Fw: U.S. Troops on Ground in Iraq!

["Jay Moore" <pieinsky@xxxxxxx>]

Dear Jay,

This is pretty hot stuff.  Below are a couple reports,
that I've just translated from the Arabic-language
Beirut paper "as-Safir."   The first is from
tomorrow's issue, 29 June 2002 (which just posted on
the internet about two hours ago).  The second is from
the previous day's paper, 28 June 2002.  That second
story quotes a Turkish paper and I dug up the original
Turkish story, but I can't read Turkish beyond
recognizing the loan words from Arabic (or English),
so I've added the URL for the Turkish story if you
want to reference it.

The Arabic paper "As-Safir" from Beirut (URL:
http://www.assafir.com) is a very reputable paper,
very sober.  This report was on the front page.  The
scale of the operations in Iraq might still be very
small, and they don't necessarily mean any large-scale
invasion is imminent -- in fact signs are that the US
is trying to avoid that.  These may be only
small-scale patrols or probes, but I strongly suspect
their report is sound.

Revolutionary greetings,

Muhammad

-----------------

"As-Safir" Beirut, Saturday, 29 June 2002.

American Forces In Northern Iraq

London - "as-Safir":  Highly informed diplomatic
sources have disclosed to "as-Safir" that the United
States of America has begun to carry out a plan of
security and military operations aimed at Iraq, that
American troops have entered areas in northern Iraq,
and that major bases have been set up for them inside
Jordan.

The sources report that the Director of the Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA), George  Tenet, personally
visited northern Iraq when he recently paid a visit to
the region.  There he gave orders to begin a security
operation immediately after President George Bush
signed the order empowering the CIA to topple Iraqi
President Saddam Hussein.  The sources said that the
new element in the plan concerns the supposed role of
Jordan and that King Abdullah II in agreeing to vacate
two military airfields in Jordan to be used by the
American troops.  Some two thousand American troops
have already landed in Jordanian territory.  In
addition, dozens of soldiers together with members of
American intelligence, have been transported into
Iraqi territory.  The sources said that the Americans
have begun a campaign of making contact with the
numerous forces in the Iraqi opposition, but that
great difficulties confront the idea of setting up an
alliance similar to the "Northern Alliance" in
Afghanistan.

The sources report that the United States presented
the plan to Saudi Arabia, but Riyadh reiterated its
refusal to allow its territory to be used for any
military action against Iraq.  It appears that the
matter was taken to other countries to obtain their
permission to use their territories should that become
necessary.

The sources said that the United States had presented
a plan for emergency economic aid to Jordan in case
its economic and trade relations with Iraq fall into a
crisis.

-----------------------------


"as-Safir", Beirut, Friday, 28 June 2002.

The Turkish paper Yeni Safak, reported on 27 June
2002, quoting sources in the Turkish Foreign Ministry,
that the US has transported about 7,000 troops via
heavy transport planes to the Incirlik airbase near
Adana in the last two weeks. The paper added that
Washington had begun to strengthen its forces in the
area after its decision to begin military operations
against Baghdad within the coming two months. The
paper said that the number of US troops in Turkey
would be increased from 7,000 to 25,000 troops during
next month.

-----------------

Here is the URL to the original Turkish story in
Turkish:

http://www.yenisafak.com.tr/arsiv/2002/haziran/27/g4.html

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