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Friday, April 23, 2004

Former generals of Saddams regime reinstated to new US-trained army

Patrick Cockburn in Baghdad, The Independent, 23 April 2004

"Iraqi generals who fought for Saddam Hussein are being reinstated to strengthen the new US-trained Iraqi army half of whose soldiers mutinied or went home during fighting earlier this month.
More than half a dozen generals from the old Iraqi army, dissolved by the US-led Coalition last May, have already been given jobs say American officials according to the US press. Former members of the Baath party will also be employed in the government.
The abrupt reversal of previous policy comes as a senior US general admitted that 10 per cent of the Iraqi security services actually changed sides during recent fighting and another 40 per cent went home."



"The only thing Saddam is afraid of is a land invasion".

"As Tony Blair publishes his much vaunted dossier on Iraq and President Bush cranks up the rhetoric against Saddam Hussein, Washington and Baghdad insiders, Andrew and Patrick Cockburn present their own dossier on what has really been happening in Iraq since the end of the Gulf War: Saddam Hussein, An American Obsession.
At the outset of the Gulf War, US leaders resolved that 'Iraqi's will pay the price', so long as Saddam Hussein remained in power. This book shows in chilling detail just how terrible that price has been. Eleven years ago Saddam was caught off-guard by the allied attack; his preparations since September 11 show that lessons have been learnt. In a substantial new prologue the authors analyse Saddam's preparations and the terrifying consequences of a military invasion of Iraq."

Posted by Nick @ 06:33 GMT

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