'Comical Ali' Held, Then Released by U.S. -Arab TV

Reuters News ^ | June 26, 2003 | Rueters

[Semper Paratus]

DUBAI (Reuters) - Former Iraqi information minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, who earned the nickname "Comical Ali" during the Iraq war, handed himself in to U.S. forces but was released after questioning, an Arab TV station said on Thursday. Al-Arabiya TV said in a statement it would air an interview with Al-Sahaf at 3 p.m. EDT on Friday.

"Sahaf said he handed himself over to the American forces and the Americans interrogated him, then they released him," the channel said, showing pictures of a gray-haired Sahaf during the interview.

Al-Sahaf, who gained his unflattering nickname for proclaiming the defeat of U.S. forces even as they moved into Baghdad and his habit of fingering loaded weapons during news conferences, was not on the U.S. "most wanted" list.

[Semper Paratus]

Another quote not in this story by him:

"Via some friends, I went to the Americans...and there was an interrogation about a number of issues concerning my work. After the interrogation, I was released," a tired-looking and thin Sahaf said in a clip aired by the channel.

"A difficult situation has passed by, not for one person but for everyone," he said in measured tones in another clip.

Can't wait for the transcript from the interview at 3!

[Dog]

What is it going to take to get this guy arrested!

[Pikamax]

the poor guy has to be worth something to someone. They could have at least held him for a couple of days to make it look important.

[billhilly]

Comical Ali is the Iraqi Rodney Dangerfield. He is not respected enough to get arrested.

[Dog]

LOL!

[katze]

LOL!

[Peach]

A returning officer from Iraq told me that he is one of "ours" and was "planted" five years ago.

[RightWhale]

was an interrogation about a number of issues concerning my work. After the interrogation, I was released

He was released when it was discovered that, a great surprise, he actually knows nothing and will undergo training to be the weatherman.

[Allegra]

Seriously...he has a great future in comedy in the U.S. He already has a large and loyal following. We'd just have to give him some official capacity like head of the DNC and then sit back, pass the popcorn and laugh like hyenas.

[Cogadh na Sith]

"My first view is: Absolutely no rain! Ever! Never!"

"A 60% chance our stomachs will be roasted in hell by the hands of the sun followed by the winds of Allah sweeping the infidel from Iraq from the northwest at 10 miles per hour."

"Now lets turn to the radar of the doppler that shows the storms vanquishing the invaders across this low front..."

[Clintons Are White Trash]

I'm predicting a lucrative future on Saturday Night Live and David Letterman.

[al_c]

"I was not questioned by the Americans ... they are not here. They all died at the border of Baghdad."

[mitchbert]

A returning officer from Iraq told me that he is one of "ours" and was "planted" five years ago.

I considered this a possibility during the campaign but my sense is he would have been spirited out with his family or at least placed in "protective" custody some time ago if true. Still, given his past as a U.N. rep in NYC the timeline would fit.

[Minutemen]

Poor Ali... was just doin' and sayin the right things in order to keep his neck off of Saddams' chopping block. He will make a fortune when he fine-tunes his stand-up routine!