[Diogenesis]

Target rich environments.

[neutrino]

Elite units would be kept in Baghdad to hold the Americans at the capital's gates.

Or, perhaps, to act as his personal bodyguard until he can change clothes and attempt to escape....

[mhking]

Saddam Hussein is convinced that a U.S. attack on Iraq is inevitable

Hunker down, my butt - Saddam is planning his escape. I'm sure we'll end up finding him in Pakistan or Morocco or Brazil or Cuba...

Unless we can cover up the buildup, Saddam'll bail as soon as an attack looks imminent. He'll leave his son in charge, and make sure he's nice and cozy -- and where WE can't get him.

[G.Mason]

"Elite units would be kept in Baghdad to hold the Americans at the capital's gates."

Not the "dreaded" elite units!

What's this Alistair Lyon, Middle East Diplomatic Correspondent, trying to do?

Change definitions in the English language?

[Looking for Diogenes]

NO INCENTIVE TO PLAY BALL

I think we're all tired of playing ball with Saddam Hussein.

[mhking]

President Widmark: [reading] "Declaration of War... the short form."

--from "The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai Across the 8th Dimension"

[justlurking]

With his survival at stake, Saddam has taken extra care to avoid any action that could undermine Arab support or give Washington an easy pretext for unleashing an attack.

Sounds like the threats are having exactly the desired effect. As long as Saddam behaves himself, there's no reason to invade Iraq.

Nothing pacifies an aggressor more quickly than "looking down the barrel of a gun".

[yendu bwam]

Hey there Saddam - you can hide, but you can't run! Game's almost over.