Inside Red Dawn - Saddam up close

[windansea]

By Evan Thomas and Babak Dehghanpisheh
NewsweekDec. 29/Jan. 5 issue - The Special Forces commando had already pulled the pin. He was primed to toss the grenade into the "spider hole," a Vietnam-era nickname for lethal hiding places. But the man cowering inside did not use the pistol resting in his lap. He raised both hands in submission and, speaking in English, announced, "I am Saddam Hussein, I am the president of Iraq and I'm willing to negotiate."

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3770218/

Newsweek account....hmmm..no dates in this pic at the spidey hole

[GR]

1. Test

test

[daleo]

2. Slight change in the official story

No more "president sends his regards", but instead a struggling Hussein who gets a punch in the head. Also, no mention of Kurds in this one.

That styrofoam still needs two guys to lift it, in the picture. Seems odd.

[windansea]

3. kurdish konspiracy theorists??

inquiring minds want to know

[daleo]

6. Claim is Kurds found Saddam

Various sources today (Sunday Herald, etc.) are saying that the Kurds were the ones who were instrumental in locating Hussein, and gave his location to the U.S., probably in exchange for political considerations. This Newsweek article makes absolutely no mention of Kurds. I suppose the lack of mention of this could be thought of as a conspiracy, in as much as the Bush administration would prefer the notion that the U.S. military did this entirely on its own.

I am not claiming that I know what the truth is behind the story - just that Newsweek seems behind the curve on this Kurd angle.

As for the bit about the styrofoam. I just wonder how heavy that styrofoam actually was.

[Military Brat]

4. That's the first time I've heard the word "cowering" used

This is more about embarrassing Saddam Hussein at this point than anything else. The Iraqi pride will not rest lightly on these continuing insults, no matter how much they hate the man.

I had read about the grenade tactic in another news article. It's a wonder he didn't toss it in and yell, "Merry Christmas from bush!"

[windansea]

5. SOP

Yes..amazing isn't it?

[54anickel]

7. Seems like the producer keeps editing the script to the mini-series

[Manix]

8. ...it may take a while longer for the real story to evolve....

I guess McDermott was right!!

[teach1st]

9. Does Hussein speak English?

Was Saddam was just messing with Dan Rather. Or maybe he had memorized tue "willing to negotiate" phrase in anticipation of his capture.

He raised both hands in submission and, speaking in English, announced, "I am Saddam Hussein, I am the president of Iraq and I'm willing to negotiate."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/26/60II/main542166.shtml

2/24/03 Interview

Rather: Mr. President, I hope you will take this question in the spirit in which it's asked. First of all, I regret that I do not speak Arabic. Do you speak any-- any English at all?

Saddam Hussein: (In Arabic…) Have some coffee

Translator for Saddam Hussein: Americans like coffee….

Rather: That's true and this American likes coffee.

Saddam Hussein: I am sorry, I do not speak English - fluently. But I can understand to some extent.

Rather: Well, would you speak some English for me? Anything you choose?

Saddam Hussein: Our language is Arabic.

[windansea]

10. no idea n/t