Breaking news: Saddam captured?

[DaBeeeenster]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/3317429.stm

This could be a turning point...Very big news

Edit: More links from the US...

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/...ain/index.html

Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has possibly been captured in a raid near his hometown of Tikrit, U.S. officials say.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,105706,00.html

Saddam Hussein (search), the former Iraqi dictator and most-wanted figure by the U.S.-led coalition, has been captured in Iraq, U.S. officials believe.

[Skeps]

Lets just hope that its true eh.

[spikegifted]

Well, it is a well-known secret that there are a few look-alikes of his running around... Only time will tell.

[DaBeeeenster]

Indeed. I'm not sure how the capture of Saddam will affect things in Iraq. It will no doubt have a big effect on the morale of the US troops, but I'm not sure what it will actually change "on the ground". Will things get better, worse, or stay the same?

[DaBeeeenster]

Just been confirmed by Teflon Tony according to BBC News 24...

Edit. An interesting point made by a geezer on News24. They are talking about trying Saddam for war crimes in Iraq. OK fine. But what when Saddam calls Donald Rumsfeld and the other pro-Iraqi cohorts from the Reagan administration?

The US was a strong backer of Saddam and Iraq during the 80's, including the time that he attacked the kurds with chemical weapons in 88.

If he is to be given a fair trial, surely if he calls Rumsfeld as a defence witness, he would have to testify?

[walibe]

Things on the ground will likely now improve. They will probably surge first before trailing off. They will not end altogether however.

[p0lish]

That is a major blow to the Iraq's opposition and a major coalition success. I only wonder who will take over after Saddam is gone....

[DaBeeeenster]

<semi sarcastic but also semi serious>
Another pro-American puppet?
</semi sarcastic but also semi serious>

[Skii]

I just hope to God this now ends it all and America can get out of there, this could be way forward now.

[joshwa]

Originally posted by DaBeeeenster
Just been confirmed by Teflon Tony according to BBC News 24...

Edit. An interesting point made by a geezer on News24. They are talking about trying Saddam for war crimes in Iraq. OK fine. But what when Saddam calls Donald Rumsfeld and the other pro-Iraqi cohorts from the Reagan administration?

The US was a strong backer of Saddam and Iraq during the 80's, including the time that he attacked the kurds with chemical weapons in 88.

If he is to be given a fair trial, surely if he calls Rumsfeld as a defence witness, he would have to testify?

someone on bbc news24 (live) just said he would be tried in Iraq, and the likely outcome would be he'd be put to death.

[acidrainy]

Sounds as if the DNA tests returned +ve

[Saracen]

I think this is very good news - except for Saddam and his close supporters that is.

It's certainly good news for the US and, judging by the TV coverage, a fair few Iraqi's are chuffed to bits too. It'll undoubtedly make it easier for the US exit strategy, as it would have been harder for the US to pull out with Saddam still on the loose.

As for the trial, well, that is still fraught with problems. Who tries him? The US? That, I think, would be totally unacceptable in the eyes of just about everyone, and quite possibly undesirable even to the US and the US Administration.

So, trial by Iraqi's? That would certainly have far more credibility, but would he get a fair trial? After all, it's rather like having the cat tried by a jury of mice. Perhaps they'd want vengeance.

An international trial, then? Probably the most impartial solution but how would it go down with the Iraqi people and by the wider Arab world? Would it be seen as fair or as a stitch-up?

This process must not oly be fair, but must be seen to be fair by all.


As for the situation on the ground in Iraq, long-term, I think it can only be good. But I doubt it will stop the attacks on US (or coalition) troops ..... at least, not directly. It may well demoralise Saddam supporters, at least in the medium/long term, but will it demoralise the foreign 'terrorists' going to Iraq? I doubt it. My feeling is that they aren't there to support Saddam, they are there to take a swipe at US forces and Iraq is currently about the easiest place for them to do that.


Long term, however, I think this capture has ONE major benefit. It makes it easier and safer to hand Iraq back to the Iraqi's and let THEM decide what to make of their country. Iraq OUGHT to be highly prosperous, and maybe IF a moderate, non-partisan government can be set up to represent the will of the Iraqi people, it will be in the future.

But what government will that be? Overtly democratic? Clerical? Personally, I have no desire to see a fundamentalist religious government in Iraq BUT that has to be a decision for the Iraqi people. I think that all the West OUGHT to do it set up a system to allow the Iraqi people to GENUINELY chose how they want to be governed. If THEY chose a religious government, then that should be their right,and THEIR right alone.

Personally, I think the number 1 objective is to give Iraq back to the Iraqi people and get US/UK etc troops the hell out, as fast as practically possible. THAT, if anything will, should stop the foreign terrorists operating in Iraq. Saddams capture is a boon, if anything, because it eases the progress towards that objective.

[Punky]

in a way, i think this is good. as long as saddam gets a full, fair trial for his atrocities. also, america has fulfilled its mission now in iraq, so they should pull out, which aint likely.

[walibe]

, so they should pull out, which aint likely.

They can't leave the country as it is, there is much work to do before the country can run itself, most of which is a new government choosen by the Iraqi people.

Watching the news there does seem to be alot of genuine celebration, people want to move on now and return their country to a relative normality.

Interesting times...

[RedPutty]

they at least have to clean up the mess they've made, if they can.

I supsect the occupying us forces care more about getting the oil running reliably though somehow.

[walibe]

they at least have to clean up the mess they've made, if they can.

Bit of an ill informed opinion. Most of the effort has gone into keeping water flowing.