Syria prepares to throw out Iraqi trash

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

WASHINGTON - Syria may be preparing to quietly expel some members of the Iraqi government who have sought refuge inside its borders, U.S. officials said Thursday.

 

Intelligence reports have suggested some Iraqi leaders have reached Syria. Officials have identified only a few of those, including Farouk Hijazi, Iraq's ambassador to Tunisia and a former senior intelligence operative, and possibly Saddam Hussein's first wife, Sajida Khairallah Telfah.

 

"There might be some individuals who might be made available to us," said a State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

 

The Syrians have come under intense pressure from the Bush administration since reports surfaced that some Iraqis had crossed the border fleeing the U.S.-led war.

 

Nothing appears final, officials said. Expulsions were not expected on Friday.

 

Secretary of State Colin Powell said Thursday that if members of Saddam's government turn up in Syria, "We hope ... the Syrians will do the correct thing, the right thing, in our judgment, and return them back to Iraq so they can stand before justice administered by the Iraqi people."

 

He spoke on PBS' "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer."

 

It was unclear what, if any, negotiations were under way between the United States, its allies and Syria, regarding the Iraqi leaders. Powell and Syrian officials have acknowledged the governments are in communication.

 

Syria has denied taking in any senior Iraqi officials, including specifically Hijazi.

 

Powell said he plans to go to Damascus for talks with President Bashar Assad.

 

Finding and questioning top members of Saddam's government remains a key goal.

 

They may have information on other Iraqi leaders, including Saddam and his sons, intelligence officials said. In addition, some leaders may have information on Iraq's alleged chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programs. Already, two top scientists are being questioned by U.S. authorities, but it is unclear if they are providing any useful information.

 

Some security and intelligence operatives, including Hijazi, may also be able to detail any Iraqi links to terrorist groups. Hijazi went to Afghanistan in late 1998 and reportedly met with Osama bin Laden, officials said.

 

Two of Saddam's half brothers have been detained.

 

Many other leaders, however, remain unaccounted for, including several military and security chiefs. Among them are most of the face cards in the deck of Iraqi leaders distributed by the U.S. military.

 

They include:

• Abid Hamid Mahmud, Saddam's presidential secretary.

 

Izzat Ibrahim, vice chairman of Iraq's Revolutionary Command Council.

 

Aziz Salih, chairman of Baath Party regional command.

 

Hami Abd al-Latif Tilfah, director of the Special Security Organization, Iraq's primary internal security service

 

Kamal Mustafa Abdallah, secretary of the Republican Guard.

 

Sayf Al-Din Fulayyih Hasan Taha, chief of staff of the Republican Guard.

 

Tahir Jalil Habbush, director the Iraqi Mukhabarat, or intelligence service.

 

Barzan Abd al-Ghafur Sulayman Majid, commander of the Special Republican Guard.

Associated Press writer George Gedda contributed to this report.

 

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...iraq_us_syria_3

[Guest Vern Gagne]

That would certainly be good news. Hopefully this is just the beginning of Syria fully cooperating.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

"Izzat Ibrahim, vice chairman of Iraq's Revolutionary Command Council"

 

Izzat? isn't that the same name they gave that mascot at the 96 olympics?

 

"Is that Ibrahim?"

 

"No"

[Guest DrTom]

Rob, I was thinking the same thing when I saw that name. The farcical Olympic mascot you're thinking of, btw, was dubbed "Whatisit," basically because no one knew what the high holy hell it was supposed to be.

 

As for the story, this is definitely good news. I'm glad we can get Syria to cooperate by simply leaning on them, having already flexed our military muscles in their neighbor's country. Gunboat diplomacy doesn't always mean you have to go to war.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

The count on my list of 55 most wanted Iraqis

 

1 dead (Chemical Ali)

 

3 captured (The Ibrahim Hasan brothers and Samir)

 

8 are in Syria (all mentioned earlier)

 

That leaves 43 unaccounted for, from the top Saddam Hussein, Muhammad Hamza Zubaydi and Ibrahim Ahmad Abd al-Sattar Mohammad to the bottom guys Humman Abd al-Khaliq Abd, Fadil Mahmud Gharib and Ghazi Hummad.

 

And that's your count. 43 out, 8 more possibly in Syria.

 

I swear I missed somebody in that count, like a Scientist or somebody.