Posted on 03/04/2005 6:59:45 AM PST by robowombat
Saddam son 'was poised to topple dad' From correspondents in Los Angeles 03-03-2005 From: Agence France-Presse THE eldest son of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was plotting to overthrow his father just as US troops advanced on Baghdad in March 2003, journalist Peter Arnett claimed in Playboy magazine.
Uday Hussein, known for his ruthlessness and flashy lifestyle, had won the support of the leadership of his father's Fedayeen militia to overthrow Saddam's 35-year rule, according to an advance copy of the April edition of Playboy obtained by AFP. The controversial reporter, who was fired by the US Cable News Network in 2003 after suggesting the US war plan in Iraq had failed, made the claim following an 18-month investigation in which he says he gained access to Uday Hussein's inner circle.
The article cited a letter from Saddam Fedayeen commander General Maki Humudat, dated March 26, 2003, in which he swore allegiance to a new Iraqi government under the control of Fedayeen chief Uday Hussein.
"According to your direction and command to form a new government under the leadership of your Excellency (Uday), we have informed all the senior officers of the Saddam Fedayeen of your desire to appoint them as your candidates for office in your government," the letter said.
Uday had planned to announce his seizure of the crumbling reins of power later the same day, but was thwarted when US jets bombed his Youth TV studios in Baghdad, according to Arnett.
The ambitious heir had even formed a shadow government on the outskirts of his father's capital Baghdad, that was disguised under the cover of his powerful Iraqi National Olympic Committee and funded by murky oil deals, he said.
According to Arnett, the oldest son of the Iraqi dictator had long been chafing under his father's iron fisted rule and blamed his father for the punishing international sanctions on the country.
"Though it has not been reported until now, Uday Hussein was the biggest proponent of regime change inside Iraq," Arnett wrote.
"During the previous 10 years, he had slowly assembled the elements of power; military; military; and political management, designed to overthrow his tyrannical father," said the reporter who was in Baghdad as US troops approached following the launch of the March 19, 2003 US-led attack.
But, according to the journalist, Uday's coup plan came too late as US-led forces were just days away from the Iraqi capital.
He and his younger brother, Qusay, were forced to flee Baghdad along with their father as the Baath party military machine collapsed ahead of the US seizure of the city in early April.
Uday and Qusay were killed in a blistering battle in the northern city of Mosul on July 22, 2003, while Saddam Hussein was captured alive in his home town of Tikrit in December later that year.
Peter has been snorting alot more then powdered baby's milk.
Its convenient that all they mention was that he was "flashy" and "ruthless" but then vaguely hint that he was going to return Iraq to greatness through peaceful means.
God help us, he would've been worse than Saddam. Time to break out the videos of what he did to the athletes and common people of that poor country.
Sure Peter. What ever you say.............
Uday was just as bad as his old man.
When Bush wanted regime change, it was a bad thing;
And how did Baghdad gain this supposed access? Or was Arnett really a Fedayeen agent all along? Hmmm...
Or maybe worse. Uday thought Dad was going soft...
Whether this is true or not, I've always found it curious that the sons and father were in separate locations when cornered. Appears their "loyals" weren't so loyal after all.
Arnett should get a job working for Al-Jazeera or one of those other propaganda stations.
This Uday?
Sounds like we have an Iraqi 'Deep Throat' somewhere in Baghdad.
Bob Woodward must be proud.
Where's the BARF alert!
Geez!
First, I read a headline that Colorado College takes down DU and then I read this crap.
Maybe Uday told Michael Moore that he dreamt of a day where Iraqi kids would play with kites in the meadows.
FLASHBACKS -- This Iraqi man is receiving members of his family cut into pieces
and placed in six cotton bags.
These murders were approved by Annan and the UN for decades.
The actual tools used in Saddam's torturing chambers as approved by Annan and the UN for decades.
Baghdad - Iraqi Olympic Committee shows torture equipment
used by Uday before Iraq's liberation by America
In Baghdad, Iraq, an Iraqi Olympic Committee official
demonstrates a steel mask and other torture equipment at Al-Shaab Stadium, Saturday, July 24, 2004.
These torture devices were routinely used by Saddam Hussein's son, Uday,
to torture Olympic athletes whose performance failed to meet his expectations.
Only America stopped this torture. The mainstream media is silent.
Putz Arnett has no idea what he's talking about:
In that interview just days before Baghdad fell, he said the US war plan was failing. "Clearly, the American war planners misjudged the determination of the Iraqi forces," he said
Interesting that the Agence France-Presse article ends two sentences earlier than this one:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1514&u=/afp/iraqusudaycoup&printer=1
Uday and Qusay are eadday.
EVEN IF proven true that Uday was about to depose Saddam, it only serves to provide evidence that THERE WAS NO BENIGN FACTION which had the ability to change the regime in Iraq.
In what way, Mr Arnett, would America have been safer with this proven psycho at the helm of Iraq?
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