Saddam need not be captured for regime change: US

The Times of Oman ^ | September 28, 2002 | AFP

[stilts]

ATLANTA (Georgia) — US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said yesterday that the United States does not have to capture Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to successfully carry out its “regime change” campaign. Rumsfeld added that the swiftness of any US effort to remove Saddam from power will hinge on how quickly the Iraqi people grasp the chance to be “liberated”.

The defence secretary said Saddam’s voluntary departure would be the preferred course.

“If he’s on the run, he’s not governing Iraq,” Rumsfeld said in an interview with an Atlanta television station. “The goal is to free those people.”

Rumsfeld’s remarks on dissent within Iraq were the latest intimation that the Pentagon is planning a narrowly focused campaign seeking to isolate Iraq’s leadership from its population and the military.

The Pentagon announced plans on Wednesday to give military training to Iraqi opposition groups. — AFP

[stilts]

In one sense, it is good for Saddam to think he can survive even if he loses as it may serve as somewhat of a deterent to use WMD. During Desert Storm he did not use these weapons for fear of the US response. If, however, he were to think that we weren't stopping until he was captured or dead than he might think he has nothing to lose this time around and use them.

[alaskanfan]

“If he’s on the run, he’s not governing Iraq,”

If he's dead, he's not governing Iraq.

[Mudboy Slim]

Sodom shall be murdered by his own people, most likely carried out by a renegade faction within the Republican Guard...and little other blood will be lost in achieving the Iraqi Regime Change.

Quite Sincerely...MUD

[Shermy]

The exile idea seems to be popping about lately.

[Vidalia]

Capturing the Saddam dog? What a waste of manpower!

We have newer, more smart weapons that will simply do this to him and his doubles, one at a time...:

[Norman Arbuthnot]

The defence secretary said Saddam’s voluntary departure would be the preferred course.

Exile, that sounds good. But where? Hmmm, there are many tempting BLUE STATE locations, but I suggest the government buy him a house right next to Barbara Streisand.

Alternates include the following:
Berkeley, CA
Cambridge, MA
Paterson, NJ

[11B3]

I'm hoping that someone in Saddam's cabinet is actually on our payroll, and once the attack starts he just caps old Saddam. We've got to get the sons as well as they are probably even more twisted than their father.

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

I envision a new sitcom for must-see-TV. "My Neighbor the Megalomaniac", or something along those lines. Or maybe "That's my Hussein!", modelled after the short-lived Comedy Central series "That's my Bush!".

Or how about an update on "The Odd Couple", with Saddam and Osama as roommates -- Hussein, pathologically afraid of germs, living with perennial caveman bin Laden? Think of the wacky hijinks that will ensue!

[The Great Satan]

In one sense, it is good for Saddam to think he can survive even if he loses as it may serve as somewhat of a deterent to use WMD. During Desert Storm he did not use these weapons for fear of the US response.

You got that bass-ackwards. We didn't take him out, for fear of his response.

[The Great Satan]

Killing Saddam Hussein, or at very least bombing him out of his palaces and into hiding -- which would also achieve the stated aim of regime change -- is, militarily, a trivially easy task for the United States. The problem is, we are afraid of what will happen if we kill him. And no wonder:

THIS IS NEXT
WE HAVE THIS ANTHRAX
YOU CAN NOT STOP US

[Kensei]

Strongly encouraging Sadam to leave for a safe harbor isn't with precident. VD Idi Amin went into cushy exile in Saudi Arabia after things got too hot for him in Uganda. Napolean was exiled to St. Helena. Clinton was exiled to NY. Sadam would fit right in if he were persuaded to go to Zambia. ;)

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Strongly encouraging Sadam to leave for a safe harbor isn't with precident. VD Idi Amin went into cushy exile in Saudi Arabia after things got too hot for him in Uganda. Napolean was exiled to St. Helena. Clinton was exiled to NY. Sadam would fit right in if he were persuaded to go to Zambia. ;)

Hey, don't add Clinton to that list.........

that will give the others a bad name!

[Travis McGee]

Saddam is going to end up like Ceaucescu and Mussolini.

[Mudboy Slim]

"Sodom is going to end up like Ceaucescu and Mussolini."

Yep...MUD