| Submit your comments on this article |
| Axis of Evil |
| Sammy may hand over power to Qusay... |
| 2002-06-23 |
| Iraqi president Saddam Hussain is considering stepping down as Iraqi head of state in favour of his younger son in an attempt to counter the growing threat of US military attacks, a British daily reported Saturday. The Times, quoting Arab diplomats in Baghdad, suggested that the Iraqi president may not seek re-election later this year but instead allow Saddam Qusay, his heir apparent, to become the country's leader. "The word in the diplomatic community is that when the election are being prepared this autumn, Saddam may not put his name forward but instead allow Qusay to go forward," one diplomat said. "The aim would be to deflate the American threat." The Times suggested that although Saddam would remain de facto in control, the tactic may satisfy the Americans or at least delay their planned military action to change the regime in Baghdad. That would actually be a very sensible move, very unlike Sammy... It believed that the ploy would only be used as a last line of defence, after all diplomatic options are exhausted and a new conflict seemed inevitable. But all diplomats were said not to hold the same view about the prospect of Saddam relinquishing power voluntarily. At least one thought that the Iraqi president "would prefer to die or see his country destroyed." And that's the opinion that jibes more with what we know of him. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |