-Caveat Lector- http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-542381,00.html
January 14, 2003 Playing dead as a last-minute trick >From Tim Reid and Roland Watson in Washington SADDAM HUSSEIN has a range of eleventh-hour tricks and ploys to avert an American-led invasion, White House officials and Iraqi experts believe. One option, it is thought, would be staging a fake coup. In an analysis of the Iraqi leader’s options if war is inevitable, Saddam may even mastermind his own assassination, using one of his many doubles. Saddam would then wield power from behind the scenes. According to The Wall Street Journal, officials in the office of Dick Cheney, the US Vice-President, have been fretting over how Washington would deal with this scenario, although Mr Cheney’s press office yesterday refused to confirm the story. Nevertheless, Iraqi experts close to the White House say that a false coup or death are two of several sleights of hand that Saddam could use to avert a war. One of the most likely, they believe, is a last-minute conversion by Iraq’s leader, or the appearance of one, in which Saddam suddenly “discovers” large caches of forbidden weapons. This “discovery” could then be blamed on disloyal aides or military officers. If Baghdad turns over a significant stock of weapons, key US allies may decide that a war is no longer necessary. Anthony Cordesman, a former Pentagon official and one of Washington’s most respected Iraqi experts, said that United Nations inspectors could expect Saddam to pull a variety of tricks as his regime became increasingly threatened. “Everything Iraq can do to preserve its capability, it’s going to do,” he said. “We already know. He has done this before. He did it with Unscom (the UN’s previous arms inspection regime throughout its existence.” Mr Cordesman, a fellow at the Centre for Strategic International Studies, a Washington-based think tank, said that Saddam could surprise inspectors with a sudden but partial declaration, or he could make a fuller one with the hope of going back to weapons production after UN sanctions were lifted. “They (Cheney officials are worried about him staging his own assassination,” a US official told The Times. At the State Department officials say they are more concerned with the prospect of Saddam staging a false coup. A<:>E<:>R ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Forwarded for your information. The text and intent of the article has to stand on its own merits. Therefore, unless I am a first-hand witness to any event described, I cannot attest to its validity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many generations. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of teachers, elders or wise men. Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutra <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
