Debka says: Saddam tape not what it appears

Debka ^ | 4/4/03 | Debka

[DWPittelli]

Debka HEADLINES

Last Updated on April 4, 2003, 11:07 PM (GMT+02:00)

Iraqi TV shows Saddam Hussein - or his double - visiting bombed residential areas of Baghdad Friday and being greeted by apparently spontaneous crowds

Intelligence analysts suggest man on street not same as man in earlier address over Iraqi TV. Absence of bomb damage could mean street scenes shot earlier.

Iraqi information minister Mohammed al-Saeef threatened “non-conventional” action against US troops at Baghdad airport Friday night. Asked if he meant WMD, he said no. There will be martyrdom operations from which no one will survive.

Shortly after "non-conventional" threat was broadcast, Saddam Hussein appeared in taped speech, calling on people of Baghdad to “do what they can” against invader and promised victory. Thousands continue to flee Baghdad

Tape analysis by intelligence experts indicate speech pre-recorded March 24, about time DEBKAfile reported flight of Iraqi leadership to Latakiya, Syria, showing him alive and unhurt. “Martyrdom” is way Iraqis refer to suicide terrorism

[DWPittelli]

I of course hope that Saddam is incapable of roaming the streets of Baghdad today, because he's either dead, maimed, fled, or afraid to come out (in that order, naturally). (Debka thinks he's fled.)

But it sounds like Debka's letting hope get to its judgement. I can imagine it's a double, or that it's an old (March 24-25) tape, but not both. Debka is speculating that both are true.

Any considered opinions or facts that anyone can share?

Any feedback on whether we should even bother covering Debka?

[ChadGore]

Please don't quote debka as a reliable source.

[ricpic]

On FOX tonight Charles Krauthammer said that Saddam is notorious for being phobic about germs, being touched by strangers, that sort of thing. In the scenes of him in the streets of Baghdad he's being mobbed by the great unwashed. That alone made Krauthammer suspicious.

[Maria S]

Question: I'm unfamiliar with all of the foreign news sources, and I've seen Debka dismissed before. Why is that? Is it an unreliable source of info or...? Just wondering. Thanks for the explanation.

[jraven]

Rumors are Sadaam has opened a camel dealership in Syria. It's called Rent-A-Date.

[Guillermo]

I hope he's alive...so we can capture him and put him on trial.

I can't wait to see the Lefties still defending him to the bitter end.

[finnman69]

Look at this pic.

Its almost 100 degrees in baghdad and this guy on the left is wearing a heavy leather jacket.

OLD TAPE

[Mihalis]

Some people here think of Debka as an unreliable source. The truth is that they have broken some very real stories.

Sorry freepers, I love you all.....but the truth must be told.

[Guillermo]

Debka's come up with some pretty far out stuff in the past.

I don't believe a word they say, although I will scan a post that cites them from time to time.

[harpo11]

Why is it these dictator scum thugs and goons never seem to have any desperate desire to meet Allah and the 72 virgins?

[ricpic]

Here's a good one going around. Yesterday all the WalMarts and K-Marts in Baghdad were closed. They'll be opened tomorrow as Targets.

[PackerBoy]

Maybe the "elite" Republican Gurad will pee themselves while standing at attention.

Makes me smile thinking it, anyway.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Slyfox]

Yeah, it's an old tape. Did you see all the traffic behind him?

[Timesink]

Isn't it coming up to 6AM B-town time?

It's 7:15. It's been morning there for an hour and a half. So much for the "non-conventional action."

[PackerBoy]

Maybe the "elite" Republican Guard will pee themselves while standing at attention.

Makes me smile thinking it, anyway.

[Slyfox]

They just reported that Saddam is calling for suicide bombings.

His own?

[ladyinred]

Excellent observation about the heavy jacket. I think Saddam looks a little strange in the walk about tape.

[FireTrack]

I'm almost positive that I've seen the pictures of SH examining the burning palm before and the tree in the back ground has no leaves at all.