U.S. Frees 'High-Value' Detainees from Iraq

[SWJED]

20 Dec. Washington Times - U.S. Frees 'High-Value' Detainees from Iraq.

U.S. forces yesterday flew eight newly released "high-value" Iraqi detainees out of the country aboard a special military aircraft, in a move other officials said was aimed at furthering a secret peace process with Sunni hard-line groups.

The releases, made Saturday but announced only yesterday, angered Iraqi government officials who pledged to hunt down and recapture some of the detainees, including former leaders of Saddam Hussein's government and security forces.

Among those released or about to be freed is Rihab Taha, who was dubbed "Dr. Germ" by the popular press in the West and admitted to producing germ-warfare agents. A State Department official told the Associated Press she was no longer considered a security threat.

20 Dec. Reuters - U.S. Freeing Saddam's 'Dr. Germ' and 'Mrs. Anthrax'.

U.S. forces in Iraq are freeing "Dr Germ and "Mrs. Anthrax," two of Saddam Hussein's leading biological warfare experts, following the failure to find weapons of mass destruction, lawyers said on Monday.

The two weapons experts, British-trained microbiologist Rihab Taha and U.S.-educated genetic engineer Huda Ammash, were captured by U.S. forces in May 2003 after Saddam was ousted.

Baghdad lawyer Badia Aref said Taha and Ammash were among 26 senior detainees in the process of being released. U.S. military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Barry Johnson said eight "high-value detainees" had been freed on Saturday, and were among 27 senior prisoners judged to be eligible for release.

[Mark Eichenlaub]

This just doens't sound appropriate whatsoever. I wonder what ever happened to these people and if the Iraqis actually recaptured and detained them.

[bourbon]

This just doens't sound appropriate whatsoever.

Why doesn’t it sound appropriate?

The detainment of these women was a humiliation for the Sunni’s. Addressing such a grievance as this, in addition to other measures, would enable reengagement with the Sunni’s. This in turn, would lead to the success of the Awakening movements and a reduction of violence in the country.

I wonder what ever happened to these people and if the Iraqis actually recaptured and detained them.

I imagine the female scientists are feeble, and stricken with some form of cancer.

[Mark Eichenlaub]

Can you please cite some kind of evidence that Sunni women were clamoring for her release?

[bourbon]

Can you please cite some kind of evidence that Sunni women were clamoring for her release?

“Muslims Don’t Take Kindly to Outsiders Detaining Their Women”, by Hous Bin Pharteen and Dr. I-Zheet M’Drurz. Journal of Basic Cultural Awareness, Vol. XXII, no 4. (Fall 2006)

[Mark Eichenlaub]

That's specifically in response to Dr. Germ?

If she were not someone who possessed dangerous knowledge that could be exploited, even against her will, she shouldn't be just "released" but would likely need to be in some kind of protection program as well. No?