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| Iraq |
| Did Sadaam Survive? |
| 2003-04-09 |
| U.S. and British intelligence sources were both reporting late last night that Hussein survived the latest attack on a building in Baghdad. MI6, the British spy agency, told the CIA it believes Hussein left the building just before the bombs hit. The CIA was still reportedly clinging to hope that Hussein was killed. Hussein escaped a similar bomb attack on the opening night of the war March 19. I'm doubtful this is true, especially since the statements aren't really sourced. But if it IS true (big IS) then somebody high up better be considering the following: There were just 12 minutes between the order and when the bombs were dropped. Sadaam might have gotten lucky the first time. But twice would indicate he had intel. Sadaam with intel of the quality that travels from CENTCOM to Sadaam in less than 12 minutes?? Now THAT is frightening INDEED! |
| Posted by:Becky |
| #10 Do you suppose that this was such a secret meeting that the only people who knew about it were the people there? Sammy was paranoid and worried about his security. Suppose the entire surviving leadership was there, everyone's dead, and nobody knows? |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-04-09 15:40:24 |
| #9 Couple of possibilities come to mind. (1) Saddam hoped the US would try to grab him and set an ambush. Hoping for a Blackhawk Down type scenerio. This explains why he would seem to meet his guys so close to US tanks at the parade ground. The US didn't take the bait, but blasted the location hoping to pick up chatter later that might be useful. (2) Saddam hopes to hide and play dead so we don't look all over for him. It wouldn't be hard to set up one of his doubles to take the hit for him. (3) US killed him on the first night and wants the fakers pretending his alive to have to prove so, again, to his die-hards. |
| Posted by: Yank 2003-04-09 13:58:13 |
| #8 One theory I've heard is that Saddam leaked that he would be there in order to trick the US into bombing. Testing to see who he could trust? Tell one person "I'm going to X location" another "Y" and so on. When we bomb "X" he knows where the leak is. What does he care who dies as long as he finds the leak. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-04-09 13:41:41 |
| #7 Michael, if you are right, it would have exactly the opposite effect of exposing breaches in our security. Instead, it would expose allied breaches into Sadaams. Not good. |
| Posted by: becky 2003-04-09 12:01:46 |
| #6 Frank, I suppose you could be right. But it still seems strange to me that he managed it 2X. |
| Posted by: becky 2003-04-09 11:57:24 |
| #5 I'm surprised that you would say 45min is "quite a big window". Wouldn't even 45 minutes suggest that our most priviliged intel is severely compromised? Ass-u-me-ing he escaped in the nick of time, it happened not once - but twice. It seems to me that the available technological methods for obtaining this information would be VERY limited. A mole would have had to have been at the very top AND have a means to quickly communicate with Saddam. Perhaps Sadaam had to let the cat out of the bag in order for him to use up one of his remaining 9 lives. If so, finding out where the breach came from will be huge to the success of future US conflicts against more formidable enemies. |
| Posted by: becky 2003-04-09 11:54:29 |
| #4 Actually, it has crossed my mind that he sent a group of doubles in to that building to check his security. Maybe he suspected a mole in his organization. Just a thought |
| Posted by: Michael 2003-04-09 11:50:04 |
| #3 You've gotta like the knowledge that Saladin Jr can't stay more than an hour in one place without fearing a steel lobotomy...gonna make those bags under the eyes big enough to pack luggage in |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-04-09 11:38:42 |
| #2 Actually I read that the whole operation took 45min's so that is quite a big window. It took 12min's for the B1's to get to target. But, it took 30mins for the order to go through. |
| Posted by: George 2003-04-09 11:18:02 |
| #1 here is another link with the same claim http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,932750,00.html |
| Posted by: becky 2003-04-09 11:13:40 |