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Leading analysts and political commentators agree the capture of Saddam Hussein represents a coup for the US but questions remain about its repercussions. Mustafa Alani, analyst at Royal United Services Institute in London: "There will be a reduction in operations sponsored by former regime loyalists, but this is not the full story because they are not the only group involved. It won't affect those by Iraqi or Arab mujahidin and might increase them because those who did not want to be branded as supporters of Saddam might now join a resistance with a more nationalist dimension. For the Americans, after...

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — U.S. officials said they still haven't decided what to do with Saddam Hussein now that he's been captured, but one option is putting him before a special tribunal established just days ago. A member of Iraq's Governing Council said Saddam would face public trial. Iraq's interim government established a special tribunal Wednesday to try top members of Saddam's government for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. At the time, they said Saddam could be tried in absentia. Lt. Gen. Richardo Sanchez said at a news conference Sunday that the U.S.-led coalition was still deciding what...

US President George W. Bush views Saddam Hussein's capture as a major victory, a senior aide said, but the White House refused to predict an end to deadly attacks on US troops in Iraq. Bush first got word of the raid that netted the ousted dictator from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who telephoned the president Saturday at the Camp David retreat in nearby Maryland's Catoctin mountains, a senior aide said. At 5 am (1000 GMT) on Sunday, White House national security adviser Condoleezza Rice gave him "final confirmation" that the man captured was in fact Saddam Hussein, the aide said...

Photos below are for comparison purposes only: they are not the spider hole(s) Saddam was found in. But one can see how the name is derived. First we see a REAL SPIDER's "hole", a trapdoor used for hiding. Next we see a military "spider hole" with a trapdoor for a person to hide in.

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Jacques Chirac says he is delighted at the arrest of Saddam Hussein by U.S.-led forces in Iraq and believes it will clear the way for Iraqis to rule Iraq. "The president is delighted at the arrest of Saddam Hussein. This is a major event which should strongly contribute to the democratisation and the stabilisation of Iraq and allow the Iraqis to once more be masters of their destiny in a sovereign Iraq," Chirac said in remarks transmitted by telephone by his spokeswoman Catherine Colonna. Chirac strongly opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and the issue...

CAIRO (Reuters) - Arabs greeted the capture of Saddam Hussein with divided emotions Sunday, welcoming the arrest of a dictator yet tinged with regret that a symbol of Arab defiance against the United States was behind bars.Some feared Saddam's capture would boost President Bush, who many Arabs believe has waged a campaign against them and other Muslims after the September 11 attacks. But others said the fight against U.S. occupation would go on."It is happy news but we wish it were the Iraqi people who had captured him, not U.S. troops, because this will give Bush a boost in the...

Wall Street to Rally on Saddam's Capture 41 minutes ago Add Business - Reuters to My Yahoo! By Bill Rigby and William Kemble-Diaz NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Stocks look ready to rally when the market opens on Monday after the capture of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites). In fact, analysts believe Saddam's capture will give a general boost to equities around the globe, as well as to the U.S. dollar and U.S. Treasuries. "It's broadly positive for equity markets," said Hilary Cook, director of investment strategy at Barclays Stockbrokers. "Concerns over the situation in Iraq (news...

The retired general and former NATO (news - web sites) commander said Saddam's capture was welcome news that could have an impact on the anti-coalition insurgency in Iraq (news - web sites). "I hope this will see a diminishing in the violence against American soldiers in Iraq," he told reporters as he arrived in the Netherlands. Clark did not say who should try Saddam, but said the trial should be conducted with "the highest legal standards. There can be absolutely no doubt about the rights of the accused." The case "needs to be as public as possible and the...

<p>BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Celebratory gunfire rang out across the Iraqi capital, radios played festive music, drivers honked their horns and passengers on buses and trucks chanted "They got Saddam, they got Saddam," as word of the former dictator's capture spread from car to car and shop to shop on a sun-filled Sunday afternoon.</p>

So what was Saddam's first thought upon his capture? Most likely he was cursing the claims made by the Democrats!! Way to go, Troops!!

In an emergency meeting, Saddam's loyalists ponder their increasingly dim future! : )

Democratic presidential candidates welcomed news Sunday of Saddam Hussein's capture, saying the arrest of Iraq's former dictator marked a great day for U.S. soldiers, the people of Iraq and of the world. "I supported this effort in Iraq without regard for the political consequences because it was the right thing to do," Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt said in a statement from Sumter, S.C., where he was campaigning. "I still feel that way now, and today is a major step toward stabilizing Iraq and building a new democracy." Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, who supported the Iraq war but has become increasingly...

U.S. Troops Capture Saddam Hussein at ZZTop Concert. Celebratory gunfire heard in Baghdad, Tikrit and DemocraticUnderground: if he beats the rap, this really throw the nomination up for grabs. Dem Campaign Heats Up As Saddam Tosses Hat In Ring Des Moines, IA - Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and his upstart "Straight Talk Jihad" presidential campaign completed the third day of a campaign swing across the Hawkeye State Friday, buoyed by a new Des Moines Register poll showing growing support among core Democratic voters. The latest Register Iowa Poll of likely Democratic caucus voters, conducted between July 27 and July...

Saddam Captured Alive, Iraq Official Says 4 minutes ago BAGHDAD, Iraq - Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) has been captured alive in his hometown of Tikrit, a member of the U.S.-appointed Governing Council said Sunday. Council member Dara Noor al-Din told The Associated Press that the council was informed of the former dictator's capture in a telephone call from L. Paul Bremer, the U.S. administrator for Iraq (news - web sites). "Bremer has confirmed to the Governing Council that Saddam was captured in Tikrit," Noor al-Din said. "He spoke on the phone to several members, including Ahmad Chalabi." Chalabi...

Unconfirmed source - Iranian News Source quoting Kurdish news

Iraqi Kurdish ruler: Saddam Hussein captured in Tikrit (Sky News)

SADDAM CAPTURED Tony Blair has confirmed that former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has been captured alive in his home town of Tikrit. Mr Blair said in a statement that Saddam was seized last night at around 3am this morning.The British Prime Minister said the arrest "removes the shadow" of his return from Iraq and "gives an opportunity for Saddam to be tried in Iraqi courts".Reports say Saddam was "dug out of a cellar" from a house in a poverty-stricken area during a raid by US forces, backed by Kurdish troops.It is claimed that DNA tests have been carried out and...

The Talk Shows Sunday, December 14th, 2003 Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows: FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): Sen. John F. Kerry (D-MA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Julie L. Gerberding.MEET THE PRESS (NBC): Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-CT) and former Virginia governor James Gilmore (R). FACE THE NATION (CBS): Rep. Richard A. Gephardt (D-MO). THIS WEEK (ABC): Sen. Zell Miller (D-GA), Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), former senator Bill Bradley (D-NJ), former New York governor Mario Cuomo (D) and Joe Trippi, manager of the Democratic presidential campaign of Howard Dean.LATE EDITION (CNN)...

CNN anchor now reports news conference due at 4 AM PST/7AM EST

GOTTA SEE THIS - War for Enduring Freedom 12/14/03 - Tikrit, Saddam caught, Baghdad, Najaf, link to Atta BREAKING: Tikrit, Iraq - Saddam caught BREAKING: Baghdad - Bremer confirms capture of Saddam BREAKING: Baghdad - Letter found linking al Qaeda and Saddam BREAKING: Iraq - Iraqis cheer capture of Saddam BREAKING: Najaf - more mass graves QFN ==== YE OLDE QUAGMIRE-FREE NEWS ========= Tikrit ========= OPERATION "RED DAWN" - Saddam's caputure by the 4th ID, at 8 PM on 12/13/03 in Tikrit. Three cheers for Teams Wolverine 1 and Wolverine 2 Saddam was hiding in a 6x8 foot spider-hole. The...