'Saddam' denies Najaf attack

[Oggy]

The Arabic television station al-Jazeera has broadcast what is says is an audio tape from Saddam Hussein denying involvement in the killing of a senior Shia cleric

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3197721.stm

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

1. 'Saddam' Tape Denies Setting Najaf Bomb (AP Link)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=1&u=/ap/20030901/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_saddam_tape

"Maybe many of you have heard the hiss of the snakes, the servants of the occupiers, how they accused us without any evidence of killing of al-Hakim," the voice said.


Many in Najaf have laid blame for the bombing with Saddam loyalists, while Iraqi police have said the 19 suspects they have in custody may have al-Qaida links.


The voice said Saddam was the leader of all Iraqi people, suggesting he would not launch an attack on any particular ethnic or religious group — Shiites included.


"Saddam Hussein is not the leader of a minority or a group within a group. He is the leader of the great Iraqi people," the voice said.

<snip>

Reuters story:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&ncid=578&e=1&u=/nm/20030901/ts_nm/iraq_saddam_tape_dc

[Kbowe]

2. You won't be hearing much about this tape from the US media

This does not bode well for the coalition. Meanwhile, back at Gaza...Israel is bombing and killling more and more people.

That car bomb in Najaf was not a suicide bombing...I'll say this again..
the CIA and Mossad do not kill themselves when they perform bombings. Those last two bombings in Iraq seem more the work of coalition or Israeli operatives. The MO just does not make sense for al-Qaeda or other Muslims. Muslims would not kill Muslims at prayers!!! THINK about it!

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

3. I'm not ready to say who it was or wasn't, BUT

Most westerners aren't that keen to "go out in a blaze of glory" in martyrdom... They'd rather get the job done in an efficient and cost effective mannr. FROM A DISTANCE.

Whereas al Qaeda and the Sunni appear to have no shortagee of volunteers to die in martyrdom for a cause.

You're right, the MO does not fit.

[IndianaGreen]

4. Here is Al-Jazeera's version of the story

with many thanks to fellow DUer wwwyearzeroorg for alerting us to the new all-English Al-Jazeera website:

Hussein denies links to cleric’s death

Monday 01 September 2003, 14:21 Makka Time, 11:21 GMT

Ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has denied being behind last week’s bomb attacks that killed Shia cleric Ayat Allah Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim.

In an exclusive audiotape aired on Aljazeera on Monday Hussein rejected any involvment in the Najaf attacks last Friday that left at least 82 others killed and more than 100 people hurt.

Reciting a verse from the Holy Quran urging people to ignore news reported by vicious people, Hussein said he was not a leader of a minority or a single Iraqi group.

“(Saddam Hussein) is the leader of all people of Iraq: Muslims, non-Muslims, Shia, Sunnis, Kurds and all other groups,” he said.

“The infidel invaders are accusing, without proof, the followers of Saddam Hussein after the killing of Shia leader Hakim," said Hussein. "This is not what Saddam attributes to himself.

http://english.aljazeera.net/Articles/News/ArabWorld/Hussein+denies+links+to+clerics+death.htm