ABC finds "Wiretap Secrets: "Saddam declared the war was over because President Bush had ordered a cease-fire"

[apoppin]

Wiretap Secrets Found Behind Hidden Entrance

While U.S. officials vigorously pursued former members of the regime for information, ABCNEWS' Brian Ross discovered other secrets were much more easily available.

In a Baghdad building no more than a 10-minute walk from where U.S. forces are headquartered, Ross found the records of the Iraqi intelligence service wiretap unit.

The hundreds of thousands of documents were abandoned on a secret staircase, accessed through a double set of locked metal doors and a hidden entrance that had been broken down.

Former CIA officer Bob Baer, an ABCNEWS consultant, examined the documents.


He said they proved the Iraqis had been spying on U.N. weapons inspectors. Among the documents was a list of frequencies the Iraqis tapped, including foreign embassies, the Iraqi military itself, and special frequencies the documents say were used by U.N. weapons inspectors.
There was also a handwritten transcript of a taped telephone conversation between two unknown men talking about biological material. Another document, from Dec. 16, reflects a conversation about chemicals, supposedly hidden at the genetics department at the University of Baghdad.

"If I were an intelligence officer, I would want to take a look at this and immediately want to hit those places, like tonight," Baer said.

One other document was a three-sentence, handwritten address dated last week, announcing to secret police members that Saddam declared the war was over because President Bush had ordered a cease-fire.

When Ross checked with U.S. forces, they told him they were unaware of the contents of the building. Baer said of the document stash, "If I were the U.S. government, I'd want this."

:Q

 

[Chadder007]

Holy crap dude....

 

[LilBlinbBlahIce]

Originally posted by: apoppin
Wiretap Secrets Found Behind Hidden Entrance

While U.S. officials vigorously pursued former members of the regime for information, ABCNEWS' Brian Ross discovered other secrets were much more easily available.

In a Baghdad building no more than a 10-minute walk from where U.S. forces are headquartered, Ross found the records of the Iraqi intelligence service wiretap unit.

The hundreds of thousands of documents were abandoned on a secret staircase, accessed through a double set of locked metal doors and a hidden entrance that had been broken down.

Former CIA officer Bob Baer, an ABCNEWS consultant, examined the documents.


He said they proved the Iraqis had been spying on U.N. weapons inspectors. Among the documents was a list of frequencies the Iraqis tapped, including foreign embassies, the Iraqi military itself, and special frequencies the documents say were used by U.N. weapons inspectors.
There was also a handwritten transcript of a taped telephone conversation between two unknown men talking about biological material. Another document, from Dec. 16, reflects a conversation about chemicals, supposedly hidden at the genetics department at the University of Baghdad.

"If I were an intelligence officer, I would want to take a look at this and immediately want to hit those places, like tonight," Baer said.

One other document was a three-sentence, handwritten address dated last week, announcing to secret police members that Saddam declared the war was over because President Bush had ordered a cease-fire.

When Ross checked with U.S. forces, they told him they were unaware of the contents of the building. Baer said of the document stash, "If I were the U.S. government, I'd want this."

:Q

So hold on, is this implying that Bush and Saddam struck a deal or something?

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: LilBlinbBlahIce

Originally posted by: apoppin
Wiretap Secrets Found Behind Hidden Entrance

"If I were an intelligence officer, I would want to take a look at this and immediately want to hit those places, like tonight," Baer said.

One other document was a three-sentence, handwritten address dated last week, announcing to secret police members that Saddam declared the war was over because President Bush had ordered a cease-fire.

When Ross checked with U.S. forces, they told him they were unaware of the contents of the building. Baer said of the document stash, "If I were the U.S. government, I'd want this."

:Q

So hold on, is this implying that Bush and Saddam struck a deal or something?

NO IDEA!


I just reported what I first saw on TV tonight - and I couldn't believe what I heard so I "searched" - it's up to YOU (guys) to decide what it "means".

:Q

(and believe me, I AM looking forward to the weird "spins" I expect to read here)

EDIT: For the "conspiracy" people - more fuel to the speculation WHY Baghdad fell so easily when the South didn't.

 

[LilBlinbBlahIce]

What a kick in Bush's ass if its true. Didn't someone real high up say "If he's still alive, his days are numbered"? Think they struck a deal to minimize casualties and make Bush look good and Saddam alive? This could well mean that Saddam may be partying with Spring Breakers in Cozumel as we speak.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: LilBlinbBlahIce
What a kick in Bush's ass if its true. Didn't someone real high up say "If he's still alive, his days are numbered"? Think they struck a deal to minimize casualties and make Bush look good and Saddam alive? This could well mean that Saddam may be partying with Spring Breakers in Cozumel as we speak.

It's what might have been done with the "missing" WMD that bothers me . . . Partying with Bin Laden or Hezbollah might be Saddam's idea of Spring "Break".

 

[Mrburns2007]

What ?

 

[Spyro]

This could well mean that Saddam may be partying with Spring Breakers in Cozumel as we speak.

Thanks, sir, for this very disturbing image.

 

[Spyro]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: LilBlinbBlahIce
What a kick in Bush's ass if its true. Didn't someone real high up say "If he's still alive, his days are numbered"? Think they struck a deal to minimize casualties and make Bush look good and Saddam alive? This could well mean that Saddam may be partying with Spring Breakers in Cozumel as we speak.

It's what might have been done with the "missing" WMD that bothers me . . . Partying with Bin Laden or Hezbollah might be Saddam's idea of Spring "Break".

ROTFLOL

 

[dahunan]

I also read this to say that Saddam may have intercepted Bush requesting a cease fire.. not thta Bush and Saddam agreed to a cease fire. --- Maybe??? But what do I know.

 

[BarneyFife]

Maybe Saddam was in that Russian envoy? It seems very suspicious that the Russians would stay so late into the war.

 

[etech]

One other document was a three-sentence, handwritten address dated last week, announcing to secret police members that Saddam declared the war was over because President Bush had ordered a cease-fire

Sadam declared he had won the first Gulf War also.

Can someone find a reference to where Pres. Bush ordered a cease-fire? That doesn't fit anything that I remember at this time.

 

[BarneyFife]

Originally posted by: etech

One other document was a three-sentence, handwritten address dated last week, announcing to secret police members that Saddam declared the war was over because President Bush had ordered a cease-fire

Sadam declared he had won the first Gulf War also.

Can someone find a reference to where Pres. Bush ordered a cease-fire? That doesn't fit anything that I remember at this time.

It could have been a secret deal. There are a ton of secret deals that go on that Joe Public isn't aware of. That note is very interesting though. I'm still very suspicious as to how Baghdad fell so fast.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: etech

One other document was a three-sentence, handwritten address dated last week, announcing to secret police members that Saddam declared the war was over because President Bush had ordered a cease-fire

Sadam declared he had won the first Gulf War also.

Can someone find a reference to where Pres. Bush ordered a cease-fire? That doesn't fit anything that I remember at this time.

Nope and I won't even try.

This was evidently not "meant" to be read by US as it was a directive to Secret Police members that Saddam declared "the war was over because President Bush had ordered a cease-fire."

You and I are reading the same thing and I am not sure what to make of it (either).


EDIT: However, it's interesting to speculate why the fighting simply stopped when the troops entered Baghdad - most unexpectedly.
A deal? :Q

 

[etech]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife

Originally posted by: etech

One other document was a three-sentence, handwritten address dated last week, announcing to secret police members that Saddam declared the war was over because President Bush had ordered a cease-fire

Sadam declared he had won the first Gulf War also.

Can someone find a reference to where Pres. Bush ordered a cease-fire? That doesn't fit anything that I remember at this time.

It could have been a secret deal. There are a ton of secret deals that go on that Joe Public isn't aware of. That note is very interesting though. I'm still very suspicious as to how Baghdad fell so fast.

Was it delivered by the black helicopters also?

 

[MadRat]

There is no cease-fire.

 

[NightTrain]

Originally posted by: MadRat
There is no cease-fire.

If Saddam said Bush ordered one then he must have. Saddam probably should have relayed it to our troops though.

 

[BarneyFife]

Originally posted by: etech

Originally posted by: BarneyFife

Originally posted by: etech

One other document was a three-sentence, handwritten address dated last week, announcing to secret police members that Saddam declared the war was over because President Bush had ordered a cease-fire

Sadam declared he had won the first Gulf War also.

Can someone find a reference to where Pres. Bush ordered a cease-fire? That doesn't fit anything that I remember at this time.

It could have been a secret deal. There are a ton of secret deals that go on that Joe Public isn't aware of. That note is very interesting though. I'm still very suspicious as to how Baghdad fell so fast.

Was it delivered by the black helicopters also?

I'll bet you that Saddam and his sons never get captured or killed. Just look at Bin Laden.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: MadRat
There is no cease-fire.

Not that we know of.



However, ONLY the FOREIGN Arab fighters continued to attack the troops . . . in fact they complained that they were deserted by the Iraqi Army and Republican Guard and left to fight ALONE. There was NO defense of Baghdad. :Q

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: MadRat
There is no cease-fire.

Not that we know of.



However, ONLY the FOREIGN Arab fighters continued to attack the troops . . . in fact they complained that they were deserted by the Iraqi Army and Republican Guard and left to fight ALONE. There was NO defense of Baghdad. :Q

Might want to tell that to marines who were shot at while entering Baghdad.....

 

[apoppin]

Might want to tell that to marines who were shot at while entering Baghdad.....

You might also learn how to read the opposing viewpoint . . . I'll let my links explain it to you.

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: MadRat
There is no cease-fire.

Not that we know of.



However, ONLY the FOREIGN Arab fighters continued to attack the troops . . . in fact they complained that they were deserted by the Iraqi Army and Republican Guard and left to fight ALONE. There was NO defense of Baghdad. :Q

I get to quote myself.

Well, I found what I was looking for from AJ:


Republican Guard commander cut deal with US

The mystery of what happened to the Iraqi Republican Guard defending Baghdad appears to have been solved if a report in today's Le Monde is to be believed.



The French daily reports that Maher Sufyan, Commander of the Republican Guard reached an agreement with American forces in which he ordered his forces to surrender in exchange for his transfer via an American Apache helicopter to an undisclosed safe haven.



Quoting anonymous sources, Le Monde?s correspondent in Baghdad said that Sufyan ordered all Republican Guard forces to lay down their arms and go home. Shortly thereafter an Apache helicopter escorted Sufyan from the Al Rashid camp, east of Baghdad, to an unknown location.



Maher Sufyan is not included on the infamous ?deck of cards? created by US defence officials to highlight the most wanted individuals from the Saddam Hussein government. Iraq?s popular Information Minister, Mohammed Saeed Al Sahaf, Naji Sabri, Iraq?s Foreign Minister and Oumid Medhat Mubarak, the minister of health are also not included on the list.

Jordanian volunteers: Baghdad?s fall was a ?deal?

The alleged agreement led to the staged ?defeat? of Baghdad by coalition forces in return for the commander?s safety, after he was ?sure? that his cousin - Saddam Hussein - had concluded a much larger one guaranteeing his safety as well.

Later on?, one volunteer said, ?things started to become clearer, and it was apparent that an agreement was reached between the Americans and Saddam?s cousin, General Maher al Tikriti, commander of the Republican Guard unit in Baghdad.? The General was given the responsibility of protecting Baghdad by blowing its bridges and blocking possible routes that the invading US forces may use.

Volunteers fought alone

According to one account, the Iraqi forces left Baghdad early the morning of April 9. ?There were no Republican Guards, no Fedayeen Saddam or any other Iraqi official for that matter. No armed men were available to face the invading US forces except what remained of the Arab volunteers?who were deserted,? said one of the men, adding ?they left us exposed?we were exposed and even attacked by the retreating Iraqi forces.?
?I woke up at dawn on April 9 to discover that the Iraqi armed forces have withdrawn from their positions without notifying the Arab volunteers - who were left on the frontlines of the battlefield?most of us were from Syria, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon,? a Jordanian volunteer said.
He went on by saying that ?the Arab fighters? main objective became one of saving themselves, especially after discovering that the Iraqi forces have also agreed [in their alleged ?deal?] to open fire at them ?which is perhaps due to American fear that such ?unorganized? resistance could be faced elsewhere in Iraq.?

Another volunteer said he saw Fedayeen Saddam ?running while retreating from their positions?. He added that ?he could not believe himself when he saw Iraqi soldiers shooting at a group of Arab volunteers who were taking positions near one of the bridges, killing many of them.? ?The overall assessment,? he said, ?was that most of the Arab volunteers were killed either by Iraqi or American bullets. The remaining survivors were left to fall as victims in the hands of some Iraqis [civilians] who viewed them as supporters of a dead regime.?

Interesting.

 

[LilBlinbBlahIce]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: MadRat
There is no cease-fire.

Not that we know of.



However, ONLY the FOREIGN Arab fighters continued to attack the troops . . . in fact they complained that they were deserted by the Iraqi Army and Republican Guard and left to fight ALONE. There was NO defense of Baghdad. :Q

Might want to tell that to marines who were shot at while entering Baghdad.....

Supposing this is true, don't you think it might have been a little too obvious if there was absolutely no shooting going on when the Marines entered.

 

[BarneyFife]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: MadRat
There is no cease-fire.

Not that we know of.



However, ONLY the FOREIGN Arab fighters continued to attack the troops . . . in fact they complained that they were deserted by the Iraqi Army and Republican Guard and left to fight ALONE. There was NO defense of Baghdad. :Q

Might want to tell that to marines who were shot at while entering Baghdad.....

That was a weak resistance. Something fishy went on. How can a city like Basra take a few weeks to capture but Baghdad took 1 day? One surprising thing is that all of his palaces were empty of furniture. What happened to it? According to sources, Saddam slept at different palaces every night so there would be no reason for them to be empty of furniture.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: MadRat
There is no cease-fire.

Not that we know of.



However, ONLY the FOREIGN Arab fighters continued to attack the troops . . . in fact they complained that they were deserted by the Iraqi Army and Republican Guard and left to fight ALONE. There was NO defense of Baghdad. :Q

I get to quote myself.

Well, I found what I was looking for from AJ:


Republican Guard commander cut deal with US

The mystery of what happened to the Iraqi Republican Guard defending Baghdad appears to have been solved if a report in today's Le Monde is to be believed.



The French daily reports that Maher Sufyan, Commander of the Republican Guard reached an agreement with American forces in which he ordered his forces to surrender in exchange for his transfer via an American Apache helicopter to an undisclosed safe haven.



Quoting anonymous sources, Le Monde?s correspondent in Baghdad said that Sufyan ordered all Republican Guard forces to lay down their arms and go home. Shortly thereafter an Apache helicopter escorted Sufyan from the Al Rashid camp, east of Baghdad, to an unknown location.



Maher Sufyan is not included on the infamous ?deck of cards? created by US defence officials to highlight the most wanted individuals from the Saddam Hussein government. Iraq?s popular Information Minister, Mohammed Saeed Al Sahaf, Naji Sabri, Iraq?s Foreign Minister and Oumid Medhat Mubarak, the minister of health are also not included on the list.

Jordanian volunteers: Baghdad?s fall was a ?deal?

The alleged agreement led to the staged ?defeat? of Baghdad by coalition forces in return for the commander?s safety, after he was ?sure? that his cousin - Saddam Hussein - had concluded a much larger one guaranteeing his safety as well.

Later on?, one volunteer said, ?things started to become clearer, and it was apparent that an agreement was reached between the Americans and Saddam?s cousin, General Maher al Tikriti, commander of the Republican Guard unit in Baghdad.? The General was given the responsibility of protecting Baghdad by blowing its bridges and blocking possible routes that the invading US forces may use.

Volunteers fought alone

According to one account, the Iraqi forces left Baghdad early the morning of April 9. ?There were no Republican Guards, no Fedayeen Saddam or any other Iraqi official for that matter. No armed men were available to face the invading US forces except what remained of the Arab volunteers?who were deserted,? said one of the men, adding ?they left us exposed?we were exposed and even attacked by the retreating Iraqi forces.?
?I woke up at dawn on April 9 to discover that the Iraqi armed forces have withdrawn from their positions without notifying the Arab volunteers - who were left on the frontlines of the battlefield?most of us were from Syria, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon,? a Jordanian volunteer said.
He went on by saying that ?the Arab fighters? main objective became one of saving themselves, especially after discovering that the Iraqi forces have also agreed [in their alleged ?deal?] to open fire at them ?which is perhaps due to American fear that such ?unorganized? resistance could be faced elsewhere in Iraq.?

Another volunteer said he saw Fedayeen Saddam ?running while retreating from their positions?. He added that ?he could not believe himself when he saw Iraqi soldiers shooting at a group of Arab volunteers who were taking positions near one of the bridges, killing many of them.? ?The overall assessment,? he said, ?was that most of the Arab volunteers were killed either by Iraqi or American bullets. The remaining survivors were left to fall as victims in the hands of some Iraqis [civilians] who viewed them as supporters of a dead regime.?

Interesting.

So tell me, did the iraqi commander get to sit in the pilots lap or the gunners lap?
Even if we did cut a deal, why is that such a problem, did you want more iraqi dead?

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: MadRat
There is no cease-fire.

Not that we know of.



However, ONLY the FOREIGN Arab fighters continued to attack the troops . . . in fact they complained that they were deserted by the Iraqi Army and Republican Guard and left to fight ALONE. There was NO defense of Baghdad. :Q

Might want to tell that to marines who were shot at while entering Baghdad.....

That was a weak resistance. Something fishy went on. How can a city like Basra take a few weeks to capture but Baghdad took 1 day? One surprising thing is that all of his palaces were empty of furniture. What happened to it? According to sources, Saddam slept at different palaces every night so there would be no reason for them to be empty of furniture.

Because by the time we got to Baghdad there was little command and control left. Even the most blind commanders could see defeat was unavoidable.