U.S. commander: Tip led to Saddam capture

AP | 12/14/03 | ALEKSANDAR VASOVIC

[kattracks]

TIKRIT, Iraq (AP) — Saddam Hussein was captured based on information from a member of a family "close to him," Maj. Gen. Raymond Odierno said Sunday.

Odierno, the commander of the 4th Infantry Division that captured Saddam, said over the last 10 days soldiers have questioned "five to 10 members" of families "close to Saddam."

"Finally we got the ultimate information from one of these individuals," he said.

About 600 soldiers under his command conducted the raid Saturday night in a farm near the village of Adwar, finding Saddam in a hole covered by Styrofoam and a carpet beside a two-room shack, Odierno said.

When soldiers pulled the bearded man from the hole, he said, "he was very much bewildered."

Saddam carried a pistol but offered no resistance and taken south by helicopter about an hour after he was pulled from his hiding place, Odierno said.

"He was just caught like a rat," he said. "When you're in the bottom of a hole you can't fight back."

Odierno said intelligence indicated the target of the raid was Saddam himself.

"We thought it was Saddam," he said.

But he said the soldiers participating in the raid didn't know who the target was until he was captured.

The forces found no telephones, radios or other communications devices in Saddam's hideout, which Odierno said affirmed his suspicions that the captured dictator could not have been leading the anti-U.S. insurgency on a large scale.

"I believe he was there more for moral support," Odierno said. "I don't believe he was coordinating the effort because I don't believe there's any national coordination."

[Tijeras_Slim]

"When you're in the bottom of a hole you can't fight back."

Would someone please inform John Kerry of this...

[clamboat]

The forces found no telephones, radios or other communications devices in Saddam's hideout, which Odierno said affirmed his suspicions that the captured dictator could not have been leading the anti-U.S. insurgency on a large scale.

"I believe he was there more for moral support," Odierno said. "I don't believe he was coordinating the effort because I don't believe there's any national coordination."

That' not something people on FR want to hear. So the capture of Saddam may have no effect on the attacks against our troops.

[MizSterious]

He can't hear you. He's still digging in deeper.

[Burkeman1]

Someone in his family is 25 million richer.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Hand him a bigger shovel. :)

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Saddam Hussein was captured based on information from a member of a family "close to him."

Looks like when Hillary visited him on her Iraq trip, Saddam refused to continuing making the payments.

[Teacher317]

SOMEONE'S going to have some extra cash for Christmas, err, Ramadan this year!

[DeltaWeasel]

Kerry also needs to know one more thing..... I know a doctor who can fix his um.... SPECIAL issues. :-)

[Teacher317]

That' not something people on FR want to hear. So the capture of Saddam may have no effect on the attacks against our troops.

It will still have an effect. Morale is a very important factor, especially for guerilla fighting.

[Burkeman1]

It will take some time to determine that. But the pyscological impact of his capture on the Iraqi people might aide significantly in counter insurgency efforts. Now that there is no possibility of his return to power- Iraqis might breath easier and be more prone to cooperate with our forces.

[Blueflag]

I disagree - morale is a big piece of motivation.

This hurts morale of opfor big time.

[alloysteel]

is the person that passed along the tip going to be eligible for the $25 million?

[ErnBatavia]

Saddam's last palace

[mrebel2k]

I'm in awe. Such a day of validation.

[matrix2225]

Someone is getting 25 milliong. Anyhow, Marry Christmas USA!

[Publius6961]

I can only assume that the $25 million this tipster has coming to him/her will come out of that trunkful of cash that was found with Saddam Insane...

[lainie]

I've been looking for pictures of the cellar. Anybody seen any yet?

[kattracks]

Look here.

[VOA]

SOMEONE'S going to have some extra cash for Christmas, err, Ramadan this year!

Reporter with microphone: "Now that you've collected millions in ranson money, what's next?"

Informer on Saddam: "I, the four wives and our 27 kids are going to Disney Land!"