Report: Saddam Still Alive (but Qusai dead)

Newsday ^ | March 21, 2003 | Knute Royce

[HAL9000]

EXCERPT -

Washington -- U.S. intelligence officials are confident that a cruise missile attack at dawn Thursday killed several members of Saddam Hussein's inner circle, perhaps including one of his sons, but that Hussein himself is still alive, according to intelligence sources.

They said that they believe Hussein's son Qusai, who was recently placed in charge of the defense of the Baghdad and Tikrit region, as well as one of Hussein's most trusted lieutenants, Izzat Ibrahim, may have been among those killed when cruise missiles hit a residential compound in the opening salvo of the war.

Officials told The Associated Press they are confident Hussein and his sons were in the compound when it was struck and that medical attention was summoned afterward, but that it is unclear for whom the medical attention was called. The officials said there was no evidence that Hussein, or anyone else, was in overall command of Iraq?s security or military operations in the aftermath of the attack Thursday night.

One of the sources said a clandestine U.S. team eyeballed the compound after the strike and concluded that "no one came out of the rubble.

[ChocChipCookie]

And, on that happy note, I'll go to bed.

[bootless]

So far, so good.

Izzat Ibrahim?

No, 'zat Joe. :-) Sorry. 'Night.

[ex-Texan]

The report also says:

The source who said everyone was killed in the compound agreed the CIA has no confirmation on who was killed. He agreed Qusai was "a candidate" and another apparent victim was Ibrahim, deputy head of the ruling Revolutionary Command Council since Hussein seized power in 1979. "He was one of the people believed to be in the ... compound," he said. Ibrahim is one of the few members of the inner council to have survived Hussein's frequent purges and also survived an assassination attempt in 1998.

So the story in inconsistent internally. It amounts to a no followed by a maybe followed by an admission of guesswork

[bucephalus]

If this is true, it's great. Qusay is the younger brother and much more clever and dangerous (to us - to Iraqis Uday, the loose cannon, was more dangerous). I just had a revelation: a valid comparison could be made to the Corleone brother. Sonny (James Caan), the eldest, is impetuous thus foolish. Michael (Al Pacino) is quiet and lethal.

[MHGinTN]

I'm still not convinced that the remains of demon of Baghdad have been dug out from the rubble.

[John Robinson]

Two down one to go?

[HAL9000]

Considering the source, that report about Uday's "brain hemorrhage" seems doubtful - but we can hope.

[mvonfr]

Wash Times:The U.S. official told The Times there are intelligence reports that his elder son, Uday, was killed.

[Porterville]

[John Robinson]

I've lost track of time. Is this bunker bombing before or after Uday's reported death? I wouldn't doubt this demon-man would provoke his own death, however, if this report is, well, almost truthful, I would guess 20 tons of building coming down on one's head would provide for a similarly described demise.

Perhaps Saddam only almost narrowly escaped. One could only hope for such a swift end to war.

[Straight Vermonter]

CBS radio is report that us officials are "confident Saddam was in the bunker".

[Enduring Freedom]

"Mr. President?"

He looks away from the window, arms crossed, shoulders low.

"Yes?"

"Your pen, sir."

He smiles, and moves slowly across the room towards the large walnut desk.

Leaning deep into the leather, he slides open a drawer and places a sheet of White House stationery on the desk, turning it towards her.

She points.

"Quasi?"

"Yes, sir".

He draws a bold purple line across the page.

Returning the pen, he says "Keep it warm."

[Ken H]

Is Saddam truly dead, or just Qusai dead?

[joebuck]

"Is Saddam truly dead, or just Qusai dead?"

Well, after reading the confusing and conflicting reports above, here are the two points that most stuck out to me:

"CBS radio is report that us officials are "confident Saddam was in the bunker".

and

"One of the sources said a clandestine U.S. team eyeballed the compound after the strike and concluded that "no one came out of the rubble."

I rather enjoyed connecting those dots.

[irish guard]

Last night, one of the news shows (at about 10:30 CST) had Richard Shelby (R) Alabama on, who made an interesting statement when asked about Saddam. He said, "well, we need to confirm waht 'we believe' and then we can talk about that"...Shelby is a darn good spook in his own right, but that sure made it sound like we believe Saddam is dead.

[theDentist]

I'll believe it when I see his head on a pike
planted outside the entryway of the U.N.

[Eazy-E]

I really like the Sonny-Udai / Michael-Qusai comparison.
Right on the money... that's exactly what I think.

Saddam is Tony Montana.