Saddam Succeeded The
Day He Survived
By M.J. Akbar
Special to Gulf News
12-27-03
The safest place for Saddam Hussain after his defeat, and certainly
one more comfortable than a "rat-hole", is a prison. A grave might
have been safe, but not as comfortable. Saddam was reduced to a hunted
and lonely existence.
The idea that he was commanding a fine-tuned resistance is a myth put
out to explain the high casualties Americans have suffered since Bush
thought his mission was accomplished. The resistance is a shadow army.
It is a network of cells held together by conviction. Those who commit
their lives in suicide missions do so for motives more substantial
than Saddam.
Although Saddam was arrested on December 13, the story was missed by
the Sunday papers because Washington held on to the news. Britain's
Sunday Times did not have Saddam, but a pretty good alternative on
December 14: an interview with Saddam's second wife, Samira
Shahbandar. She said she last saw Saddam at the Syrian border when she
crossed with her son, Ali. Saddam, she said, was in regular touch with
her, and either called her or wrote to her at least once a week.
The most elementary fact about modern telecommunications is that the
location of any call can be traced. So it was known where she was. The
best intelligence in the Arab world is Egyptian; it is highly unlikely
they were unaware of Samira's whereabouts. It would be equally
unlikely the CIA would not have got such information. If the Sunday
Times could locate Samira, surely the CIA could do so. Common sense
dictates that the surest way to Saddam is through his family.
The question is: what to do with Saddam? It would make eminent sense
to keep him under surveillance to trace through him all those who were
in touch with him. This would be vital intelligence if Saddam did
control a network of 'fedayeen'.
The manner in which Saddam was picked up by a detachment of 600 troops
indicates that those who gave the order for the mission knew exactly
who the target was, and where the target was located.
The decision to arrest Saddam was taken when his use as a trapped
prisoner was over; and his use as a "coward" could begin. The decision
might have also been prompted by fears that someone else in the know
(Mossad? The Iran intelligence agency?) was ready to leak the story.
Saddam could not have expected to survive capture, particularly after
the way his sons, Uday and Qusay, were killed in July. Saddam must
have expected the Americans to treat him in the way he treated his
enemies. The security of a cell must seem like a haven.
Nor can Saddam be sent to Guantanamo Bay. But he will be the world's
most famous prisoner while he lives, and he will now live longer than
he might have expected on April 9. He will be tried in Iraq; that is
non-negotiable.
Saddam in power was a tyrant; Saddam in jail will be a victim. The
Americans did themselves little good by showing pictures of Saddam's
mouth being examined. Humiliation always invites sympathy.
Saddam will have enough opportunity to reposition himself during his
trial. Lawyers will enjoy the opportunity of defending him, with fame
being sufficient reward for their efforts. Saddam is sharp enough to
know how to handle his own space in the limelight and communicate with
the world. He is an author of sorts, having inflicted bad fiction on
Iraqis when in power. He could turn to non-fiction during the long
hours of isolation.
The trial will be a formal opportunity for him to tell his side of the
story. The great mystery of the WMDs could finally end, since there is
now no scientist in Iraq who will fear Saddam's return to power. And
Saddam will, of course, happily provide the names of the American and
European companies who helped equip him with such weapons.
The most important consequence of Saddam's capture is the shift in the
political scene of Iraq. The Shiites, so far, have been quiet, almost
neutral, in the conflict between the Americans and the resistance.
They hated Saddam. The televised scenes of joy in Baghdad that were
shown at Saddam's arrest did not mention that most of those rejoicing
were Shiites. That did not mean that they were celebrating the
American presence.
Bush has said that America wants to hand over power to Iraqis by June
1. But which Iraqis will inherit and how will their legitimacy be
defined? If the means is going to be popular will, then the ends might
suit Tehran better than Washington.
The thought refuses to go away: has Saddam been caught too soon for
Bush's electoral comfort? There is another high-profile fugitive on
the White House's wish list. Perhaps, a quiet word to Kabul and
Islamabad should be passed on that the best time to get lucky is the
middle of next year.
http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/opinion.asp?ArticleID=106463
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| User: "R. Foreman" |
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| Title: Re: Saddam succeeded the day he survived |
28 Dec 2003 10:35:37 AM |
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Spat the Words
Saddam Succeeded The
Day He Survived
By M.J. Akbar
Special to Gulf News
12-27-03
The safest place for Saddam Hussain after his defeat, and certainly
one more comfortable than a "rat-hole", is a prison. A grave might
have been safe, but not as comfortable. Saddam was reduced to a hunted
and lonely existence.
Yes, we're all very glad he's comfortable. As soon as we squeeze
as much out of him as we want, then we'll give him to the iraqi
council (for a speedy trial).
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| User: "WH" |
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| Title: Re: Saddam succeeded the day he survived |
28 Dec 2003 11:08:25 AM |
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"R. Foreman" <eidpers@anti-spam.comcast.net> skrev i meddelandet
news:Xns945F6197984EDrrfkwrantispamattbic@63.240.76.16...
DaarkSyde@everywhere.com Spat the Words
Saddam Succeeded The
Day He Survived
By M.J. Akbar
Special to Gulf News
12-27-03
The safest place for Saddam Hussain after his defeat, and certainly
one more comfortable than a "rat-hole", is a prison. A grave might
have been safe, but not as comfortable. Saddam was reduced to a hunted
and lonely existence.
Yes, we're all very glad he's comfortable. As soon as we squeeze
as much out of him as we want, then we'll give him to the iraqi
council (for a speedy trial).
"WE"
WH
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Saddam succeeded the day he survived |
28 Dec 2003 10:46:12 AM |
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On Sun, 28 Dec 2003 16:35:37 GMT, "R. Foreman"
<eidpers@anti-spam.comcast.net> wrote:
DaarkSyde@everywhere.com Spat the Words
Saddam Succeeded The
Day He Survived
By M.J. Akbar
Special to Gulf News
12-27-03
The safest place for Saddam Hussain after his defeat, and certainly
one more comfortable than a "rat-hole", is a prison. A grave might
have been safe, but not as comfortable. Saddam was reduced to a hunted
and lonely existence.
Yes, we're all very glad he's comfortable. As soon as we squeeze
as much out of him as we want, then we'll give him to the iraqi
council (for a speedy trial).
Don't count your chickens yet. If Saddam was actually caught, and not
just more American propoganda *****,then expect an escape within 2
months.
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