When Saddam's archives are opened...

DanS · March 9, 2003, 00:46

Apparently, Hussein has been a despot who is particular about office work. Every scrap of classified paper produced during his administration is in triplicate, with a copy going to each of three archives of secret documents.

There are very few strategic objectives in Iraq and targets of capture. The oil fields are one. The archives are also one.

You can be sure that the US will have an army of intelligence folks crawling over the archives. So the question begs answering.

Whose press is the first to "obtain" documents regarding their government's complicity with the Hussein regime?

Nubclear · March 9, 2003, 01:04

I'm betting that what he does with the oil fields, he'll do with the archives

Static Universe · March 9, 2003, 01:09

Targets of what?

Sprayber · March 9, 2003, 01:10

Quote:

Originally posted by Tassadar5000
I'm betting that what he does with the oil fields, he'll do with the archives

It doesn't happen a lot, but I agree with you 100%.

Unless there is a deliberate early attempt at Saddam's archives, they will go up in smoke. Perhaps some commander hoping to gain favor with the US may be bold enough to hand over stuff. But it isn't very likely.

Lancer · March 9, 2003, 01:26

They'll get plenty of stuff even if they don't get the official documents. Odd bits of info behind the desks, memos crammed into the back of drawers. Also, remember the Russian KGB guy that copied everything and burried it under his dacha, we could have a dozen Iraqis doing the same. Also, the hardware. Often it will have the manufacturer stamped right on it.

I think they caught the French supplying spare parts in violation of the boycott. There was a story but then it disappeared. The French denied and that was it. Maybe the US will blackmail the French with it, and get them to support the war after all. Maybe not...

Maybe Sprayber will be bringing the Iraqi papers in with him.

Sprayber · March 9, 2003, 01:41

Quote:

Originally posted by Lancer
Maybe Sprayber will be bringing the Iraqi papers in with him.

You think MarkG will let me sell them in the apolyton store?

Drake Tungsten · March 9, 2003, 03:55

**** France!

Wernazuma III · March 9, 2003, 04:20

As apparently America wants to go alone because Rumsfeld doesn't want the documents regarding himself coming up, it'll be most likely France.

Dauphin · March 9, 2003, 09:42

Personally I think the UK should be listed, simply because our press will print anything that looks vaguely government embarrassing.

Demerzel · March 9, 2003, 09:52

I can't see Saddam not having set up some kind of incendiary system to torch all records if there is any chance of them falling into enemy hands.

Having said that, what could they say?

The US sold weapons to us.
The UK sold weapons to us.
The French sold weapons to us.
The Germans sold weapons to us.

etc....

Lancer · March 9, 2003, 09:56

Drake, do you remember the Falklands war? When Argentina ran out of exocets the French were going to sell them more...which would mean more dead British sailors? I don't know how, but the US and Britian forced them not to. Trade war perhaps? Boycotts?

Well, they have that now anyway, the idiots.

uh Clem · March 9, 2003, 11:25

Among other items in Saddam's files, there might well be an autographed original of the photo below.

Any notes taken from the meetings held at that time would no doubt make for very interesting reading. I look forward to seeing them.

Urban Ranger · March 9, 2003, 12:09

Oh, is that the esteemed VP of the United States of America shaking hands with a butcher, and a tinpot dictator to boot?

Sava · March 9, 2003, 12:12

Quote:

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
**** France!

what an ignorant statement

I think CNN will be the first to report the American propaganda from Iraq.

Boris Godunov · March 9, 2003, 12:14

No, UR, it's the Secretary of Defense.

Eli · March 9, 2003, 12:21

Definitely France. Being the whores they are, they trade(and traded) a lot with the Arab world. Including Iraq.

Even today I saw a newspiece about French companies violating the embargo on Iraq.

Sava · March 9, 2003, 12:27

Good for them. They still have a lot to do to catch up with the US.

GePap · March 9, 2003, 13:13

I loved the batantly biased nature of the poll.. hey look, only countries who don't want the war are listed: it must be caused they did something wrong......

Wow, during the 1980s the French and Soviets sold the Iraqis weapons.. and the US complained about this..0 times, cause they were going forward to kill Iranians.

As for the actual, if highly biased question: most likely Russia, as an heir to the Soviet Union.

Now, will those documents about the CIA get to the US press all in black?

DanS · March 9, 2003, 13:17

Having said that, what could they say?

It's not what they say, precisely. Rather, it's what finds its way into the papers.

Now, will those documents about the CIA get to the US press all in black?

Why would these documents get out? Rather, those are for the shredder.

The poll's a good one, except I wanted to make it so that you could choose more than one (didn't work for some reason).

Sava · March 9, 2003, 13:24

Quote:

Wow, during the 1980s the French and Soviets sold the Iraqis weapons.. and the US complained about this..0 times, cause they were going forward to kill Iranians.

Another omission from news reports regarding Iraq is that Saddam's WoMD arsenal is stamped "Made in the USA".

Plan Austral · March 9, 2003, 13:44

Sava, you are awesome.

Sava · March 9, 2003, 13:46

Quote:

Originally posted by Plan Austral
Sava, you are awesome.

please don't be sarcastic please don't be sarcastic

Plan Austral · March 9, 2003, 13:49

GePap · March 9, 2003, 13:54

Quote:

Originally posted by Sava

Another omission from news reports regarding Iraq is that Saddam's WoMD arsenal is stamped "Made in the USA".

As I pointed out in another thread: the US did not sell Iraq many weapons, and none of importance, during the war: the US only reopened relations with Iraq in 1983 after cutting them in the 1960's, and congress would have had a hissy fit, even if the weapons would go towards killing Iranians.

And Saddam made his own WMD's.

DanS: why did you leave out the UK, US, Japan, Italy, Former Eastern Block states, so forht and so on?

Sava · March 9, 2003, 13:57

Quote:

As I pointed out in another thread: the US did not sell Iraq many weapons, and none of importance, during the war: the US only reopened relations with Iraq in 1983 after cutting them in the 1960's, and congress would have had a hissy fit, even if the weapons would go towards killing Iranians.

And Saddam made his own WMD's.

Saddam did make many of his own WoMD. Out of components, spare parts, and chemicals from the US. Reagan's admin gave him the pieces, he made the puzzle.

GePap · March 9, 2003, 14:04

Most of the compoents needed to make bio-chem weapons are dual use: no, i do not believe the Reagan admin. gave them any (intructions). The Iraqis probably had bio-cem WMD before 1980 (and hence prior to Reagan).

The US does not have to have helped Saddam make them for it to be complicit in thier use. The actions of US conservatives are not that black or white.

Sometimes Sava, you sound like GWB....

Az · March 9, 2003, 14:09

Now there is a kick in the nuts, if I ever saw one.

Kramerman · March 9, 2003, 14:36

Quote:

Originally posted by Sava
Good for them. They still have a lot to do to catch up with the US.

What weapons violating the sanctions has the US supplied to Iraq?

Kramerman · March 9, 2003, 14:41

anyway, it would be good luck indeed if the documents can be captured intact. This is very unlikely tho, as others have said. Other than incriminating other nations, hopefully most of all it would incriminate Iraq, with enough **** to more than justify the war to teh world (probably not tho, nothing can justify it to some of the hardcore peaceniks who only want peace so they can go to peace ralleys and be civilly disobedient for the thrill of it).

Kman

The Mad Monk · March 9, 2003, 14:58

Quote:

Originally posted by GePap

DanS: why did you leave out the UK, US, Japan, Italy, Former Eastern Block states, so forht and so on?

A guess?

Because the just like the victors get to write the history, the captors get to release the documents...