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Iraq: U.S. General Says Saddam Hussein Not Coordinating Attacks


Baghdad, 28 July 2003 (RFE/RL) -- General Richard Myers, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, says ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is too busy trying to evade capture by U.S. troops to be coordinating attacks on U.S. forces. Myers, speaking in Baghdad yesterday, said Hussein "is trying so hard to save his own skin that he is not able to communicate effectively" with his supporters or those conducting attacks against occupation forces.

Myers and Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, both expressed confidence yesterday that Hussein will be killed or captured.

Their comments came as five U.S. soldiers were killed in the past 48 hours. Forty-nine U.S. soldiers have died from hostile fire since U.S. President George W. Bush declared major combat in Iraq over on 1 May.

Sanchez said Iraq has become what he called a "terrorist magnet" due to the presence of U.S. troops in the country.

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