| Submit your comments on this article | |
| Syria-Lebanon-Iran | |
| Syrian Intelligence officer held in Baghdad admits to attack | |
| 2005-05-26 | |
| BEIRUT: A Syrian intelligence officer detained in Baghdad has admitted to launching the missile attack on the late premier Rafik Hariri's Future Television in June 2003, according to Al-Rai al-Aam Kuwaiti newspaper. In an article published on Wednesday, the newspaper said Hussein Ahmad Tah, 32, was arrested by Iraqi police when he was attempting to assassinate employees in an Iraqi public institution. Following his arrest, Tah decided to admit to his previous crimes, among which is the Future TV bombing. Tah said he worked for Syrian intelligence services, adding that he worked for a long time in Lebanon where he perpetrated several attacks. He then moved to Iraq, where he committed several attacks against mosques and Iraqi civilians. Security sources in Iraq said that Tah recounted the details of the attack on Future TV. The television station, situated near Raouche in Beirut, was attacked on June 15, 2003, resulting in the destruction of one of the newsrooms. No casualties were reported. The attack was considered as a message to then-owner of the station, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Sources said the car used to perpetrate the crime was stolen in 1997 and hidden in a garage until the date of the attack. A previously unknown group called Jamaat Ansar Allah had held itself responsible for the attack in a statement issued the next day. However, Tah told Iraqi police that the group did not exist and that he had written and issued the statement.
| |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #8 Every story like this makes me regret the fact that we couldnt catch Zarkawi and let the Iraqi's have him. In days he would be ratting everyone out and would be absolutley shamed beyond belief. Another good prospect would be Saddam. Make his trial go alot faster. |
| Posted by: C-Low 2005-05-26 19:49 |
| #7 Sounds like Syrian intelligence gets a lot of productivity for their money. Why didn't this guy have to attend more meetings, write more reports and spend more time equivocating to cover his backside? It's like they have no bureaucracy at all. Decidedly uncivilized. I bet their operatives don't even reach a concensus of everyone including the janitorial staff before acting. Where's the oversight by the legislature to throw up some road blocks? |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2005-05-26 19:15 |
| #6 Following his arrest, Tah decided to admit to his previous crimes decided to admit. LOL |
| Posted by: PlanetDan 2005-05-26 18:48 |
| #5 1. This is a report from the mainstream middleeast press!!!! 2. This fellow may well be a relatively low level henchman who was under the handling of a Senior Syrian intel officer who was in turn under the command of a senior flunky of the senior (late) Assad who has maintained his office under junior. Thus it is entirely believable. |
| Posted by: mhw 2005-05-26 17:00 |
| #4 So he was involved in a rocket attack on a private TV station 2 years ago in Syria's colony. Big deal. I think blowing up car bombs in Iraqi crowds and Shiite mosques got him promoted to the big leagues. Squeeze him dry. Make him a TV star. Go after his bosses. |
| Posted by: ed 2005-05-26 17:00 |
| #3 don't over estimate Syrian intelligence |
| Posted by: Clinesing Glemp8979 2005-05-26 16:33 |
| #2 pardon - i misread - he was involved in an attack on a Hariri asset, not Hariri himself. Hmm. Ok, a tad less implausible. Still have my doubts. |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2005-05-26 15:43 |
| #1 color me skeptical. Youre head of Syrian intell. Youve got a guy who was involved in the murder of Hariri, which is the most sensitive thing you've done, which everyone is after you about, and which you MUST keep deniable as long as possible. So, naturally, you send him to Baghdad, of all places, a city under the control of the US and its Iraqi allies, where you KNOW theres a good chance he'll get caught and interrogated. Even the Syrians aint that stupid. |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2005-05-26 15:41 |