Son's fears for fate of information minister

The Scotsman ^ | April 19, 2003 | JIM MCBETH

[MadIvan]

THE nearest Osama al-Sahhaf can get to his infamous father - if he is alive - is a talking doll, which screams: "NO! I am not scared!" and costs $35.95 plus postage from the villain action series at herobuilders.com.

There may be the blackest humour in the new United States-made toy, and in the memory of Mr Sahhaf’s legendary invective during press briefings at the height of the war, but his son, a doctor, who has been in Ireland for 18 months, doesn’t see the joke.

The surgeon does not know if his father, Mohammed al-Sahhaf, is alive after reports from Iran suggested the former Iraqi information minister had committed suicide to escape US retribution.

He said: "My father is a good guy, a friendly guy. He knows he is responsible for his own decisions but, as a father, he is a good man.

"I hope he will be OK. He’s taken a lot of flak and he doesn’t deserve to die for what he’s done; he was only following orders.

"No-one knows where he is, and certainly not me. I wish the people [of Iraq] a good outcome and hopefully the past is all over and we can live in peace and harmony."

The surgeon, who bears a striking resemblance to his father, is on leave from Dublin’s 620-bed Beaumont Hospital, where he holds a general surgery post.

A spokesman for the hospital, in the eastern regional health authority, would only say yesterday that the hospital was respecting Dr al-Sahhaf’s wish to be free of further "press intrusion".

Dr al-Sahhaf worked his last shift last Saturday after admitting to his superiors that he was the son of the Iraqi politician who had, by that time, achieved cult status for playing fast and loose with the truth.

"He hasn’t done any shifts here since, and he has no immediate plans to come back to work," a spokesman said.

Colleagues of the surgeon, who was, inevitably, nicknamed "Surgical Ali" said he is extremely worried about the fate of his father.

One colleague said yesterday: "He’s been spending all his time on the phone to Jordan and Syria, in the hope his father is alive."

Two Iranian media sources claimed there was evidence from Iraqi refugees escaping into Iran to suggest Mr Sahhaf "had taken a rope and hanged himself".

Coalition commanders believe it may be a device to divert attention from Mr Sahhaf, who disappeared before the fall of Baghdad and was thought to be in Syria.

Meanwhile, his son, who studied in Jordan, has no knowledge of his father’s fate.

The doctor has not been home in two years and, until this week, it had been six months since he spoke to his family.

A nurse at the hospital added: "When we found out who Osama’s dad was, we were surprised.

"Everyone felt sorry for him, but it didn’t stop people calling him Surgical Ali."

The nurse added that a memo had been circulated to staff asking them not to discuss Dr al-Sahhaf’s situation.

Meanwhile his father’s legend lives on in the 12in "Dis-Information Minister" doll, which delivers such quotes as: "There are no American infidels in Baghdad!" and "Our initial assessment is they will all die!" and "They’re not even within 100 miles."

The doll is selling like hot cakes and, bizarrely, is one of a series.

Other luminaries, "crafted painstakingly and hand made", in the series include the "Dirty Terrorist", a life-like, fully poseable figure dressed in military camouflage uniform.

He is abetted by the "Babbling Osama", your "very own talking terrorist".

There is also "The Butcher of Baghdad" and "Saddam Insane".

The "American Taleban", or "Dick" as he is known, makes up the set.

Priced between $25 and $35, the dolls are being snapped up by "patriotic Americans".

"They are going a whole lot faster than our talking President George Bush doll," said a company spokesman.

[MadIvan]

I am sure people are buying those dolls for the purpose of hanging them on their dartboards. Of course President Bush's doll isn't selling.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[coloradan]

"I hope he will be OK. He’s taken a lot of flak and he doesn’t deserve to die for what he’s done; he was only following orders."

That excuse didn't cut it then, and it shouldn't cut it now. If you are a tool of tyrants, your turn to face justice should rightly come.

[SamAdams76]

The surgeon does not know if his father, Mohammed al-Sahhaf, is alive after reports from Iran suggested the former Iraqi information minister had committed suicide to escape US retribution.

Ironically, "Baghdad Bob" is the one man from the Iraqi regime who probably would have made it over here. Not that I agree with it, but he probably would have ended up on SNL and Jay Leno and done some commercials.

[Free ThinkerNY]

"...he was only following orders."

Where have we heard that one before?

[Southack]

I'm certain that it's mere coincidence that the propaganda minister's son is in Ireland, where Bush and Blair just met to discuss anti-terrorism policies, amid a nation known for its mercenary IRA snipers...

[vbmoneyspender]

He said: "My father is a good guy, a friendly guy. He knows he is responsible for his own decisions but, as a father, he is a good man.

"I hope he will be OK. He's taken a lot of flak and he doesn't deserve to die for what he's done; he was only following orders.

"No-one knows where he is, and certainly not me. I wish the people [of Iraq] a good outcome and hopefully the past is all over and we can live in peace and harmony."

LOL. Like father, like son.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

he was only following orders.

Didn't cut it before, doesn't cut it now.

[Paleo Conservative]

he was only following orders. = he vas only following orders.

[ambrose]

I don't see what he did that could constitute a crime of any sort. He was little more than a government mouthpiece. Don't shoot the messenger.

[SamAdams76]

Don't shoot the messenger.

Ironically, that is probably why Baghdad Bob was so over the top! Had he told the truth, Saddam would probably have had him killed.

[ambrose]

Which may explain why Saddam was appearing in public (if that video is authentic) while his statue was being pulle down across town... he believed his own spin.

[jocon307]

We love this guy, come on admit it, we all do. He had timing, lying is easy, comedy is hard. I really hope he didn't kill himself, I hope he is not dead. I think the possibility for his rehabilitation is great and would be one of the best things to come out of this war. I hope he realizes he could have a big show-biz career here in America. I hope for his redemption, in this world, or the next. He's a star, a media star, got the 15 minutes in that's for sure. Don't be too hard on the son, tough situation, don't jump down his throat over a few ill-chosen words.


See, this whole war is making me feel much more mellow to the Arabs/Muslims. Silver-lining stuff happening here with me, for sure.

Love that W!

[vigilante2]

CNN could have used him!

[sweetliberty]

Baghdad Bob was better at denial than Bill Clinton.

.

"I am telling you that there are no Americans in Baghdad."

[GovernmentShrinker]

There's a big difference between following orders to kill people and following orders to make patently preposterous statements to a room full of reporters. Of course, I don't know what else this guy may have done, but it's quite possible that he devoted himself to his "information" minister position in order to avoid being reassigned to something grisly (or being killed, which would of course be the other options), and never took part in any atrocities. Somehow he managed to raise a apparently decent son and get him out of the hellhole of Saddam's Iraq, and into a productive profession. I just had a sense from the beginning that this guy was trapped, and just hoping to stay alive 'til it was all over.

[aristeides]

The hero of Baghdad (profile of Baghdad Bob).

[cfrels]

I think he could replace Terry McAwful as spokesman for the Dummycrats.

[Happygal]

I'm certain that it's mere coincidence that the propaganda minister's son is in Ireland, where Bush and Blair just met to discuss anti-terrorism policies, amid a nation known for its mercenary IRA snipers...

That statements a bit silly. The Iraqi doctor has been working in Dublin for over two years. The joint Belfast visit by President Bush and Tony Blair was surprising to everyone. To suggest that this Iraqi doctor is working in Ireland to coincide with a surprise visit by President Bush is rather tenuous, don't you think?

BTW, I would hope Ireland is known for many more things other than 'mercenary IRA snipers). (Oh, and just for the record the PUP, the Red Hand Defenders etc. etc. et al have 'mercenary snipers' too!)

[patricia]

"Clymer" gave us some comic relief about the spin, aka lies, the media propogates upon those who partake.
Baghdad Bob made me laugh outloud from his first news conference, two nights after 'the decapitation', to his last.
BB will ever be the symbol of those who attempt to blind us by spoon feeding us lies ..... I'm grateful I did not laugh, but rather was gripped with fear for my beloved country and the world, as I watched and listened to the lies of mrandmrsbillclinton,