SADDAM HUSSEIN CAPTURED

SkyNews ^ | December 14, 2003 | Staff

[Bubba_Leroy]

SADDAM HUSSEIN CAPTURED

Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has been captured in his home town of Tikrit, according to reports.

There has been no independent verification of the news but Sky New's Foreign Editor Tim Marshall says the source of the news is usually reliable.

The US Defence Department says it has had no confirmation of the claims, which come from Iraqi Kurd leader Jalal Talabani, says the Iran news agency IRNA.

Hundreds of exultant people have taken to the streets of Kirkuk, firing weapons into the air in celebration.

A press conference has been announced for 12pm GMT.

In Baghdad, a spokeswoman for the US-led operation notified reporters that a "very important" announcement will be made at the press conference.

[Jonathon Spectre]

What a hell of a thing to wake up to. Today's going to be a good day.

I wonder what will become of him, and I wonder what he'll have to tell us...

[Ex-Dem]

Don't forget those people who absolutely insisted that he was dead already...

[TigersEye]

Don't miss this thread!

Terrorist Behind September 11 Strike was Trained by Saddam

[B-Bear]

Thanks! cnn hasn't really been talking about it that much. I think I'll change to FOX.

[Severa]

It just so happened that I had left the TV on FoxNews channel when I turned it off last night, so when I turned it on around 8:30am EST this news was the first thing I saw. I sat glued to the TV for about a solid hour, not believing what I was seeing. (The kids weren't happy about that at first but they settled down quickly) Been lurking on here for the past hour or so just looking at all the different threads, still without that first cup of coffee *LOL* Even so this is one hell of a jolt!

[Damagro]

LOL....I love it! They're talking about how the man who lived in gilt-covered palaces was caught at the bottom of a hole!! Poetic justice!!

---

It reminds me of the capture of Santa Anna. He was hiding in a well wearing a privates uniform

[YaYa123]

Just a few observations:

Matt was sure caught napping on this one.

Andrea Mitchell says on MTP: How the trial of Saddam would take place, was decided months ago, with the involvement of The State Department. She said, it will be decided by 5 Iraqi judges, it will be the first war crimes trial held outside The Hague. She sounded very sure of herself. And not 30 seconds later, Dan Rather on CBS says, we don't know how the trial of Saddam will be run, no decisions have been made. Dan is blathering away, seemingly impervious to the fact that he's out of date, out of touch, and totally behind on what's happening. Please Dan, just go way!

NBC had on a stable of former Clinton administration officials to grudgingly opine on what this capture means. Sandy Berger, Richard Holbrook, etc. Guess Tom couldn't find a republican?

How like President Bush to allow General Sanchez and Paul Bremer make the announcement. How unlike what Clinton would have done!

And folks, it looks like Al Gore's timing is as bad as ever! Haha Anti-war Howard Dean can't be saying "They haven't even captured Saddam Hussein" in his stump speeches any longer.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Merry Christmas everyone.

[B-Bear]

I just can't get over that video. The louse check was definitly the best part!

[clintonh8r]

What a great way to wake up on a beautiful Sunday morning! Thank God, thank our president, and thank our magnificent troops!

[Eala]

Thanks for the ping! What great news to wake up to!!!!

[ladyinred]

FANTASTIC NEWS! I am stunned, thrilled, and so thankful!

So much for the failure of President Bush and the US Military!!!!!!!

Whoo Hoo!!!!

[TexKat]

This morning when I heard that a white and orange taxi cab parked outside of Saddam's hiding hole, it rang a bell for me. I remember that it had been reported by someone on one of the cable news stations about a month ago, so I had to see if I could find that info. I did not find the cable news report, but I did find this article dated Nov. 10, 2003.

A day with the troops

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson of Cape Girardeau recently visited the Middle East. She kept a daily journals. Here is the seventh installment.

By Jo Ann Emerson

Monday, Nov. 10: This afternoon, we were supposed to fly to Tikrit, the hometown of Saddam Hussein, but weather wouldn't permit us to fly in there. That city has more loyalists than you would find in Kirkuk, and there has been more resistance to the coalition troops there as a result.

Tikrit has been the center of much speculation about Saddam as well. There is a lot of anxiety among Iraqis over where he might be and how much power he retains. People think maybe he returned to Tikrit. I even heard one rumor that he is driving a taxi cab.

I was disappointed not to see a community that might be facing an entirely different set of challenges. Instead, we had lunch with the troops. I had never had a Meal Ready to Eat before today, and, frankly, I hope I never do again. The food would take some getting used to. Everything is packaged for long-term storage without refrigeration.

The troops do get some variety in their MREs, so maybe I just caught them on a bad day. They told me they appreciate having American foods. One thing I thought to do before leaving the United States was to bring along some phone cards from Operation Uplink, which is a joint effort of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, SBC and some other companies. (The VFW has distributed 900,000 phone cards to service members in the last 100 days alone. I brought about 50.) This is a great program to put the men and women serving all over the world in our armed forces into contact with their families and loved ones back home. I could tell from how the troops gratefully accepted the phone cards that they will be put to good use.

I found myself thinking ahead to the holidays and how difficult it will be for these young men to be away from home. Some other programs have been started in the United States where people donate their frequent-flier miles to a special fund that enables troops to fly home for free when they get some time for leave. Few are lucky enough to get to do that, though. The creature comforts they miss came up in general conversation: football, news and even a brief discussion about good home cooking.

I told the troops my favorite part of today was no corkscrew landings on the plane. After the long morning, I found myself saying a quick silent prayer for them all to be home soon.

After our meal together, it was back to Amman, Jordan, on the C-130 for another Iftar, the large meal Muslims eat after sundown every day of Ramadan.

Next we are on to Damascus, Syria

[the invisib1e hand]

this is great news. it is freakin' despicable what I'm hearing on abc news about how 'this will not lessen attacks,' 'troop morale was so low...'they thought they would get him the first day of the war....' yadda f*ckin' yadda. some people are hopeless.

It's gotten that I dread major events altogether because of the cesspool of spin...

[traumer]

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who opposed the U.S.-led war, wrote to George W. Bush saying: "With great happiness I have learnt of the capture of Saddam Hussein. I congratulate you on the successful mission. "Saddam Hussein has brought unspeakable suffering over his own people and the whole region. I hope that with his capture the efforts of the international community to the reconstruction and stabilization of Iraq will be furthered."

A statement from French President Jacques Chirac, who was also against the war, said: "The president is delighted with Saddam Hussein's arrest. "It is a major event that would strongly contribute to the democratization and stabilization of Iraq and allow Iraqis to find again the control of their destiny in a sovereign Iraq."

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin added: "The page of the Iraqi dictatorship is thus turned."

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair -- Bush's main ally -- said: "This is very good news for the people of Iraq. It removes the shadow that has been hanging over them for too long of the nightmare of a return to the Saddam regime. This fear is now removed."

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar said it was "a great day for everyone" and for "stability in the world." In a statement on Spanish TV, he added: "Saddam was the cause of all of the poverty in Iraq. From now on, terrorist groups are closer to being defeated."
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, in Paris, said Saddam's capture would have "a demoralizing effect" on his supporters and could result in a decrease in attacks on coalition targets in Iraq.
NATO Secretary General George Robertson said: "I have heard the news and greatly welcome it. I hope it will lead to greater stability for the people of Iraq."

George W. Bush met senior White House officials Sunday morning in the Oval Office to plan how to respond publicly.

Democratic presidential candidate and retired general Wesley Clark called for a "very public" war crimes trial.

[Howlin]

Far out! I knew you kept up with every word posted, but that's truly amazing!

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

I hope the troops Mirandaed Saddam. I'd hate to see the Supreme Court cut him loose on a technicality.

[MEG33]

I use my remote if I happen to be listening to the nay sayers when a good thing has happened!.

[B-Bear]

Did you guys see the Iraqi journalists screaming "death to Saddam," when they showed the video?

I coundn't be happier for those guys!

I think some of them were crying to weren't they?

[rintense]

THIS IS UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!!

President Bush is THE MAN!!!!