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April 12, 2003
Advisor surrenders
Breaking of Fox TV One of Saddam's top scientific advisors (one of the 55 named yesterday) has surrendered to U.S. forces. UPDATE: Sky is reporting that it is two aides, not one, that have surrendered. He was also the first Iraq scientist interviewed by U.N. inspectors. The scientific advisor is Amer al-Saadi. He is the General who claimed that Colin Powell fabricated all the evidence presented to the U.N. council. He was also the first Iraqi scientist interviewed by the inspectors. UPDATE 2 (From Alan Brain): From ZDF via the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (no permalink yet) An aide to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, General Amir al-Saadi, surrendered on Saturday to US forces in Baghdad, German ZDF public television reported. The TV station said it had filmed the incident. As Alan said, "situation unclear, try again later." UPDATE #3: According to the CENTCOM list, Amir Hamudi Hasan al-Sadi--Presidential Scientific Adviser/NMD Dir Gen is number #55 on the list of the Iraqi most wanted. UPDATE #4: Apparently, there has been some confusion due to multiple surrenders today. Three Baath officials surrendered earlier in the morning. After that, al-Sadi surrendered to a German public television station ZDF. (Thanks to a reader for pointing that out). MORE: Fox now has a story up: Al-Saadi told ZDF that he had no information of what happened to Saddam and repeated his assertion, made often in news conferences before the U.S.-led invasion, that Iraq was free of weapons of mass destruction. YET MORE: The ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) now has a permalink, which corrects the misperception that he wasn't on the "Most Wanted" list. True, not in the top #52, he was #55 - The 7 of Diamonds. Posted By Michele Catalano at April 12, 2003 10:44 AM | TrackBackBrilliant. He could be the start of the trail to the WMD's. And by surrendering, he gives the green light to all the Iraqi scientists to offer cooperation with the Coalition. It will be great to be able to rub Pixy Blixie's nose in it. And Dopey Kofi. Posted by: JohninLondon at April 12, 2003 09:59 AMThis guy HAS TO KNOW all the US wants to know about the WMD programs. If he folds as far as the UN Ambassador did in his farewell speech, this guy could spill it all. France, Germany, Russia, your time is near. Posted by: DSmith at April 12, 2003 09:59 AMI haven't been this happy since Iraqi Liberation Day (April 9). Call me an optimist. Posted by: DSmith at April 12, 2003 10:02 AMI,m quite sure that some of these Ba,ath party members are going to be sorely needed by both the US and the Iraqi public, after all, Iraqi,s know and understand them, they, at least need someone familiar to tell them what to do, you just cant have a complete vacuum. Posted by: saxien at April 12, 2003 10:13 AMMichele, You're doing the best job of covering this event on the web. Keep it up. I think what is happening is that is actually two stories here. One story is the three officials who we have seen on Fox News Channel. The other is this General Amir al-Saadi who surrendered to a German TV crew. LOL, No 55?, pretty safe down there, I wonder if the US did this deliberate like?, so, we should expect to see up to 33 reappear ?? Posted by: saxien at April 12, 2003 10:41 AMAmir al-Saadi is number 30 ( seven of diamonds) on the list (not #55). He is listed as Presidential Scientific Advisor. That doesn't necessarily mean that he would know operational or production details (although it is more than likely that he does). Remember that Saddam heavily compartmentalized his regime. Posted by: CERDIP at April 12, 2003 10:54 AMActually, he's #30 in the card deck, but 55 on the top 55-list list. I think the card deck "trumps" the top 55 list :) Posted by: CERDIP at April 12, 2003 10:56 AMYou guys are confusing me.... is this a new card game I am going to have to learn. I am sure someone will come up with something to make these cards useful. We need some US cards and really mix the game up. Posted by: Man-o-Man at April 12, 2003 10:59 AMThe Ba'athist regime...those guys are nothing but a pack of cards. Apologies to Firesign Theater. Posted by: DSmith at April 12, 2003 11:05 AMGerman TV says that he's (still) claiming there are no WMD in Iraq. Posted by: GregW at April 12, 2003 11:09 AMIn an interesting twist to this story, Fox News Channel is reporting that General Amir al-Saadi is again claiming that there are no WMDs. Maybe that's why he surrendered to the Germans. Posted by: McGruff at April 12, 2003 11:11 AMFrom Reuters: "Al-Saadi told ZDF he did not know where Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was. He also insisted Iraq did not possess chemical or biological weapons and denied being a member of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party." Not a Ba'athist? Huh? Not possible. Hence I assume the rest of his statements are smokescreen. Posted by: DSmith at April 12, 2003 11:16 AMwhere is bagdad bob? anyone know?? Posted by: James at April 12, 2003 11:23 AMCNN reporting that the US Army found missile warheads in Kirkuk, and subsequent examination of one warhead found one that was marked with a green band. Tests on this warhead were positive for Nerve agent. The test was performed on the exterior of the warhead, and gave a minimal reponse ( 1 on a scale of 6 ) which might indicate a leak in the warhead. Posted by: CERDIP at April 12, 2003 11:26 AMAmer al-Saadi is one 'cool customer.' Hmm..I smell a rat..or a frog.. Posted by: XMarkDaSpot at April 12, 2003 11:45 AMhey isn't this Bagdad Bob: http://www.asharqalawsat.com/view/Currentissues/2003,04,12,165255.html Posted by: XMarkDaSpot at April 12, 2003 11:56 AMThis guy is pretty sophisticated. He's going to deny the weapons exist until he gets a deal. We ought to string him out and find them other ways, then try him for crimes against humanity and hang him. We need patience and the courage of out convictions. There is going to be unbelievable pressure to roll over and give this guy a million bucks and a villa on the Riviera in exchange for what he knows. That's why he surrendered first. Posted by: Phil Hornsey at April 12, 2003 12:28 PMUh Oh, I just realized...they called him #55, they're preparing to sell out. We're going to say this guy is a "little fish" and cut him a Sammy the Bull style deal... Posted by: Phil Hornsey at April 12, 2003 12:30 PMActually, they are calling him #55 because that's where his name is on the official CENTCOM list. He is #30 on the cards. I don't think the numbers matter here. Posted by: michele at April 12, 2003 12:39 PMMaybe they'll frame the deal like "tell us what we want to know, or we'll turn you over to the crowd". In the Kurdish area. Posted by: DSmith at April 12, 2003 01:16 PMMSNBC has now shown a clip of al-Saadi surrendering, and being driven away in a HUMVEE. Sure looks like him. Posted by: DSmith at April 12, 2003 01:30 PMSaddam is still fighting. Gen Amir Hamudi Hasan al-Sadi was ordered to surrender and is going to deny any WMD as per Saddam's script. This smells like a portion of the plot, to go along with the chatter of low level Iraqi officials regarding Saddam's death, He is alive and hiding in some bunker, tring to divert attention away from him by getting this General out there once again denying WMD. Matter of fact I bet the head of police that met with Marines today is a part of it, along with the Saddam Fedayeen who are likely instigating some of the looting... All a hopeless attempt to once again sway world and Arabic opiion, an attempt to force the U.S. out while he is alive and still in Iraq. Posted by: Phantom Phixer at April 12, 2003 02:32 PMWho was the european-looking woman they showed exchanging kisses and sweet talk with al-Saadi before the Marines escorted him off? A human shield nutcase, or an arabist journalist? Is there a difference? Posted by: nordic at April 12, 2003 04:06 PMA human shield nutcase, or an arabist journalist? Is there a difference? His German wife. Posted by: ElCapitanAmerica at April 12, 2003 04:09 PMhttp://story.news.yahoo.com/news?p=news&g=events/wl/041103iraqcards&i=index&e=4&tmpl=sl&ns=&l=&m=&c= Post a comment
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