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Iraq
Fugitive is offered his dignity for surrender
2003-09-17
AN AMERICAN general has promised to treat Saddam Hussein’s fugitive defence minister with "utmost dignity and respect" if he surrenders to United States forces. The commanding general of the 101st Airborne, Maj-Gen David Petraeus, made the offer in a letter written in response to a request by Sultan Hashim Ahmed’s family and tribal chiefs that the army remove Mr Ahmed’s name from America’s list of 55 most wanted Iraqi officials in return for his surrender.
"In a word, 'no'."
"I offer you a simple, yet honourable alternative to a life on the run from coalition forces in order to avoid capture, imprisonment and loss of honour and dignity befitting a general officer," Maj-Gen Petraeus said in the letter, written at the end of last month. "I officially request your surrender to me. In return, I will accept this from you in person. You have my word that you will be treated with the utmost dignity and respect, and that you will not be physically or mentally mistreated while under my custody. As a sign of good faith, I will personally ensure that my staff will attend to any medical conditions you have," the letter over Maj-Gen Petraeus’s name and signature said.
Yup. That's a "no."
Posted by:Fred Pruitt

#7  "Dignity" what regime do we think we're talking to. He was a member of the demento squad. Offer him a blow-up doll, a roll of paper towels, seven jars of Vasaline, six Hustler magazines, unlimited Viagra and soem Neil Diamond records. His entire staff may surrender at once.
Posted by: Super Hose   2003-9-17 8:17:32 PM  

#6  "Fugitive is offered his dignity for surrender"

How can you offer a guy "HIS" dignity? I mean, something which he never had in the first place?
Posted by: True German Ally   2003-9-17 7:31:27 PM  

#5  Maj-Gen Petraeus just offered Sultan Hashim Ahmed a nice honorable surrender and no mistreatment. Nothing else. Nice words, though. Ahmed better take it because that is the best that he will get. We are holding all the cards. On the lam he will be toast.

"Damn, we're in a tight spot!"
-Ulysses Everett McGill in the movie Oh, Brother, where art thou?
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2003-9-17 3:47:28 PM  

#4  Ahmed is this guy: During the 1991 Gulf War, Ahmed, then a lieutenant general, was deputy chief of staff of the Defense Ministry, and was picked by Saddam to head the Iraqi delegation at cease-fire talks at Safwan, an airstrip just north of the Kuwait-Iraq border. Ahmed was responsible for persuading Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf to allow Iraq to use military helicopters on official business. The allies came to regret that decision a month or so later when the Iraqis used helicopter gunships to help quell rebellious Shiites in Basra and Kurds in the north.

Just tell he's got 24 hours to turn himself in or we turn the subject over to the Kurds.
Posted by: Steve   2003-9-17 3:28:04 PM  

#3  How Clintonian
"will not be physically or mentally mistreated while under my custody".

How long does that last? Two hours? Two days? Ahmed...I'd like you to meet Dr's Payne and Hurten. I'll be transferring you to their custody now. You take care...see ya round.
Posted by: Becky   2003-9-17 2:50:32 PM  

#2  Oddly, in the link list at the top of the page, this story appears right above the one about the Princess marrying the acrobat. Evidently the same offer to preserve her dignity was not made.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins   2003-9-17 2:06:53 PM  

#1  Here, take this oral antibiotic giggle juice, er fruit juice, General and that will clear up your inflection, er infection.
Posted by: Anonymous   2003-9-17 1:49:10 PM  

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