Ex-Iraqi Information Minister Sahhaf Agrees To Reveal War Secrets (Baghdad Bob)

Gulf News ^ | September 11, 2003

[Shermy]

Iraq's former information minister who became a superstar with his controversial rhetoric and statements during the US-led invasion will go on television next week to reveal part of the war secrets and how ousted president Saddam Hussain felt he would lose the war.

Mohammed Saeed Al Sahhaf has been booked by Abu Dhabi television for an extensive interview stretching more than five hours and which will be broadcast in five parts.

Al Sahhaf, who kept assuring an army of journalists that Iraq remained under control despite the advance of US forces into Baghdad, will also disclose secret meetings had taken place between Iraqi and US officials in Europe long before the war but avoided answering other questions about Saddam.

His interviewer, Jaber Obaid, said Al Sahhaf had been booked exclusively by Abu Dhabi television and described it as an exciting interview.

"He was more frank and direct than previous interviews after the war…he revealed many secrets before and during the war…it was an exciting interview," Obaid told Gulf News.

"You will notice that he has changed since the end of the war, both in style and appearance… he speaks freely, looks lively and is well dressed… the disdasha he wore after the end of the war is replaced with a suit and his white hair has been dyed black."

According to the Arabic language daily Al Ittihad, part of the Emirates Media Corporation along with the Abu Dhabi Television, Sahhaf has revealed to his interviewer the secrets of Baghdad's fall and the ouster of Saddam.

He also spoke about the pre-war period and how the government and people felt about it and prepared for it.

"Saddam believed that he will lose the war if it erupts," Sahhaf was reported as saying in the programme, titled Sahhaf War.

Al Ittihad said he would also disclose that Iraq sought to possess nuclear weapons and that secret meetings had taken place between Iraq and the US in a European capital long before the war. Jordan's late King Hussein sponsored the meetings, which were requested by Saddam.

"Sahhaf apologised for being unable to answer some questions directly related to Saddam…he also refused to blame him for what happened," the paper said.

Sahhaf was captured by US forces after the conflict but was released shortly afterwards and allowed to leave Iraq. During the three-week allied blitz, he acted as a spokesman for Iraq's military but triggered global controversy with his rhetoric and expressions.

At the height of hostilities, he evoked laughter from journalists with such expressions and the use of scathing and derogatory descriptions of US President George Bush, Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld and British Premier Tony Blair. At one stage he dubbed them "the three stooges."

[presidio9]

This is not true. US forces are not in Baghdad. They are not in control of any airport. They are like a snake in the desert. I tell you this. It is all a lie. They lie. It is a hollywood movie. You do not believe them.

[Guillermo]

controversial rhetoric

LOL, controversial??

I don't know who was more hilarious: Baghdad Bob, or the morons over at DU who believed him.

[bitcon]

Sahhaf has revealed to his interviewer the secrets of Baghdad's fall and the ouster of Saddam.


The ouster of Sadam? Are they saying there was a coup or am I just misreading this? I thought all the Ba'athist ran like the cowards they are.

[Dr. Frank fan]

Al Ittihad said he would also disclose that Iraq sought to possess nuclear weapons....

Interesting and important if it's true that he really will say this on TV.

To me, even ignoring everything else, that's the Justification For The War(tm), right there.

[MalcolmS]

>>>Interesting and important if it's true that he really will say this on TV. <<<

Yes, but can you believe him. I mean the guy's a pathological liar. Maybe he's just doing it for face time or something.

[Bringbackthedraft]

Why is it that every time I see this guy I think he's going to say "Live From NY, Its Saturday Night".

[driftless]

I always take whatever the media says, which is still overwhelmingly liberal, with a large grain of salt. They would like nothing more than a disaster in Iraq. Everything negative will be accentuated, and everything positive will be ignored. They want like nothing else to get Bush out of office and their favorite far-left lib Dem candidate installed. They are still as dangerous and WRONG!!! as ever.

[driftless]

I just paid a visit to the nuts at DU. Hilariously many of them are still focused on conspiracy theories concerning Bush...the 2000 election, 9/11, the Saudis. The thing that strikes me about those nuts is they rarely discuss particular issues. Almost every thread is a variation of why Bush is evil, stupid, and involved with conspiracies to establish a dictatorship and throw everyone in prison. There are sometimes discussions say of affirmative action, but if a poster does not toe the ideological line, he or she can be expected to be called a closet racist and the worst of all epithets.. a FREEPER!! DU is the result of what happens when the looney bins get overcrowded and some of the inmates are let out.

[Poohbah]

I don't know who was more hilarious: Baghdad Bob, or the morons over at DU who believed him.

If you have any links to those threads, please Freepmail them to me, I need the laughs.

[driftless]

Driftless must apologize for responding to the wrong thread. Hit the wrong button. Sorry. Meant to hit the one about the media bias in Iraq.

[PFKEY]

I try to go over there from time to time and get a perspective on what the other side thinks on any given issue.

Your observations are correct. There is little to no in depth analysis on any subject. Just why Bush is so awful or evil or inept.

A big thread for those folks is maybe 200 posts. Lots of bad language and silly graphics.

[Guillermo]

I'm sorry, but I didn't bookmark them, and to use the search function one needs to be a donor.

Al Jazeera, the BBC, Robert Fisk and Baghdad Bob were the only ones who were believed on there.

One specific statement I recall went something like this (and this was about 2, 3 days before we took Baghdad): "All the US controls in Iraq are a few sand dunes."

[edchambers]

To me, even ignoring everything else, that's the Justification For The War(tm), right there.

Uh problem, this is Bagdad Bob might as well be Jason Blair writing for the Weekly World News.He may in fact be telling the truth but I can't imagine anyone believing him.

[Dr. Frank fan]

You guys make good points about Baghdad Bob's credibility.

However, I have to wonder why he would lie about this. It's understandable why he lied during the war; he had every motive for doing so. What motive is there for him to say "Saddam was pursuing nukes" if that isn't true? No motive comes readily to mind.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Documentation and names of scientists we can interview-- that's what we need.