Article

2003-04-15 Iraq

Republican Guard commander cut deal with US forces

The mystery of what happened to the Iraqi Republican Guard defending Baghdad appears to have been solved if a report in today's Le Monde is to be believed. The French daily reports that Maher Sufyan, Commander of the Republican Guard reached an agreement with American forces in which he ordered his forces to surrender in exchange for his transfer via an American Apache helicopter to an undisclosed safe haven. Le Mondeâs correspondent in Baghdad said that Sufyan ordered all Republican Guard forces to lay down their arms and go home. Shortly thereafter an Apache helicopter escorted Sufyan from the Al Rashid camp, east of Baghdad, to an unknown location. Maher Sufyan is not included on the infamous âdeck of cardsâ created by US defence officials to highlight the most wanted individuals from the Saddam Hussein government. Iraqâs popular Information Minister, Mohammed Saeed Al Sahaf, Naji Sabri, Iraqâs Foreign Minister and Oumid Medhat Mubarak, the minister of health are also not included on the list.
Info Man's reported to have hanged himself. Did Sabri and Mubarak sell out? I take back the bad things I said about Franks enticing these bastards out from behind the couch with a bowl of milk — it looks like it worked. Who'da thunkit?

Posted by Fred Pruitt 2003-04-15 03:18 pm|| || Front Page|| [9 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Works for me.

Posted by raptor 2003-04-16 11:33:56|| 2003-04-16 11:33:56|| Front Page Top

#2 This is what the Arab press is reporting. The want to save face because of the butt-kicking the took. FYI Apahce helicopters carries a pilot and gunner NO PASSENGERS. If you doubt their mentality, I refer you to the former Iragi Info minister.

Posted by Cyber Sarge 2003-04-15 15:25:48|| 2003-04-15 15:25:48|| Front Page Top

#3 Skeptical that he flew in an Apache. It's a 2 seater, ill suited for giving these guys rides. But, omissions from our 'infamous' deck of cards are certainly good indicators of who cooperated.

Posted by JAB 2003-04-15 15:28:52|| 2003-04-15 15:28:52|| Front Page Top

#4 Sorry for repeating. Cyber's comment was not there when I opened the comment window. But I did notice that Fred might want to adjust his timestamps for daylight savings (assuming he's in the eastern time zone).

Posted by JAB 2003-04-15 15:31:50|| 2003-04-15 15:31:50|| Front Page Top

#5 I think Fred's on CDT, not EDT. IIRC, the time has been updated since Daylight Savings kicked in.

Posted by Dar 2003-04-15 15:42:14|| 2003-04-15 15:42:14|| Front Page Top

#6 I think we only put people on the Most Wanted list when we didn't know where they were. Also, I had read rumors that SF and CIA types had paid off army commanders to stay out of the fighting. Don't know if Sufyan is wanted for any war crimes or if he is just an army officer.

Posted by Steve 2003-04-15 15:43:55|| 2003-04-15 15:43:55|| Front Page Top

#7 If he really did fly out on Apache, I'll give him all kinds of kudos for having balls... considering the closest its got to a third seat is either on a wheel or on one of the weapons mountings.

Posted by Dishman 2003-04-15 19:24:53|| 2003-04-15 19:24:53|| Front Page Top

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