Mike Irwin
Member
Oh well, wishful thinking down the tubes.
From Reuters
"BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz met
reporters in Baghdad on Wednesday dressed in military uniform and with a
pistol strapped to his belt, scotching rumors he had defected or been shot
trying to flee.
"For me, as well as for ... the courageous Iraqi
leadership, we were born in Iraq (news - web
sites) and we will die in Iraq -- either as martyrs,
which is a great honor, or naturally," said Aziz,
one of the closest aides of President Saddam
Hussein (news - web sites).
The rumors Aziz had defected or been killed
affected oil prices in New York trading and also
circulated in financial markets as the 0100 GMT Thursday deadline
approached that President Bush (news - web sites) set for Saddam and his
sons to leave Iraq or face war.
Rumors of the imprisonment, flight or death of members of Saddam's
administration are not uncommon but have rarely turned out to have any
basis in fact.
Aziz repeated that it was "impossible" that Saddam would choose to go into
exile as demanded by Bush.
"If he (Bush) decides to continue his aggression, it won't be a picnic for
him," he said. "It is going to be a bloody war and it will take a long time."
From Reuters
"BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz met
reporters in Baghdad on Wednesday dressed in military uniform and with a
pistol strapped to his belt, scotching rumors he had defected or been shot
trying to flee.
"For me, as well as for ... the courageous Iraqi
leadership, we were born in Iraq (news - web
sites) and we will die in Iraq -- either as martyrs,
which is a great honor, or naturally," said Aziz,
one of the closest aides of President Saddam
Hussein (news - web sites).
The rumors Aziz had defected or been killed
affected oil prices in New York trading and also
circulated in financial markets as the 0100 GMT Thursday deadline
approached that President Bush (news - web sites) set for Saddam and his
sons to leave Iraq or face war.
Rumors of the imprisonment, flight or death of members of Saddam's
administration are not uncommon but have rarely turned out to have any
basis in fact.
Aziz repeated that it was "impossible" that Saddam would choose to go into
exile as demanded by Bush.
"If he (Bush) decides to continue his aggression, it won't be a picnic for
him," he said. "It is going to be a bloody war and it will take a long time."
