Syria Gave Up Saddam's Half-Brother

The Washington Times story referenced in the post below was partially in error. Saddam's half-brother, Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hassan was not captured by "Iraqi security forces". According to Yahoo News he was turned over by Syria along with 29 other Baathists! Apparently, Syria has decided to follow the path of least resistance, mutual protection alliance with Iran notwithstanding.

Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hassan, a former Saddam adviser suspected of financing insurgents after U.S. troops ousted Saddam, was captured in Hasakah in northeastern Syria near the Iraqi border, two senior Iraqi officials told The Associated Press by telephone on condition of anonymity. Hasakah is about 30 miles from the Iraqi border.

They added that al-Hassan was captured and handed over to Iraqi authorities along with 29 other members of Saddam's collapsed Baath Party, whose Syrian branch has been in power in Damascus since 1963.

Maybe Syria has seen the same handwriting on the wall that Druze Muslim leader Walid Jumblatt has ("Beirut's Berlin Wall").

Via Captain's Quarters