International   

U.S. in dark on Saddam whereabouts

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

The Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein, and his sons Qusay (right) and Uday during a meeting in Baghdad on Monday as shown by Iraq's television. — AFP

NEW YORK APRIL 1. The American intelligence agencies are yet unable to say with a degree ofcertainty the whereabouts of the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, especially in the aftermath of the missile attack on his bunker on March 19.

The only thing that administration officials are saying for the record is that the Iraqi leader has not been seen in public. And that there was no way in which to verify when video clips of the Iraqi leader had been produced, it is maintained. "That doesn't mean he's dead, but he's not visible publicly and he's not been seen or reported to have been seen by anybody," remarked Gen. Peter Pace, Vice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on PBS' `NewsHour.'

Based on an intelligence tip-off, the United States blasted a bunker where Mr. Hussein and his top aides including his two sons were believed to have been. The bunker was hit by several Tomahawk missiles and a bunker busting bomb known as the EGBU-27. Gen. Pace has further made the point that there was little to suggest that the elite Republican Guard was getting orders from top Iraqi leaders. "There's no evidence of coordinated actions on the battlefield by these units. They're being destroyed in place without much leadership from above," the top Pentagon General said.

Senior military and civilian officials at the Pentagon have been talking of reports — unconfirmed at best — that some of the Iraqi leader's close relatives may be trying to leave the country. One such report or rumour has it that Mr. Hussein's first wife was fleeing to Syria.

But as a daily routine, senior Iraqi leaders are appearing on television giving news conferences and at the same time insisting that Mr. Hussein is very much alive and directing the war efforts. In fact, even on Monday there was a video clip showing Mr. Hussein, his two sons and top military commanders; but officials here say that there is no way of determining when the tape was made.

Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, the President, George W. Bush, warned Americans that Mr. Hussein or his terrorist allies could strike the United States by way of retaliation.

"The dying regime in Iraq may try to bring terror to our shores," the President said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• U.S. in dark on Saddam whereabouts
• Onus on Iraqi officials, says U.N.
• Key battle on for Al-Hindiyah
• Japan alleges missile test by N. Korea
• IA may shut down Lahore office
• Rau rebukes Bush
• Prove charges on KRL: Pak.
• Syria pours scorn on U.S.
• Straw pleads India's cause with China
• Arab League chief warns of war fallout
• Quit, Riyadh tells Saddam
• Rights: U.S. report angers China
• Hijacked Cuban plane lands in Florida
• Pak. seeks `neutral' probe into Nadimarg massacre

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu