Every article of that trope that I've read cites "CIA sources" or "intelligence sources", which is NOT the CIA speaking -- it's the lib media pulling a "Gilligan".
What would prove Saddam's still alive?
From the Fox News website:
WASHINGTON — The CIA says an audio recording purportedly of Saddam Hussein denying involvement in last week's bombing in Najaf is probably authentic.
A CIA official said the poor quality of the audio message, aired Monday on the Arabic al-Jazeera television network, prevents technical analysts from being certain.
In the message, the voice urged the Iraqi people not to believe those who blamed the ousted dictator and his followers for Friday's attack on the Imam Ali Shrine (search) in Najaf that killed Ayatollah Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim (search) and scores of others.
I guess Fox News is making things up too.
The article you cite states exactly my prior point. It attributes to "a CIA Official" -- who is that? If the CIA is making a formal statement, don't they have a formal spokesman?
And also note that "they aren't certain"? So either this is an identification or it isn't. I say that your article is NOT an identification.
How would he prove he's alive? Grant an interview to Dan Rather; appear in a credible video with today's NY Times on the table. Come on -- kidnappers have been 'proving' the existence of hostages for years.