Iraq's Ex-information chief blames message, not the messenger (no infidels in Baghdad!)

The Seattle Times ^ | 6/29/03 | staff

[ppaul]

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iraq's former information minister, who gained notoriety during the war for wildly implausible claims of victory, surfaced yesterday and said he was given bad information by his sources. Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf had denied that U.S. tanks were in Baghdad even as television pictures showed them in the capital. "There is no presence of American infidels in the city of Baghdad," al-Sahhaf asserted outside the Palestine Hotel on April 7.

Baghdad fell April 9.

Al-Sahhaf, who dropped from sight after the war, surfaced with interviews with the Al-Arabiya satellite network and Abu Dhabi television. He did not directly back down from some of his obvious misstatements, telling Al-Arabiya he got his information, he said: "From authentic sources. Many authentic sources." He told Abu Dhabi television he had always been convinced of what he said — only the information he was given hadn't always been good.

He said he had surrendered to American forces, was questioned and let go.

Al-Sahhaf is not on the list of the 55 most wanted Iraqi officials.

Defense Department spokesman Col. Jay DeFrank said the U.S. Central Command had no information on al-Sahhaf being in American custody.

[Savage Beast]

"wildly implausible claims"

"given bad information by his sources"

Muslims seem to have a chronic problem with this sort of thing. Ever notice that?

[netmilsmom]

He surrendered and we let him go???
Why didn't we turn him over to Lorne Michaels??

[ErnBatavia]

He's mulling over a "book deal"...

[ewing]

And a spot as Jimmy Kimmel's permanent Ed Macmahon sidekick on ABC..

[Smile-n-Win]

Hehe, nice to see that Baghdad Bob's comedy skills are still in perfect shape!

[A. Pole]

He did not directly back down from some of his obvious misstatements, telling Al-Arabiya he got his information, he said: "From authentic sources. Many authentic sources." He told Abu Dhabi television he had always been convinced of what he said — only the information he was given hadn't always been good.

Hmm.

[holden]

"Many authentic sources." He told Abu Dhabi television he had always been convinced of what he said.

Few doubted he believed what he said, or that his sources were anything but authentic.

The point was always how extraordinarily, recklessly ignorant of the truth those sources and his statesments were despite what could be known through readily accessible sources that were less given to mendacious propaganda.   But, that was the nature and essence of the Saddamn regime on display to the world.   Thanks, Bob!

HF