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| Iraq |
| Saddam’s Escape Plans? |
| 2003-03-28 |
| This article is via National Review's Corner. Saddam Hussein has made extensive preparations to flee Iraq — and has already smuggled his family out to Syria. He has also been selling off property and valuables to raise millions for his exile. *This just doesn't sound right. I can't claim to be a Saddam expert, but I don't think he'll run. It doesn't contribute to the legend in his own mind of "Saddam the Defiant Hero".* Just days before the bombardment of Baghdad began, Saddam's first wife Sajida — mother of his heirs Uday and Qusay and daughters Raghad, Rana and Hala — fled to Damascus with three lorryloads of possessions and 60 bodyguards. They are staying with Iraq's ambassador to Syria, Saddam's former protocol minister Haitham Rashid Wihaib told newspapers in London. *Hmm, I never heard of his daughters till now. I wonder if they're as twisted as the boys are?* The news will heighten speculation that Saddam's regime may be about to crumble. *Everybody assumes that Baath-party Iraq is a one man state. Saddam goes, and everything will automatically fall apart. I hope that's true, but it doesn't exactly strike me as being some sort of law of physics.* Several of his most senior lieutenants, including his deputy Tariq Aziz, have also sent their families on ahead to Syria before the fall of Baghdad. *Now Aziz does strike me as a runner. He also occupies a very high place on my list of people I'd like to see being stomped to death by a shrieking mob.* The Iraqi leader has an aircraft on stand-by 24 hours a day to fly him out of the country. The pilot will be Raad al-Tikriti, son of his former minister of defence. *Assuming Saddam is still in Baghdad, the only way that aircraft will get away is if the USAF is ordered to let it go. That's not impossible of course.* If his escape route is cut, Saddam wants his most trusted bodyguards to kill him. "Saddam will never be captured alive," Mr Wihaib added. *I repeat my preference for a howling mob. I'm sorta primitive that way. However, I'm pretty sure that I won't shock the sensibilities of the typical reader of Rantburg.* Mr Wihaib also revealed that Saudi diplomats acting as middlemen told the US that Saddam would leave Iraq — if Qusay was allowed to take over. President George W. Bush flatly rejected the deal. *If that's true, my congratulations to the President. Qusay might even be worse than Saddam.* |
| Posted by:Patrick Phillips |
| #5 From what I've seen of them jumping up and down in the street, I think a good policy would probably be to shoot every fat guy in Iraq. That would most likely finish the Baath party. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-03-28 16:31:39 |
| #4 I think every member of the Baath party should have their right hand lopped off at the chin, and turned over to the people of Iraq to deal with as they please. That includes all these street-gang thugs who erroneously believe they're 'heros' and 'superior' to everyone else. The Arabs are not moved by our humanity. They are only moved by brutality. We should show those who hate us just how well we can exert controlled brutality. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-03-28 14:58:10 |
| #3 The first wife is also his first cousin. Kinda accounts for the Satanic sons, doesn't it? |
| Posted by: Chuck 2003-03-28 07:57:00 |
| #2 Has anyone seen any evidence that confirms Saddam survived the initial strike on his bunker last week?! Have I missed something? All I've seen is a couple of pre-recorded speeches that could have been made any time in the last couple of weeks or earlier, and some footage of meetings (no voices, just musak for heaven's sake) that could be from years ago. Tell me if I'm wrong... I know it's beneficial for us to perpetuate the idea he's still around, in some respects, but it'd really help with the hearts and minds thing to be pointing out he's probably mouldier than a French cheese right now... |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2003-03-28 05:47:25 |
| #1 Sorry about that, Fred, could you please move this to the Iraq section? Thanks. |
| Posted by: Patrick Phillips 2003-03-28 04:07:21 |