 66, carried with him at the time of his arrest, Hertling said.
“We’ve already gleaned intelligence value from his capture,” Hertling said. “We’ve already been able to capture a couple of key individuals here in Baghdad. We’ve completely confirmed one of the cells. It’s putting the pieces together and it’s connecting the dots. It has already helped us significantly in Baghdad.”
The intelligence has also given the U.S. military a far clearer picture of the guerrillas’ command and control network in the city, and has confirmed the existence of rebel cells whose existence was previously only suspected, Hertling said.
From the initial batch of successes, Hertling said it was apparent that Saddam still played some role in leading the anti-U.S. insurgency.
“I’m sure he was giving some guidance to some key figures in this insurgency,” Hertling said.
Earlier, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, described Saddam as talkative and cooperative, but other officials shied away from suggesting that he has provided any useful intelligence in the hours since his capture.
“He has not been cooperative in terms of talking or anything like that,” Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told CBS’ “60 Minutes.”
Other intelligence
Hertling said the 1st Armored Division had also received intelligence from other sources on attacks Monday in Baghdad. The division received tips earlier in December that a spate of car bombings would start in mid-December.
“We have some intelligence that things are going to happen,” Hertling said.
Hertling said he hopes Saddam will divulge secrets on everything from mass grave sites to the whereabouts of missing regime figures and “past sins of the regime we may not even know about.”
“We certainly can gather intelligence he has on the organization of the insurgency, who their leaders are, how the cells are performing, how they’re being commanded and controlled, who’s funding them and what their connections are to crime,” Hertling said. FACT FILE Saddam's inner circle
To learn more on the fate of the men closest to the former Iraqi dictator, select a name at left.
• Qusai Hussein
• Odai Hussein
• Abed Hamid Hmoud
• Tariq Aziz
• Naji Sabri
• Izzat Ibrahim
• Taha Ramadan
Getty Images
Qusai Hussein
Status: Killed in a July 22, 2003 raid in Mosul.
This younger son of Saddam was the first in line to succeed him. The head of Iraqi security forces, the elite Republican Guard responsible for Saddam’s protection, Qusai was known for using harsh tactics to repress opposition. Also under his command was the Special Security Committee in charge of hiding Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction. In 2001, Qusai was appointed to the executive leadership of the Baath Party.
APTN
Odai Hussein
Status: Killed in a July 22, 2003 raid in Mosul.
Once favored to succeed Saddam, Odai lost influence after a family argument and an assassination attempt that left him unable to walk for a time. Odai controlled the state-run media and was known for corruption and extravagance. A tour of his palace after the fighting revealed a stash of drugs and pornography. He reportedly killed his father’s food taster and the nephew of one of Saddam’s most trusted advisers after an argument.
AFP
Abed Hamid Hmoud
Status: Captured June 18, 2003
After Saddam and his sons, Hmoud was the most powerful person in the Iraqi leadership and one of the most wanted from Saddam’s regime. A cousin of Saddam and once one of his bodyguards, Hmoud worked as the director of the president’s office. He also had the power to overrule government decisions and was a member of the security committee allegedly responsible for hiding Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction. Opposition groups said he was among the top 10 Iraqis who should go on trial for war crimes.
Getty Images
Tariq Aziz
Status: Surrendered April 24, 2003
This former deputy prime minister is also one of the better-known Iraqi officials. The only Christian in the government, he served as foreign minister during the Gulf War and acted as Iraq’s spokesman, attempting to drum up support for his embattled country. He and Saddam originally met and became close in the 1950s when both were involved in the outlawed Baath Party.
AP File
Naji Sabri
Status: At large
As Iraq’s foreign minister under Saddam, Sabri worked as the country’s main diplomat and is credited with forging ties with former foes such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. His whereabouts are unknown since the United States invaded Iraq. He served as the ambassador to Austria from 1999-2001. His ease in Western society and proficiency in English -- he was once a professor of English literature – contribute to his image as a charming gentleman.
Reuters
Izzat Ibrahim
Status: At large
One of Saddam’s oldest and most trusted aides, Ibrahim served as vice chairman of the all-powerful Revolutionary Command Council and is said to have been involved in the use of chemical weapons on the Kurds in 1988. In 1998 he survived an assassination attempt. His daughter was once married to Saddam’s older son, Odai. U.S. officials believe he is orchestrating some of the insurgency against American foces
AP File
Taha Ramadan
Status: Captured Aug. 18, 2003
Ramadan served as one of Iraq’s two vice presidents since 1991 and is said to be responsible for violently crushing the Shiite opposition after the Gulf War. Missing since the U.S. invasion, he was accused of orchestrating efforts to stymie U.N. inspectors in Iraq. Ramadan was also involved with the country’s diplomatic outreach to other countries in the Arab world and in the past has met with top Russian leaders. Shortly before the U.S. invasion, he told a German newspaper that Iraq would dispatch thousands of suicide bombers if the United States attacked.
Source: Global Security.org, AP, BBC News Monitoring • Printable version
But it is unclear what evidence, if any, troops uncovered of Saddam’s possible operational control over the resistance. Officials announced they found no communications equipment, maps or other evidence of a guerrilla command center at Saddam’s hiding place.
“Given the location and circumstances of his capture, it makes it clear that Saddam was not managing the insurgency, and that he had very little control or influence,” said Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. “That is significant and disturbing because it means the insurgents are not fighting for Saddam, they’re fighting against the United States.”
Saddam's capture leaves 13 figures at large from a Most Wanted list of 55 regime officials. The highest ranking fugitive is Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, a close Saddam aide who U.S. officials say may be directly organizing resistance.
Weapons of mass destruction?
In London, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Monday he doubted Saddam would reveal details of Iraq’s alleged banned weapons programs.
“Frankly I’m not holding my breath for any confessional statement from Saddam Hussein,” Straw told reporters. “I think that his history of mendacity is so intense and so long-lasting that he wouldn’t understand the truth if he fell over it.”
British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government has been widely accused of exaggerating the threat from Saddam’s weapons to justify its support for the U.S.-led war on Iraq.
Straw said there may be a rise in violence as an immediate consequence. “It is probable that in the early stages we may see some increase in terror activity” in Iraq, he said.
Developments tied to capture of ex-Iraqi leaderMSNBC News Services
Updated: 11:29 a.m. ET Dec. 15, 2003BAGHDAD, Iraq - Saddam Hussein’s capture is already reaping dividends for the U.S. military, providing intelligence that allowed U.S. soldiers to capture several top regime figures and uncover rebel cells in the capital, a U.S. general said Monday.
advertisement
The U.S. military hopes Saddam will clear up allegations that he had chemical and biological weapons and a nuclear weapons program, said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Mark Hertling of the 1st Armored Division.
“I certainly think some of that will come out,” Hertling told The Associated Press. “I think we’ll get some significant intelligence over the next couple of days.”
Since Saddam’s capture on Saturday, U.S. Army teams from the 1st Armored Division have captured one high-ranking former regime figure — who has yet to be named — and that prisoner has given up a few others, Hertling said. All the men are currently being interrogated and more raids are expected, Hertling said.
Briefcase found
The intelligence that led the military to the men came from the first transcript of Saddam’s initial interrogation, and a briefcase of documents Saddam, 66, carried with him at the time of his arrest, Hertling said.
“We’ve already gleaned intelligence value from his capture,” Hertling said. “We’ve already been able to capture a couple of key individuals here in Baghdad. We’ve completely confirmed one of the cells. It’s putting the pieces together and it’s connecting the dots. It has already helped us significantly in Baghdad.”
The intelligence has also given the U.S. military a far clearer picture of the guerrillas’ command and control network in the city, and has confirmed the existence of rebel cells whose existence was previously only suspected, Hertling said.
From the initial batch of successes, Hertling said it was apparent that Saddam still played some role in leading the anti-U.S. insurgency.
“I’m sure he was giving some guidance to some key figures in this insurgency,” Hertling said.
Earlier, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, described Saddam as talkative and cooperative, but other officials shied away from suggesting that he has provided any useful intelligence in the hours since his capture.
“He has not been cooperative in terms of talking or anything like that,” Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told CBS’ “60 Minutes.”
Other intelligence
Hertling said the 1st Armored Division had also received intelligence from other sources on attacks Monday in Baghdad. The division received tips earlier in December that a spate of car bombings would start in mid-December.
“We have some intelligence that things are going to happen,” Hertling said.
Hertling said he hopes Saddam will divulge secrets on everything from mass grave sites to the whereabouts of missing regime figures and “past sins of the regime we may not even know about.”
“We certainly can gather intelligence he has on the organization of the insurgency, who their leaders are, how the cells are performing, how they’re being commanded and controlled, who’s funding them and what their connections are to crime,” Hertling said. FACT FILE Saddam's inner circle
To learn more on the fate of the men closest to the former Iraqi dictator, select a name at left.
• Qusai Hussein
• Odai Hussein
• Abed Hamid Hmoud
• Tariq Aziz
• Naji Sabri
• Izzat Ibrahim
• Taha Ramadan
Getty Images
Qusai Hussein
Status: Killed in a July 22, 2003 raid in Mosul.
This younger son of Saddam was the first in line to succeed him. The head of Iraqi security forces, the elite Republican Guard responsible for Saddam’s protection, Qusai was known for using harsh tactics to repress opposition. Also under his command was the Special Security Committee in charge of hiding Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction. In 2001, Qusai was appointed to the executive leadership of the Baath Party.
APTN
Odai Hussein
Status: Killed in a July 22, 2003 raid in Mosul.
Once favored to succeed Saddam, Odai lost influence after a family argument and an assassination attempt that left him unable to walk for a time. Odai controlled the state-run media and was known for corruption and extravagance. A tour of his palace after the fighting revealed a stash of drugs and pornography. He reportedly killed his father’s food taster and the nephew of one of Saddam’s most trusted advisers after an argument.
AFP
Abed Hamid Hmoud
Status: Captured June 18, 2003
After Saddam and his sons, Hmoud was the most powerful person in the Iraqi leadership and one of the most wanted from Saddam’s regime. A cousin of Saddam and once one of his bodyguards, Hmoud worked as the director of the president’s office. He also had the power to overrule government decisions and was a member of the security committee allegedly responsible for hiding Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction. Opposition groups said he was among the top 10 Iraqis who should go on trial for war crimes.
Getty Images
Tariq Aziz
Status: Surrendered April 24, 2003
This former deputy prime minister is also one of the better-known Iraqi officials. The only Christian in the government, he served as foreign minister during the Gulf War and acted as Iraq’s spokesman, attempting to drum up support for his embattled country. He and Saddam originally met and became close in the 1950s when both were involved in the outlawed Baath Party.
AP File
Naji Sabri
Status: At large
As Iraq’s foreign minister under Saddam, Sabri worked as the country’s main diplomat and is credited with forging ties with former foes such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. His whereabouts are unknown since the United States invaded Iraq. He served as the ambassador to Austria from 1999-2001. His ease in Western society and proficiency in English -- he was once a professor of English literature – contribute to his image as a charming gentleman.
Reuters
Izzat Ibrahim
Status: At large
One of Saddam’s oldest and most trusted aides, Ibrahim served as vice chairman of the all-powerful Revolutionary Command Council and is said to have been involved in the use of chemical weapons on the Kurds in 1988. In 1998 he survived an assassination attempt. His daughter was once married to Saddam’s older son, Odai. U.S. officials believe he is orchestrating some of the insurgency against American foces
AP File
Taha Ramadan
Status: Captured Aug. 18, 2003
Ramadan served as one of Iraq’s two vice presidents since 1991 and is said to be responsible for violently crushing the Shiite opposition after the Gulf War. Missing since the U.S. invasion, he was accused of orchestrating efforts to stymie U.N. inspectors in Iraq. Ramadan was also involved with the country’s diplomatic outreach to other countries in the Arab world and in the past has met with top Russian leaders. Shortly before the U.S. invasion, he told a German newspaper that Iraq would dispatch thousands of suicide bombers if the United States attacked.
Source: Global Security.org, AP, BBC News Monitoring • Printable version
But it is unclear what evidence, if any, troops uncovered of Saddam’s possible operational control over the resistance. Officials announced they found no communications equipment, maps or other evidence of a guerrilla command center at Saddam’s hiding place.
“Given the location and circumstances of his capture, it makes it clear that Saddam was not managing the insurgency, and that he had very little control or influence,” said Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. “That is significant and disturbing because it means the insurgents are not fighting for Saddam, they’re fighting against the United States.”
Saddam's capture leaves 13 figures at large from a Most Wanted list of 55 regime officials. The highest ranking fugitive is Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, a close Saddam aide who U.S. officials say may be directly organizing resistance.
Weapons of mass destruction?
In London, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Monday he doubted Saddam would reveal details of Iraq’s alleged banned weapons programs.
“Frankly I’m not holding my breath for any confessional statement from Saddam Hussein,” Straw told reporters. “I think that his history of mendacity is so intense and so long-lasting that he wouldn’t understand the truth if he fell over it.”
British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government has been widely accused of exaggerating the threat from Saddam’s weapons to justify its support for the U.S.-led war on Iraq.
Straw said there may be a rise in violence as an immediate consequence. “It is probable that in the early stages we may see some increase in terror activity” in Iraq, he said.