From the Radio Free Michigan archives ftp://141.209.3.26/pub/patriot If you have any other files you'd like to contribute, e-mail them to bj496@Cleveland.Freenet.Edu. ------------------------------------------------ On Saturday, January 16th, there was a day of special programming, marking the second anniversary of the start of the Persian Gulf War, broadcast by Pacifica Radio Network station WBAI-FM (99.5) 505 Eighth Ave., 19th Fl. New York, NY 10018 (212) 279-0707 During the prelude to Bush's Persian Gulf War, Operation Desert Sham, I spoke with journalist/U.S. intelligence analyst Nita Renfrew on the then-esoteric subject of Bush sucking Saddam Hussein into Kuwait. The following transcript presents, from her WBAI interview, an excerpt spotlighting one facet of Nita Renfrew's latest analysis: an explanation of the secret purpose underlying Bush's current air assault upon the innocent People of Iraq. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BARBARA NIMRI AZIZ: Now, you have an interesting thought concerning the disposition of three hundred U.S. Special Forces troops in the Persian Gulf now, at this time in the crisis. Would you like to elaborate on that? NITA RENFREW: Yes, I certainly would. In talking to some of my intelligence sources, there is a feeling within the intelligence community that the reason for these Special Forces and for the Air Cavalry -- which arrived yesterday in Kuwait, comprising (the newspaper says) twelve hundred troops from Fort Hood [Texas] -- is not so much [part of] a strike upon Iraq, in and of itself, but because the strikes are being set up as a diversion to a kidnapping plan whereby the U.S. Government would send in these forces to cross the line [into Iraq] and they would bring back Saddam Hussein. And the way that would work is ..... These Special Forces are not troops that we send in to defend borders or anything of that nature. They have nothing to do with that. And the [accompanying] Air Cavalry means, basically, helicopters today, and you don't use helicopters to defend borders either. What they were used for during the Persian Gulf War was for tagging. The Special Forces were sent behind the lines, and so were these special [Air Cavalry] helicopters that were developed at Fort Hood that have very narrow rotor blades, so they don't make any noise. And what they used them for during the Gulf War was to go in and tag the [bombing] targets. It improved our capability immensely because, apparently, we don't have much capability of hitting targets unless they're tagged. But, in addition to this, there is a sentiment that the bombing strikes are being used as a diversion. And the reason for that is that the more havoc that is created, the more need there is for Saddam Hussein to meet with his cabinet, and it would be easier to locate him because he has to surface. He has to speak on the radio. Even though he tapes it, it makes it easier to see his movements. It makes it easier to track the cabinet because they have to make decisions. So there is a sentiment that in the following days, what Bush is attempting to do is to pull off a capture of Saddam Hussein and his key cabinet members and to bring them back to the United States before he leaves office. Obviously, if this fails -- which it likely will because Saddam is pretty well organized -- we WON'T hear about it because they will try to cover it up. They'll say that they [Special Forces and Air Cavalry] were just used to tag targets. But that's what's in the air, according to some of my intelligence sources. BARBARA NIMRI AZIZ: Well, indeed, we should be following that. It's a new angle which really bears some examination. Now, presumably, the Iraqi president is aware that he might be entrapped, physically. What do you think he might be doing to guard himself against that? I mean, this is not a new situation. NITA RENFREW: Well, even though he's aware, I think that what happens when you put a leader under a great deal of stress, he begins to get worn down. I mean, the man probably hasn't had much sleep, if any, in the past few days. All it takes is one security lapse. So, when you're bone-tired, you start making mistakes. And I think that's the purpose of the diversions [air raids]. BARBARA NIMRI AZIZ: Let me introduce Phyllis Bennis, who is here with us in the studio, Nita. I'll tell our audience that we're speaking with Nita Renfrew who is the author of a book: "SADDAM HUSSEIN", and a long-time political observer of the area. PHYLLIS BENNIS: You know, one of the issues that has emerged lately is this question of the comparison between the situation of Saddam Hussein and that of Manuel Noriega in Panama. And, of course, this issue of the possibility, or even the consideration of kidnapping Saddam Hussein raises that parallel even further. I wonder, Nita, what your idea is of what you think U.S. forces, U.S. intelligence operatives, are looking at in terms of the people around Saddam Hussein, who could be seen as potential replacements. If they did succeed, for example, at pulling off some sort of a kidnapping -- presumably, they wouldn't be too concerned about the casualties of that operation -- but if they managed to kidnap Saddam Hussein out of Iraq, what do they anticipate would be the kind of government, and led by who, that would replace him? NITA RENFREW: I think it's obvious from listening, in the past few days, on television, just to people like Vernon Walters, who is former CIA, former head of the U.S. Delegation to the U.N., and recently, to Germany (he was interviewed last night on NIGHTLINE), and other analysts. They keep saying that they're hoping that the military will take over. And we know [this] through some of the opposition people and through some of the people inside Iraq (they have made contact with high-level military officers). So, I would say that what they're hoping for is a military coup by some of the people whom they have made contact with. And we'll have some kind of a puppet military government in Iraq because even the United States doesn't think it can handle a Shiite Fundamentalist government, which is what we would probably have if the Shiites in the south could vote at the moment. (end of excerpt) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Feel free to post this transcript to computer bulletin boards and to post hardcopies in public places, both on and off campus. John DiNardo ------------------------------------------------ (This file was found elsewhere on the Internet and uploaded to the Radio Free Michigan site by the archive maintainer. Protection of Individual Rights and Liberties. E-mail bj496@Cleveland.Freenet.Edu)