Iraqis doubt real Hussein behind bars

[Manix]

<snip>

While Iraq's new leaders are planning for what they have dubbed "the trial of the century" and claiming a great victory over the Baathist remnants that are still fighting the U.S.-led occupation, many Iraqis remain deeply skeptical that the former dictator has been caught.

In a country where the press was always controlled by the state, and that is now occupied by a foreign power, people have learned not to trust what they see or hear in the media.

And after watching television news reports during the war that talked of Iraqi military victories — even as U.S. troops were entering Baghdad — many now believe they're still being fed lies. A fuel tanker that exploded in Baghdad Wednesday, killing 10, was first reported as another suicide bombing — then downgraded by U.S. military officials to a mere accident, further adding to the disbelief surrounding Mr. Hussein's arrest.

<snip>

Mr. Ahmed, an athlete who knew Mr. Hussein's oldest son Uday personally, says he is positive the person the United States is parading as their prize catch is not the former dictator. Mr. Hussein is known to have a tiny tattoo on his left hand, but in the relentlessly replayed video that shows him having his throat checked by a U.S. Army medic — the video that most of the world accepts as footage of the humbled former dictator — the markings are not apparent as Mr. Hussein strokes his straggly beard.

It's not the only detail that disbelievers have seized on. Others find it strange that Mr. Hussein's hair is black in the footage, but his beard is white.

"Everyone knows that Saddam dyes his hair, but after eight months hiding in a hole, it's still black?" asked Diaa, a 37-year-old taxi driver who gave only his first name. "Tell me how this is possible.



http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20031218.wiraq-saddam1218/BNStory/International/

[PennyLane]

1. Iraqi's aren't the only ones..........

That has crossed my mind a thousand times this week. it would be just
like that Bush bunch to get the wrong guy and then pawn this imposter
off as the real McCoy!

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. What is amazing is that many

Americans and Iraqis share one thing in common, albeit for different reasons. This is a very healthy distrust of the Media... and no this
is not good news of any sort for us...or the occupation or anything like this

[rooboy]

3. Count me in too...

I'm having a little trouble accepting all of this at "face value" too (no pun intended).

[truthisfreedom]

4. hmm. it'll be interesting to see what color his hair is after months of

interrogation and no access to hair dye. let's take a peek at him during the "trial."

[Fleshdancer]

5. the black hair caught my attention early on

remember months ago when either the admin or the cia handed out photos to the news networks of possible saddam disguises? some with grey hair, another with a beard, or with the mustache shaved, etc.

everyone made a big stink about how saddam dyes his hair. it makes sense given his age, but at the time I thought it was a stupid point to fixate on. now, since it's still jet black after all this time, it ends up being exactly what I fixate on. odd. (okay, fixate is too strong of a word, but you know what I mean)

[David__77]

6. I think Saddam Hussein is in captivity.

I don't think that means that every purported image of him is legitimate. There is a public relations war going on as well, and we should be aware of that fact when evaluating "news."

[LiberalBushFan]

8. either dead or in captivity

If it's a look-alike, I'm sure they have the real Saddam somewhere; otherwise he could just make another video.

[Emillereid]

7. Curiouser and curiouser --I'm beginning to wonder if it was a rabbit hole

that this Hussein came out of, not a rat hole. Now -- I can't remember, which pill will let me in on reality?

"Others find it strange that Mr. Hussein's hair is black in the footage, but his beard is white." I too have found this discrepancy hard to fathom -- I mean I figure a guy on the lamb who has the wherewithal to color his hair and eyebrows might have thought to have it cut or washed or at least combed. I mean it offered no disguise -- the man still looked like Hussein.

[tkmorris]

9. One theory

I have a theory. I believe that the real Hussein was killed way back in the initial bombings but was never recovered. Perhaps there wasn't enough left to identify or his remains were simply buried en masse with all the others. Remember we targetted him many times and never did know if we got him while Baghdad was still in Iraqi hands.

However now that the occupation is lingering on and the opposition grows braver, the US top admin has decided it needs closure. It needs a political victory, plus it needs to dash the will of the resistance.

Security briefing, mid-November:

"Damnit if we could just PROVE Saddam was dead, those damned Iraqi nutballs would stop this crap. Do they really think they can beat us with RPG's and IED's?"

"Well, no, they don't. But they don't seem to care. They are fanatics."

"The worst part is if this shit keeps up they WILL beat us. Every time an American soldier dies over there the Dems grow bolder and the voters get more uneasy. We are gonna lose this thing if we don't make something happen, and RIGHT NOW".

"Say George, I think I have an idea that will accomplish both of those things. It's kinda risky but if we can pull it off we will seal the election and take the steam out of those ragheads as well. Remember those 'Saddam lookalikes' we put on ice for interrogation?"...........


Hey, it could have happened.

:evilgrin:

[Old and In the Way]

10. Who really knows? I don't. I've seen so many Saddams, I'm not sure.

I've only seen a single post shave/haircut pic and that looked nothing like the guy Rather interviewed last February.

Do you think the $750,000 of brand new US greenbacks was provided for image reinforcement? Wouldn't be money from Halliburton...love to check the serial #s on the cash, though...

[RebelOne]

11. But supposedly the DNA tests identified him as Saddam.

At least that's what was on the TV news.

[Dhalgren]

12. LOL! Good one!

I spewed coffee all over my 'pute. :bounce:

[Skittles]

17. YES

the same people who tell us Bush is a REAL PRESIDENT.

[loudnclear]

13. Now ust sit back and wait for the new video tape...hmmmm

If none comes forth...they've got him! And they have had him for at least 8 weeks.

[Robb]

14. Man, this got me:

"In a country where the press was always controlled by the state, and that is now occupied by a foreign power, people have learned not to trust what they see or hear in the media."

I know how they feel.

[0007]

15. Why are they calling Ahmed Chalabi, "Mr. Ahmed?"

A photo of Chalabi and Saddam was taken this morning in Saddam's cell

This is a bullshit article, armed to distract the attenion from 911 and Thomas Kean.

Don't Buy into this article. This is a Karl Rove trick!!!!

[0007]

16. Google Mr. Ahmed and see what you get!!

"Mr. Ahmed, an athlete who knew Mr. Hussein's oldest son Uday personally, says he is positive the person the United States is parading as their prize catch is not the former dictator."

How long was Ahmed Chalabi exiled? How old is Uday? Who is Mr. Ahmed?

The U.S. may have a fake Saddam Hussein, but this story is also a fake.

[GiovanniC]

20. Jassim Abu Ahmed, not Ahmed Chalabi

Karl Rove has one hand up puppet Bush's ass, and the other hand up puppet Chalabi's ass. Chalabi would never say the things that Jassim Abu Ahmed is saying.

=====================================================================

Jassim Abu Ahmed almost spits his disgust at the television set showing yet another image of the dazed and bedraggled Saddam Hussein.

"It's not him," Mr. Ahmed says, waving his hand and looking away from the screen. "Everybody knows it's not him. Why do they keep showing this?"

=====================================================================

[robbedvoter]

18. Can you spel "credilibity gap"? Will morticians be brought to make up

bum Saddam into bad Saddam?

[pippin]

19. "people have learned not to trust what they see or hear in the media"

the Iraqis must be a whole lot smarter than most people here in the US with their faith in Faux!

[damnraddem]

21. He did have a number of doubles.

How did the U.S. verify that this is Saddam and not a double? Did they have a sample of his DNA on file? Fingerprints? Dental records?