Saddam may hand power to his son to avoid attack

The Times (U.K.) ^ | 06/22/2002 | Richard Beeston

[Pokey78]

SADDAM HUSSEIN is considering stepping down as the Iraqi head of state in favour of his younger son in an attempt to counter the growing threat to his regime from the Bush Administration.

Arab diplomats in Baghdad said that the Iraqi leader may not seek re-election in the presidential vote due later this year but instead allow Qusay Hussein, his heir apparent, to become the country’s leader.

The Iraqi dictator, who has ruled unopposed for three decades, would remain in de facto control, much as the late Chinese leader Deng Xaioping. But the tactic may satisfy the Americans, or at least to delay their planned military action aimed at a change of regime in Baghdad by next year. “The word in the diplomatic community is that when the elections are being prepared this autumn, Saddam will not put his name forward but instead allow Qusay to go forward,” one diplomat said. “The aim would be to deflate the American threat.”

Because of the obsessive secrecy of the regime and its ruling family, the plan is impossible to verify.

The change would probably be used as a last line of defence, only when all diplomatic options were exhausted and a new conflict seemed inevitable.

Iraq is to hold talks next month with the United Nations on the return of weapons inspectors to Baghdad. If Iraq relents and allows the team back to search for weapons of mass destruction, the threat of a new conflict would recede. If the talks fail, Washington and London are expected to press ahead with plans to start a new attack on Iraq. By most estimates the country’s military would be able to offer only token resistance.

Certainly Qusay Hussein’s increasingly powerful role is not in dispute. The secretive and sober younger son, 36, is fast establishing himself as the obvious successor. He controls the Special Security Organisation, the secret police, which has suppressed any opposition to the Baathist regime.

The intelligence services, which number several thousand men, are at the forefront of efforts to protect Iraq against the threat of an American attack and in particular to stop any attempt at fomenting an uprising among the disaffected Shia Muslim majority in the south and the rebellious Kurds in the north. Increasingly Qusay has also taken on a leading role in Iraq’s foreign affairs, and is thought to have been behind the recent successful attempt by Iraq to rebuild its ties with the Arab world.

Working through his protégé, Naji Sabri, the Foreign Minister, Qusay has successfully masterminded the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia and is now making overtures to Kuwait to patch up ties, a decade after Iraq invaded and destroyed its tiny southern neighbour. The diplomatic effort is intended to blunt American attempts at building a coalition against Iraq in the region.

The new foreign policy team has also eclipsed old-time Saddam loyalists like Tariq Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, who along with other figures has been marginalised.

Although he rarely appears in public seems to lack his father’s charisma, Qusay is said to be ambitious and shrewd, unlike Uday Hussein, his older brother, who has a reputation as a playboy.

However the prospect of Saddam relinquishing power voluntarily still seems unthinkable to some. “Frankly, I don’t believe he will ever step down,” one diplomat said. “He would prefer to die or see his country destroyed rather than give up power to his son.”

[PropheticZero]

Arab diplomats in Baghdad said that the Iraqi leader may not seek re-election in the presidential vote due later this year but instead allow Qusay Hussein, his heir apparent, to become the country’s leader.

yeah.....right, is it just me or is that one of the most retarded sentences I have ever read.

How bout

Arab diplomats in Baghdad said that the Iraqi dictator doesn't want to feel the heat of the US tanks and smart missles up his vent shafts again, so he'll let his son play dictator for a bit so the liberals in the US will cry out that we should give this dictator a chance to show hes just as morally defunct as the first.

[Kerberos]

"Arab diplomats in Baghdad said that the Iraqi leader may not seek re-election in the presidential vote due later this year "

"The Iraqi dictator, who has ruled unopposed for three decades,"

Now wait a minute. We're suppose to believe from these two statements that they actually have elections in Iraq?

[hoot2]

"Saddam may hand power to his son to avoid attack "

he learned this from g. bush

[Exit148]

Hmmm, let me re-read that first sentence again.

Yep, uh-uh, riiiiight-------- they are missing the real meaning of Saadaam the man's noble plan.

You are right on target! Th UK Times could use less diplomacy and more 'cut to the point' reporting!

[Shermy]

Turn over all the WMD, destroy all WMD facilities, give us the scientists, and peace can be had.

Plus we can join up against Saudi.

sarcasm...?

[McGavin999]

Now, which son is this? The homicidal manic son or the sociopathic son?

[jraven]

From all accounts his son is as nutty as he is. Actually, he is supposed to be a bit better. He would only torture and WOMEN and NOT children, and not use chemical weapons on his own people, only Christian and Jews.

[GretchenEE]

The only reason I could see this being true is if saddam is on death's door and knows it.

Never trust a murdering dictator's leaks or press bulletins.

[brat]

His sons are even more depraved than he is.....the time is now.

[Nogbad]

We're suppose to believe from these two statements
that they actually have elections in Iraq?

Yes, and in Pakistan, too. Remember, Musharraf got 99%.

[Mike Darancette]

SADDAM HUSSEIN is considering stepping down as the Iraqi head of state in favour of his younger son in an attempt to counter the growing threat to his regime from the Bush Administration.

I don't think that Saddam is about to cancel the life insurance policy that being leader of a sovereign nation imparts.

[MeekOneGOP]

Saddam may hand power to his son to avoid attack

Excerpt:

SADDAM HUSSEIN is considering stepping down as the Iraqi head of state in favour of his younger son in an attempt to counter the growing threat to his regime from the Bush Administration.

Arab diplomats in Baghdad said that the Iraqi leader may not seek re-election in the presidential vote due later this year but instead allow Qusay Hussein, his heir apparent, to become the country’s leader.

The Iraqi dictator, who has ruled unopposed for three decades, would remain in de facto control, much as the late Chinese leader Deng Xaioping. But the tactic may satisfy the Americans, or at least to delay their planned military action aimed at a change of regime in Baghdad by next year. “The word in the diplomatic community is that when the elections are being prepared this autumn, Saddam will not put his name forward but instead allow Qusay to go forward,” one diplomat said. “The aim would be to deflate the American threat.”

Because of the obsessive secrecy of the regime and its ruling family, the plan is impossible to verify.

The change would probably be used as a last line of defence, only when all diplomatic options were exhausted and a new conflict seemed inevitable.

< -snip- >

However the prospect of Saddam relinquishing power voluntarily still seems unthinkable to some. “Frankly, I don’t believe he will ever step down,” one diplomat said. “He would prefer to die or see his country destroyed rather than give up power to his son.”

---

SADdam better watch himself. I understand President Bush plays a good game of chess too!

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[AnnaZ]

Although he rarely appears in public seems to lack his father’s charisma, Qusay is said to be ambitious and shrewd, unlike Uday Hussein, his older brother, who has a reputation as a playboy.

 

A playboy? A FREAKIN' PLAYBOY?!!!!! LMCO!! Are there any journalists out there at all?

[Victoria Delsoul]

The Iraqi dictator, who has ruled unopposed for three decades, would remain in de facto control, much as the late Chinese leader Deng Xaioping.

That means, he will remain in control, LOL!

[MeekOneGOP]

That means, he will remain in control, LOL!.......

..........until we blow him out ! LOL!

[mewzilla]

I thought both Saddam's sons were freaking sociopaths?? How would they be any better than daddy dearest, even if papa weren't pulling the strings?

Can I please have some of whatever the folks at the Times are smoking?

[Sonny M]

One of his sons is a sociopath, the other is a psychopath. The older one is the psychopath, the younger one is a read deal sociopath. This profile is based on the people that knew the kids and defected, from intellegence, from former family members (now isn't that scary) and basically anyone anywhere who has come in contact with them.