Saddam's secret police still have long reach (hunting collaborators)

[Barrett808]

Saddam's secret police still have long reach
By Michael Georgy
Tue Jul 12, 5:22 AM ET

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The midnight knock at the door is gone. But Iraqis say

Saddam Hussein's old Mukhabarat secret police have created a new "republic of fear" two years after his downfall.

Operating with ruthless efficiency, former Baathist agents are hunting down those who work for, or even voice support for, the new U.S.-backed government, say security experts who monitor the insurgency among Saddam's Sunni Arab minority in Iraq.

"I never take the same road to work and I always spend half an hour checking my car for bombs before I drive," said Abbas, a Baghdad police officer who asked that his family name not be used for fear of reprisals.

"Iraqis know that Saddam's people are still very active and are watching everyone."

Hundreds of officials and security personnel in the new administration have been killed in often sophisticated attacks.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050712/wl_nm/iraq_fear_dc

[acmavm]

1. So 'Saddam did it' is still a viable excuse in Iraq? Even if his ass is

quietly washing his tidy whities in a jail cell?

Maybe I misunderstood. If so, excuse me.

[Maple]

2. Well you're assuming

he's the one in jail.

Saddam had 7 known doubles after all.

[acmavm]

3. True, so true.

.

[dArKeR]

4. Impossible for the motives of being "Saddam's agents". If they were just

agents they'd jump ship and join another Iraqi party and bid for a government positions. Or they'd jump ship and work for Meyers. What's going on in Iraq is they are working for their country and their beliefs. It doesn't matter whether you agree with their beliefs but if you can't put two and two together your country will eventually die.

[Journeyman]

5. Very good analysis. . .

it's exactly as you and I might behave in a similar situation. why the busheviks and their supporters cannot see this (beyond willful blindness) is beyond me.

[PaulaFarrell]

6. This is an almost totally unsourced articlee

experts say...

U.S. military commanders say...

many believe...

said a Western security consultant...

Many believe ...

said a police official who asked to remain anonymous...

Police say ..

said one serving police officer...

Many Iraqis say ...

...according to Iraqi officials

Some people say - what a crock of shit! all these he said/she said and only 3 named sources.

[daleo]

7. If only Saddam was out of power.

Maybe even in jail. Then his goons couldn't terrorize God fearing folk.