Israel believes Saddam spoke live in morning TV broadcast

Jerusalem Post ^ | Mar. 20, 2003 | HERB KEINON

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

Israeli Foreign Ministry experts believe that Saddam Hussein was speaking live on camera when he addressed the Iraqi nation this morning on television and radio, shortly after the US launched a war against him.

Officials at the ministry's Center for Political Studies reached this conclusion largely based on the fact that Saddam was wearing glasses, and also because the Arabic he spoke was not very sophisticated, suggesting the speech was put together on the spur of the moment.

Had the speech been staged, it is unlikely that Saddam would have been shown wearing glasses, or appearing to read his remarks rather than having them memorized, the officials said.

Saddam also appeared to be under a lot of pressure and more disorganized than usual, when he made the speech, in which he characteristically lashed out at "criminal Zionism" in addition to the United States, it was noted.

In the speech, Saddam accused the United States of committing a "shameful crime" by attacking Iraq and urged the Iraqi people to "go draw your sword" against the enemy.

"We promise you that Iraq, its leadership and its people will stand up to the evil invaders, and we will take them to such limits that they will lose their patience in achieving their plans, which are pushed by criminal Zionism," he said.

[CindyDawg]

Or maybe they were taping two look a likes at the same time and ond didn't do so well. :')

[CindyDawg]

I kind of thought that the shot happened while a tape was being played. I don't think the gun shot sound came from the tape because there was no reaction from the speaker.

[dfwgator]

If we delay the "shock and awe," that would probably mean that the US thinks indeed there is a good chance that Saddam was taken out.

[oldcomputerguy]

"He has felt for years that we have not seen a picture of
the real Saddam for years. "

I have heard that too and if in fact the Iraqis saw the real Saddam on TV this morning, they surely can't be impressed with this old codger.

[Lady Heron]

True there was no reaction from the speaker, that had us confused.

[Grampa Dave]

The more I see the photos from the tape last night, the more I agree with Israeli intel. He has those two sub cu lumps on his left cheek. His eyebrows look the same as the older photos do. He looks like he is on steroids which makes his face look fatter and would fill in the cleft.

One thing is certain. Blather did not have an interview with Saddam. Not only was the voice a phoney voice provided by CBS, the guy in that CBS 60 minute picture was not Soddamned.

[steve-b]

That was not Saddam and it was taped in my opinion.

That doesn't make sense. A pre-taped message by Saddam would make sense. A live message by a Saddam double would make sense. But why would Saddam have a message pre-taped by one of his doubles?

[kAYJONCA]

Have to agree with you .If that was Saddy he looked a mess.. And the saggy ,fleshy, OLD look.. Boy if that was the sadistic bas---- after a few hours of war;; what will he look like at the end of the war??? Besides dead

[texasbluebell]

"He has felt for years that we have not seen a picture of the real Saddam for years. "

A couple of months ago, Saddam's mistress who managed to escape some time ago from Iraq, said that he hasn't been seen on tv in several years. So unless we can compare photos of him from a few years ago, it's probably not going to be useful to compare last night's view of him with more recent footage.

She said that he has a tattoo on his hand too, which everyone from his village or area have. But usually his hands aren't visible enough to make it out.

If that was him last night, he's certainly much puffier in the face, he looks like he's on some meds that have done that to him. Maybe he's on something due to the stroke he supposedly had a while back.

I bet he's using some of his relatives as his doubles, there must be a few in that large extended family he seems to employ that must look enough like him to pass, especially as I read that his doubles (at least 3) have been surgically enhanced.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for reminding us of this bit of past Soddamned history: A couple of months ago, Saddam's mistress who managed to escape some time ago from Iraq, said that he hasn't been seen on tv in several years.

I had forgot about this little slice of Soddamned's history.

[Stand Watch Listen]

[texasbluebell]

I was wishing I had taped that interview with the mistress, it was so informative.

And the news from her about his use of the little blue pills was interesting too. Looking at the SH from last night, if that was him, I can see why he needs it.

[Grampa Dave]

Which blue pills, Viagra?

[rolling_stone]

I noticed the same, that the face is not as long as I thought Sadaam's is. A plastic surgeon could probably make a good evaluation. I noticed the "Sadaam" did not raise his hands or turn his head side to side or have eye contact with the camera either. The speech certainly did not seem like the old egomaniac Sadaam either....my guess is it wasn't him.

I would like to see the tape of the two guys who gave the short news conference later, they were frantic. Calling the US criminals and assassins seems to fit with someone being done in. Imagine top brass being targeted, and them not knowing how they were found. No top brass one will be able to sleep or think clearly, survival instinct will take over, such as cut and run.....

[myprecious]

Yes, the assassin comment was interesting. We are used to Bush being called 'war criminal', 'Great Satan', but assassin is a new title. I kinda like it....

[pyx]

My relatives tell me that Peter Mansbridge on Canada's CBC tried twice last night to instigate by suggesting that Israeli Special Forces were in Iraq.

[MEGoody]

Yes, I did. My husband thinks it was someone coming through a doorway quickly and slamming it. I was kind of hoping we'd get to see one of his own people assassinate him as the world watched.

[texasbluebell]

Yes, his mistress said he uses that a lot!

[Grampa Dave]

Maybe, Pfizer, can make an ad with Saddam driving up to the parking lot in his Mercedes and everyone asking him what's different, like the dumb Viagra ads on tv now.

[CindyDawg]

It might have been a door but don't you think it would have startled him? That's why I lean towards this being a tape and not live.