[Atticus]

http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/021127/2002112707.html

Russian plan to topple Saddam Hussein to prevent US occupation of Iraq
Iraq-Russia, Politics, 11/27/2002

The Paris- based al-Watan al-Arabi magazine said, according to well-informed sources, that the military and intelligence leadership in Moscow had prepared a plan to topple the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein by a military coupe or an assassination operation in order to protect the Russian interests in Iraq and the region and to block plans of an American occupation of Iraq.

In its recent issue, the magazine said that the higher Russian leadership decided to pursue a new strategy that stems from the fact that Washington will topple Saddam Hussein, but the Russian interest require a plan that achieves this objective without leading to Russia losing of its historical influence and economic interests in Iraq.

A well- informed source stressed that the said plan was held in top secrecy and full seriousness and on the ground that the plan of the military coupe has no relation to the military coupe plans previously prepared by the CIA; A plan which is based on an experience of years of military and intelligence cooperation between Baghdad and Moscow and tons of the archive of the Russian intelligence.

The magazine said that the scenario of the successful Russian coupe will be carried out at the hands of persons which are very close to the Iraqi President and are able to have access to him, adding that the Russian national security council took a decision to topple Saddam Hussein in order to protect and ensure the Russian interests in Iraq and the region.

[KMKeller]

It'll be interesting to see if there are any more rumblings of this..

[Blackhawk]

I don't believe it even though I'd like to. The Russians aren't plagued with our media, and they know how to keep secrets.

Even so, it must have Saddam straining his Depends. The Russians won't screw around, and they're plenty mad that anybody would dare attack them like they did.

[hammer4nc]

Quite interesting, thanks for posting.

I've said it before, but with all the US rhetoric aimed at a single man (Saddam) and perhaps his inner circle, the pressure must be enormous for Iraq senior military to topple Saddam. I'm thinking (hoping) that the massive military show of force, while necessary to show fence-sitters its not just bluster this time (as it must have appeared during the Clinton years), will not actually be used in a full-scale war.

Assuming Saddam is removed somehow (coup, exile or?), it will create a power vacuum. I've seen some Iraq exile groups already lobbying for a voice in the post-saddam regime, and a few isolated stories on who might be the Bush's favorite to lead the new interrim govt.

Recognizing that many euro countries have vested economic (oil) interests in Iraq, not suprising that these same brokers will vie for a seat at the table. There must be one hell of a lot going on behind the scenes, diplomatically speaking! If Bush can pull it together (avoid war) he'll be declared a genius, and will be untouchable in 2004. Rings of ultra high-stakes poker...

Hoping for the best!