Saddam Hussein's arrest is already reaping dividends for the U.S. military, providing intelligence that allowed American troops to capture several top regime figures and uncover anti-US cells in Baghdad, U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Mark Hertling of the 1st Armored Division said Monday.
Since the former Iraqi leader's capture on Saturday, U.S. Army teams from the 1st Armored Division have arrested one high-ranking former regime figure and that prisoner has given up a few others, Hertling told The AP. All the men are currently being interrogated and more raids are expected, Hertling said.
The intelligence that led the military to the men came from the first transcript of Saddam's initial interrogation, and a briefcase of documents Saddam carried with him at the time of his capture, Hertling said.
"We've already gleaned intelligence value from his capture," Hertling said. "We've already been able to capture a couple of key individuals in Baghdad. We've completely confirmed one of the cells. It's putting the pieces together and it's connecting the dots. It has already helped us significantly in Baghdad."
The intelligence has also given the U.S. military a far clearer picture of the resistance's command and control network in the city, Hertling conveyed.
Hertling noted it was apparent that Saddam still played some role in leading the anti-U.S. resistance. "I'm sure he was giving some guidance to some key figures in this insurgency," Hertling said.
Hertling said the 1st Armored Division had also received intelligence from other sources on attacks Monday in Baghdad. The division received tips earlier in December that a spate of car bombings would start in mid-December. "We have some intelligence that things are going to happen," Hertling said. (Albawaba.com)
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