I am wondering about all these "sudden" captures and surrenders. I pose this possibility: It is possible that the Bush Administration believes that some of these people can be placed back into positions of power. The reason for this is because of the Shiites who are sympathetic to Iran. We trust the Shiites about as much as we trust Hillary, and reality may dictate that it is better to offer former Iraqi officials a deal that we can monitor than to let an Iranian sympathetic government take over in Iraq.
Just a theory though, but I just seem to have some nagging doubts.
Ahmed Chalabi has said that not even a majority of Shiites support a mullah-ocracy. These Ba'athists will not appear in the Interim Iraqi Authority. I'll guarantee that. We'll work to build democratic institutions and let leaders develop for elections in the future. The Iraqis will not support any Ba'athists in power. They'll be hanged on the spot.