Comical Ali even fails to surrender

The Daily Telegraph ^ | April 30, 2003 | Alex Spillius

[MadIvan]

During the war he was the oddball public face of America's enemy Iraq, but now there are claims that Mohammad Said Sahaf, the former information minister, cannot get himself arrested.

The minister, nicknamed "Comical Ali" for his eccentric denials that Iraqi forces were being overrun, is said to have tried to turn himself in to the Americans. But they refused, as he was not on their list of the 55 most wanted members of Saddam Hussein's regime.

A senior Kurdish official said that Sahaf had been holed up at a relative's house in central Baghdad for a week near a street patrolled every day by American armoured vehicles.

Adel Murad, of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, told the London-based Arab newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat: "He sent some of his relatives to inform them of his wish to surrender, but they turned him down. Negotiations are still going on to hand him over."

It was not the first attempt at surrender Sahaf had made. Before returning to Baghdad, he asked the PUK in the northern city of Mosul to contact US troops on his behalf, but the PUK decided it was not worth the trouble.

Sahaf, with his familiar beret and standing behind a forest of microphones, quickly built up a worldwide cult following for his daily press conferences. Even President George W Bush admitted he was a Sahaf fan and used to interrupt meetings to watch him.

If his efforts at surrender fail, a career in television awaits.

The Dubai-based al-Arabiya channel said yesterday that Sahaf, who also served as foreign minister, was welcome to join as a commentator. Earlier reports in an Iranian newspaper that Sahaf had hanged himself now appear to be unfounded.

[MadIvan]

I can see him now - he'll be saying, "It is not true, the Americans just have me under house arrest, soon, I will be singing like a canary."

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[Amelia]

You've got to feel a little bit sorry for him.....sort of....

[BJClinton]

I hope to see him in a Super Bowl commercial this season.

[MadIvan]

How about a beer commercial: "Yes, this light beer is superior, far superior than the alternatives, those rival brewers, their bellies are roasting in Hell."

Regards, Ivan

[MJY1288]

The Bush Administration needs to hire Baghdad Bob exclusively for answering any questions Helen Thomas might have during the White House press briefings :-)

[Ichneumon]

I hope that when he tried to turn himself in to the Americans, they responded, "it's impossible for you to turn yourself in to us, because we are not here, we have been repulsed by the victorious Iraqi army."

[tessalu]

"Comical Ali" did no harm to the USA with all of his lies, and he probably was a help to the USA, for the Iraqis believed him, even their military. Should we send him a
"Top Liar" medal? It seems that we should do something nice for him.

[Amelia]

Great idea!

[FairOpinion]

I think this is just more disinformation from Baghdad Bob.

I am sure that the US wants to talk to all high level officials. Baghdad Bob used to be Foreign Minister, before becoming Information Minister. There is no way that we would ignore him, if he surrendered,

He is just suffers from the same affliction as Clinton: can't tell the truth, to save his life.

[BJClinton]

Heh. Might send the wrong impression about the beer. I wonder if he knows of his money-making potential?

[PJ-Comix]

The minister, nicknamed "Comical Ali" for his eccentric denials that Iraqi forces were being overrun, is said to have tried to turn himself in to the Americans.

Maybe in Britain he is called "Comical Ali" but here in the States, he is known by his CORRECT name---Baghdad Bob.

[PJ-Comix]

I hope to see him in a Super Bowl commercial this season.

Expect to see this Budweiser Beer Commercial on the Superbowl next year:

BAGHDAD BOB: It is an outrageous lie that Budweiser is a better beer than our own Baghdad Brew! Baghdad Brew is what raised the morale of our brave Iraqi army that led to the ultimate defeat of the Coalition Forces! Take my word for it---Baghdad Brew is much better beer than Budweiser!

[Skywalk]

This Pepsi, this beverage of infidels, it is no match for Coke. Why they are so retarded, they must hire sluts to dance for them. But they cannot even think, for their cowardice is so great they fire one slut to hire another singing temptress.

This is why Coke has cornered all world markets and will be, shortly, announcing that it is the drink of choice for ALL of the planet. Pepsi was slaughtered terribly in the soda wars and their executives and workers all committed suicides at the gates of Coke corporate offices in Atlanta!

[Consort]

The ultimate rejection.

[Happygal]

Must be weird waking up every day realising you are the 'ultimate' failure! ;-)

[FreedomCalls]

He has a huge and well-paid career waiting for him here in the States if he wants it. How much would Leno/Letterman pay to have him on? How about hosting Saturday Night Live? Spokesperson for Isuzu? And so forth.

[MadIvan]

Must be weird waking up every day realising you are the 'ultimate' failure! ;-)

He'd have a best selling biography though. ;)

Love, Ivan

[PISANO]

Baghdad Bob would have killed any of our troops if he had the chance, as ridiculously funny as he was, I never lost sight of the fact that he was the ENEMY. He still is and you can bet he had a hand in many murders, torture and the like while he and his ilk were in power.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

He should be investigated, in the least, for that $200,000 that he stole...allegedly.