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Politics : War -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: GROUND ZERO™ who wrote (19264)	2/17/2003 5:59:38 PM
From: lorne	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 23908

New tape of bin Laden accuses US By Philip Smucker in Damascus (Filed: 17/02/2003) A new audio tape said to be of Osama bin Laden accused America yesterday of plotting to carve up the Middle East after a war against Iraq to create a "Greater Israel". The "foolish" President George W Bush would not stop with an attack on Iraq but would soon strike Egypt, Sudan, Iran and Syria, according to the tape. "This attack is part of a new crusade to prepare the region, after dividing it, for the creation of a Greater Israel," excerpts of the recording read. "This means the whole region will be ruled by Jews." Extracts from the 53-minute tape were published in the Saudi-owned Al Hayat newspaper yesterday. It follows the publication of another fiery message in bin Laden's name last week which some Western audio experts said was from the al-Qa'eda leader, although it is still not confirmed that he survived the fall of the Taliban in late 2001. Yesterday's message said that Mr Bush and Tony Blair were waging a campaign to carve up the Middle East in a similar fashion to the 1916 British-French pact that divided the remnants of the Ottoman Empire. The rhetoric was as worrying for Arab leaders as for the West. Syria's foreign minister, Farouk al-Shara, told Arab League ministers in Cairo that a war with Iraq would bring disorder that would work to the gain of those who "spread horror and destruction". His remarks appeared to be a veiled reference to fears in the Arab world that al-Qa'eda would seek to exploit a growing anti-American and anti-British sentiment. Bin Laden has spoken openly of his desire to see the early demise of the ruling parties in both Iraq and Syria, and has also targeted Egypt. Yesterday's tape also referred directly to Saudi Arabia, whose leaders funded bin Laden's early fighting in Afghanistan but later condemned his extremism. "[Saudi] Prince Abdullah sold the blood of the martyrs and Palestinian land to satisfy and support America and the Jews," it said. "Arab leaders like him have betrayed God and the Prophet." Several Gulf Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, are letting the United States use bases on their soil in preparation for war against Iraq. A website, Jihad Forum, said the new message was made on the occasion of the three-day Muslim Eid festival. An audio tape broadcast last night by Qatar's al-Jazeera television station, also said to be by bin Laden, called the US campaign in Afghanistan a "defeat" marking "the beginning of its end". news.telegraph.co.uk

To: GROUND ZERO™ who wrote (19264)	2/18/2003 9:08:10 AM
From: lorne	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 23908

Saddam 'arrests' defense minister General effectively prisoner in own home in extraordinary attempt to prevent coup February 18, 2003 Fearing a possible coup to his dictatorship in Baghdad, Saddam Hussein has reportedly placed his defense minister, a close relative, under house arrest. Britain's Guardian newspaper cites reports from opposition newspapers in Iraq, claiming that the head of the Iraqi military, Lt. Gen. Sultan Hashim Ahmad al-Jabburi Tai, was now effectively a prisoner in his home. Not only is the general a member of Saddam's inner circle, but he's also the father-in-law of Saddam's son Qusay, considered by many to be the heir apparent to power. An independent source in Baghdad contacted by the Guardian confirmed that Sultan was in custody. "He continues to attend cabinet meetings and appear on Iraqi TV, so that everything seems normal," said the source, a high-ranking official with connections to Iraq's ruling Ba'ath party. "But in reality his house and family are surrounded by Saddam's personal guards. They are there so he can't flee." The source also told the paper that several other high-ranking military and government officials had been arrested in the past few days. News of the arrest comes amid indications of a growing sense of apprehension that the Iraqi army, including members of the elite Republican Guard, might desert in the event of a U.S.-led attack on the nation. Such a fear has reportedly prompted some drastic measures by Saddam. Last week, he reportedly deployed a militia of Iranian fighters to several cities to crush any popular uprisings. The Mojahedin-e-Khalq – a violent Iranian opposition group based in Iraq – was sent to defend urban areas, including Baghdad, Kurdish newspapers reported. MEK fighters have also arrived at the border with Kuwait and with Syria. Iraqi opposition sources believe the MEK remains fanatically loyal to the president and is likely to lead any street fighting against U.S. troops, according to the report. Saddam has had family problems in the past. Just seven years ago, he had his two sons-in-law executed after he persuaded them to return to Baghdad following their defection to Jordan. Also, his estranged wife Sajida refuses to speak with him after the mysterious death of her brother. For his part, Gen. Sultan is a well-respected soldier and was decorated by Saddam for bravery after the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s. He survived several purges of the military and was eventually named defense minister. In the aftermath of the 1991 Gulf War, it was he who signed the cease-fire deal between the Iraqi army and U.S.-led coalition forces. worldnetdaily.com