Ex-Iraq Info Minister Gets TV Job Offer

Oddly Enough - Reuters to My Yahoo! ^ | 4/29/2003 | Oddly Enough - Reuters to My Yahoo!

[Forgiven_Sinner]

DUBAI (Reuters) - An Arab television network said on Tuesday it wants to give a job to former Iraqi information minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, whose colorful daily briefings during the U.S.-led invasion won him a cult following.

Ali al-Hadethi, supervisor of the Dubai-based al-Arabiya satellite channel, told Reuters that Sahaf, who does not figure on Washington's list of 55 most-wanted Iraqis, was welcome to join the network immediately as a commentator and analyst.

Hadethi said he did not know the former minister's whereabouts and asked him to contact Arabiya to take up his job.

"We want to benefit from the experience of Mr Sahaf and his analysis of the current situation and the future of Iraq (news - web sites)," Hadethi said, without giving details of the job package.

A London-based Arabic newspaper reported, meanwhile, that Sahaf, dubbed "Comical Ali" for his eccentric denials that Iraqi forces were being overrun, was now holed up with his aunt in Baghdad and wanted the Americans to arrest and protect him.

The report said Sahaf had left the northern city of Mosul four days ago and was staying at his aunt's house in the capital's Palestine Street.

It quoted a representative of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) who said that U.S. troops had refused to take Sahaf into custody because he did not figure on the American most-wanted list, but that negotiations were continuing.

Arabiya television executive Hadethi, asked about Sahaf's exaggerated statements at his daily briefings, said he "was a member of the former regime and had to say what the government wanted. He was repeating what was being given to him without being able to verify the truth."

Hadethi said his network was already using Saddam's former U.N. ambassador, Mohammed Aldouri, as an analyst in Dubai.

Sahaf, with his trademark beret and standing behind a forest of microphones, quickly built up a worldwide following as his daily briefings departed more and more from objective reality.

A Web site, welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com, sprang up only to be forced offline by a rush of global interest that attracted up to 4,000 hits a second.

Once Saddam had been toppled, even President Bush admitted he was a Sahaf fan.

"He's my man, he was great," Bush enthused in an interview with NBC's Tom Brokaw. "Somebody accused us of hiring him and putting him there. He was a classic."

[Forgiven_Sinner]

FReepers here predicted it--Baghdad Bob has a job offer with an Arab (Dubai) new service.

[xJones]

It quoted a representative of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) who said that U.S. troops had refused to take Sahaf into custody because he did not figure on the American most-wanted list, but that negotiations were continuing.

Oh, the ignominy of it all! Our Bob wants to be arrested and our troops won't do it. They should take him into custody and open the bidding among American networks.

[LizardQueen]

ROFLMAO!

He'd fit in well at Al-Jazeera - the "Fantasy News Network".

LQ

[1Old Pro]

Bagda Bob is a war criminal. It's fun to joke, but he deserves prison, not job offers.

[Michael Barnes]

Truth is stranger than fiction. Bahgdad Bob worked for a murderous, thug regime. Completely detached himself from reality at the 11th hour, and now has a job offer on the table to be an analyst/commentator..

I mean, you just can't make this shit up!

[TexKat]

FReepers here predicted it--Baghdad Bob has a job offer with an Arab (Dubai) new service.

Coming up next on Fox.

[malakhi]

Truth is stranger than fiction. Bahgdad Bob worked for a murderous, thug regime. Completely detached himself from reality at the 11th hour, and now has a job offer on the table to be an analyst/commentator..

Hey, if George Stephanopolis can do it...

[smith288]

What did he do as a crime? Make us all laugh? Lie a lot? I dont believe the US believes he is a war criminal.

[MatthewViti]

This information is too good sometimes. You really can't make this stuff up. LOL. I really think Fox News should hire this guy, it'd be great.

"my feelings -- as usual -- we will destroy them all"

[gulfcoast6]

Betcha little tommy d. out bids them.

[YOMO]

Ex-Iraq Info Minister Gets TV Job Offer
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Yeah, they want to revive an old 1950's game show............"TO TELL THE TRUTH".

[Michael Barnes]

Alright, ya got me there.

[The South Texan]

I am surprised CNN didn't offer him a gig. It might bump up the ratings.

[FairOpinion]

I a sure CNN will top the offer. Or maybe ABC.
Baghdad Bob and Ted Koppel will make a great pair. Koppel must have taken lessons from him, he is nearing Baghdad Bob's talent of prevarication. I just saw part of Nightline yesterday -- ABC seems to always manage to find a few unhappy Iraqis, some woman was asking why didn't we already fixed and built up some bridges --a few weeks after the war! And of course you never see any happy Iraqis thanking the US on ABC. As I said, it would make a great home for Baghdad Bob.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

No, no, no.......... Baghdad Bob is going to be the press spokesman for the Hillary 2004 campaign.

[1Old Pro]

What did he do as a crime?

HE WAS INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN A REGIME THAT MURDERED IT'S OWN PEOPLE, THREATENED IT'S NEIGHBORS, AND WAS INVOLVED WITH TERRORISTS THAT MAY HAVE MURDERED THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS.

Yes his stupidity was abusing, but I also laughed at O.J. Simpson when he said he was searching for Nicole's killer (on Golf Courses).

I've laughed at many evil people, but don't confuse that with the need for prosecution. Would he have been funny if he stood up for Hitler denying the existance of the war camps?? I don't think so.

It's odd that so many don't see Saddam and his cohorts as evil men.

[smith288]

Baghdad Bob was not a Sunni. He is a Shi'ite and his wife is a kurd. He did not do crimes against humanity but was involved in the regime as a survival tactic. I can see the difference between a boob playing the game (in Iraq) and a truely evil man who is guilty of ordering the slaughter of people like Saddam and his top officials.

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

"...take him into custody and open the bidding among American networks..."

FOX should hire him - with his worldwide popularity he could give them an insurmountable lead in the Cable Wars.

[dark_lord]

He would fit in well in a partner slot at any of the "Big 5" consulting firms.

[Happy2BMe]

So sorry, Al Jazeer, CNN has already hired me!

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