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Saddam's capture: Early analysis (Al Jazeera)
Al Jazeera ^ | December 14, 2003

Posted on 12/14/2003 7:08:22 AM PST by sandlady

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 the failure to capture Usama bin Ladin after so many years, it is a propaganda coup, especially if he were captured alive. It's an intelligence prize because they can get information from him about cells working now. And it's a huge victory because he was the head of the regime and not like anyone else on the list of 55 most wanted."

Toby Dodge, analyst at Warwick University and International Institute for Strategic Studies, UK:

"It's a huge coup and most Iraqis will be celebrating the capture of this tyrant. But it's not as clear-cut as that. The insurgency has grown well beyond Saddam's control or even influence. There are 15 to 30 groups that have no direct contact, financially or strategically, with Saddam Hussein. His capture gives the United States a window of opportunity.

If they redouble their efforts and increase their troop commitment, they could contain or even roll back the insurgency. But the temptation of Bush, facing a re-election campaign, will be to call this victory and cut and run. That would be a disaster for Iraq, for the Middle East and for the strategic interests of the United States in the region and beyond."

Jalal Talabani, Iraqi Governing Council member and head of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan:

"With the arrest of Saddam the financial resources feeding terrorists have been destroyed and his arrest will put an end to terrorist acts in Iraq,"

Amar al-Hakim, member of the Central Council of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq:

"The Iraqi nation is happy and the sound of gunfire indicates the Iraqi's people's joy and happiness. His arrest will put an end to military and terrorist attacks and the Iraqi nation will achieve stability. We want Saddam to get what he deserves. I believe he will be sentenced to hundreds of death sentences at a fair trial because he's responsible for all the massacres and crimes in Iraq."

Walid Mubarak, Beirut-based political analyst:

"I think the reaction is going to be positive, but there are still questions about the occupation of Iraq... I don't think this will resolve that. But we will have to wait and see how people will react in Iraq. What I know about their (US) behaviour is that there have been mistakes. I hope they have learned from their mistakes."


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: arabmedia; capture; greatnews; gulfwar2; gulfwarii; husseincapture; iraq; iraqaftermath; saddam; saddamcaptured; saddamhussein; tikrit; topplesaddam; viceisclosed
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Jalal Talabani, Iraqi Governing Council member and head of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan:

"With the arrest of Saddam the financial resources feeding terrorists have been destroyed and his arrest will put an end to terrorist acts in Iraq,"

This is huge, if true. I believe it is true.

1 posted on 12/14/2003 7:08:22 AM PST by sandlady
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Comment #2 Removed by Moderator

To: sandlady
. But the temptation of Bush, facing a re-election campaign, will be to call this victory and cut and run.

They don't know him do they.
You'd think they would have learnded by now.
3 posted on 12/14/2003 7:13:15 AM PST by tet68
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To: sandlady
those who did not want to be branded as supporters of Saddam might now join a resistance with a more nationalist dimension.

Hillary, Dean, Kerry, et al. now have a new purpose in life.

4 posted on 12/14/2003 7:16:20 AM PST by Young Rhino (http://www.artofdivorce.com)
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To: sandlady

5 posted on 12/14/2003 7:17:22 AM PST by Prince Charles
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To: sandlady
Folks at DU spin this as good for the dwarves and bad for Bush. You can pick your fantasy from their POV:


6 posted on 12/14/2003 7:19:32 AM PST by Jalapeno
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To: sandlady
failure to capture Usama bin Ladin


7 posted on 12/14/2003 7:19:45 AM PST by ASA Vet ("Those who know don't talk, those who talk don't know.")
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To: sandlady
Don't miss this thread!

Terrorist Behind September 11 Strike was Trained by Saddam

8 posted on 12/14/2003 7:21:41 AM PST by TigersEye ("Where there is life there is hope!" - Terri Schiavo)
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To: sandlady
Amar al-Hakim, member of the Central Council of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq:

"The Iraqi nation is happy and the sound of gunfire indicates the Iraqi's people's joy and happiness. His arrest will put an end to military and terrorist attacks and the Iraqi nation will achieve stability. We want Saddam to get what he deserves. I believe he will be sentenced to hundreds of death sentences at a fair trial because he's responsible for all the massacres and crimes in Iraq."

I saw a man interviewed by Shep this morning (I was to sleepy to comprehend his name) but when asked about his reaction to the "news" he said that he was surprised Saddam was captured so easily. He said that he did not need to see a trial. I think a trial for Saddam is a very important step for Iraq.

1. It will detail all of his atrocities (for the world)

2. It will show the Iraqis a judicial system that is not simply dictatorial: "slay the ones who don't conform."

9 posted on 12/14/2003 7:25:42 AM PST by sandlady
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To: Jalapeno
there will be a massive uprising which will free him,

Someone said that?

10 posted on 12/14/2003 7:26:55 AM PST by sandlady
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To: tet68
>But the temptation of Bush, facing a re-election campaign, will be to call this victory and cut and run.

They don't know him do they. You'd think they would have learned by now.

One would think. But I don't have a problem with them continuing to underestimate him.

11 posted on 12/14/2003 7:30:50 AM PST by Eala (Sacrificing tagline fame for... TRAD ANGLICAN RESOURCE PAGE: http://eala.freeservers.com/anglican)
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To: sandlady
I believe the part in this article about others is true. There are others independent of Saddam involved. I do believe they will be dealt with in time.
12 posted on 12/14/2003 7:32:22 AM PST by freekitty
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Comment #13 Removed by Moderator

To: sandlady
yes, his incarceration was thought to be only temporary...
14 posted on 12/14/2003 7:35:56 AM PST by Jalapeno
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To: TigersEye
I know! Did you hear about how Rumsfeld hosted a Christmas party last night? He and Cheney were said to have been in particularly jovial moods! How did they ever keep this inside????? HA!





i'm not gloating-i'm just so proud of our troops!!!!
15 posted on 12/14/2003 7:36:39 AM PST by sandlady
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To: Baynative
According to BBC TV, the Arab Street is very upset because Saddam again failed to put up a fight.

On the other hand, they're interviewing an Iraqui Nat. Congress guy right now, and he's been giving a humorous little speech about Saddam as a big coward who was always overprotected and etc.

16 posted on 12/14/2003 7:39:25 AM PST by angkor
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To: sandlady
so far the best one I have seen over there is that hellary gave the troops the motivation to find him with her visit recently! They are really sick people over there on that place. I can't go back in there. It feels like setting up a Christmas tree in a crack-house- it is still Christmas, but it doesn't make a difference to them.
17 posted on 12/14/2003 7:39:34 AM PST by ThinkingMan
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To: Baynative
Kerry's comment that while it's a good day for Iraqi's, Americans are still going to die.

This is why Kerry will never be president. Saddam Hussein's capture will preserve the lives of innocents all across the world but most importantly Americans. The most important reason we are in Iraq is because the ultimate goal of Saddam H and his "friends" is the demise of Americans. Thank God President Bush understands this. The Americans I believe Kerry to be speaking of are the highly trained troops of our military who are proud to be doing the job they signed up to do-protect the people of the USA! A president can't be timid about issues such as this.

18 posted on 12/14/2003 7:43:47 AM PST by sandlady
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To: angkor
There's yet another fellow on BBC TV - this one an Iranian/Brit - calling Saddam a coward, pathological, etc., saying that Arabs will be upset because Saddam didn't shoot himself in the head, and he had a gun, and he refused to be martyred.
19 posted on 12/14/2003 7:45:40 AM PST by angkor
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To: ThinkingMan
so far the best one I have seen over there is that hellary gave the troops the motivation to find him with her visit recently!

Wow. That one sure wins the dork award. The military hates her.

20 posted on 12/14/2003 7:46:21 AM PST by concerned about politics ( "Satire". It's Just "Satire.".......So it is.)
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