Article

2003-03-21 Iraq

Saddam was âinside compound hit by missilesâ

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Bulldog 2003-03-21 08:36 am|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Perhaps that tape was actually a rehersal tape he was making for a speech to be performed later. That would account for the disheveled look, the glasses, posture and notepad.

Posted by mg 2003-03-21 07:41:59|| 2003-03-21 07:41:59|| Front Page Top

#2 Sammy does TV all the time. He does not need a to rehearse. I think we need a plausible explanation of the fact that the Sammy mentioned the date on the tape before jumping to any conclusions. I saw at story that the he CIA authenticated the voice on the tape.

Posted by JAB 2003-03-21 08:50:12|| 2003-03-21 08:50:12|| Front Page Top

#3 If you were going to plan ahead this way, you'd do a few takes mentioning certain, likely, dates, for added "authenticity". That's easy. Did he mention times or specific details of the attacks? Anything at all besides the date? I didn't hear or read transcripts of the speech, so I don't know. "Saddam" did look very odd to my eyes. When he's on the box again, I hope he's got foreign newspaper front pages taped to his chest or I'll remain suspicious. Hell, I'll still be suspicious.

Posted by Bulldog 2003-03-21 09:00:47|| 2003-03-21 09:00:47|| Front Page Top

#4 "I'd like to thank the Academy, my producer, my director, and most especially my dear sons, without whom none of this would have been possible."

Posted by Chuck 2003-03-21 09:50:09|| [blog.simmins.org] 2003-03-21 09:50:09|| Front Page Top

#5 Seems to me that the tape may well have been a rehearsal, not because Sammy needed to practice, but to time the speech. This is often done with a first draft of a TV script, which would explain the relative informality. Then when he got whacked they sent somebody for the rehearsal tape.
Not necessarily, the case, maybe, but plausible.

Posted by Colin 2003-03-21 10:51:49|| 2003-03-21 10:51:49|| Front Page Top

#6 He had 48 hours to prepare a fake tape in case of his death.

However, while that trick can work for Osama, I don't see why it should work for Saddam. Osama's largely just a figurehead; Saddam's the real deal---commander in chief and all. If he and his spawn were dead, who would benefit by keeping up the charade?

Posted by Angie Schultz 2003-03-21 10:55:25|| [darkblogules.blogspot.com] 2003-03-21 10:55:25|| Front Page Top

#7 'xactly my thoughts, Angie. At best, he's lightly injured and sedated, with relatives watching the store for him. There's been no coordinated operations on the Iraqui side, almost as if nobody really wants to do anything and be second guessed by Saddam when he revives.

or IF he revives. Would the doctor tell the truth to the sons, given the kind of father they have?

Posted by Ptah 2003-03-21 11:02:20|| 2003-03-21 11:02:20|| Front Page Top

#8 Saddam also sees himself as a figurehead, a lattterday Saladin (in Iraq, I assume it's forbidden to remember he was a Kurd). He'd love to be frustrating the west, even from beyond the "grave". And there's still a family and a regime of loyal supporters to protect. He couldn't assume his sons would go down with him. This could be a double, being used as a Ba'athist tool, as per usual.

Posted by Bulldog 2003-03-21 11:06:44|| 2003-03-21 11:06:44|| Front Page Top

#9 Colin, that seems to ring true...that it was a dress rehersal and the curtains fell before his little show went on.

Posted by becky 2003-03-21 11:09:24|| 2003-03-21 11:09:24|| Front Page Top

#10 I would suspect that everything we see of Saddam is taped previously (before a dead studio audience, ha!). Live broadcasts are too dangerous because they would pinpoint his location.

Posted by john 2003-03-21 11:43:13|| 2003-03-21 11:43:13|| Front Page Top

#11 Did anyone see the movie Dave?

Posted by Yank 2003-03-21 11:56:31|| 2003-03-21 11:56:31|| Front Page Top

#12 I have. I thought about that the moment the possiblity of a double was broached.

Posted by Ptah 2003-03-21 14:14:00|| 2003-03-21 14:14:00|| Front Page Top

#13 CNN just had a piture of one of his bedrooms. Gawd! It's so.....GAY!

Posted by tu3031 2003-03-21 22:44:54|| 2003-03-21 22:44:54|| Front Page Top

11:43 Osay
23:36 carol
12:48 Darla
19:56 Leanne
09:19 raptor
06:28 RW
03:31 Peter
00:56 Anonymous
00:51 Anonymous
23:58 mojo
23:36 Anonon
23:28 Anonon
23:14 Tex
23:07 Tex
23:06 Don
22:44 tu3031
22:31 tu3031
22:28 someone
22:24 tu3031
22:37 Fred
22:36 tu3031
22:17 tu3031
22:17 Anonymous
22:16 Anonymous