This is an American First [The Capture of Saddam]

Happy Saddam Day! | By Lazamataz

[Lazamataz]

Has America ever captured the leader of a foreign country that was our enemy before?

• Revolutionary War: Nope.
• 1812 War with Canada: Nope.
• Spanish/American War: Nope.
• World War One: Nope.
• World War Two, Germany: Nope.
• World War Two, Italy: Nope.
• World War Two, Japan: Close, but I don't think we actually took the Emperor into custody.
• Vietnam War: Nope.

This is an unprecedented event. Our behavior will be scrutinized. I have no doubt we will behave honorably -- it is our way -- but this is a precendent-setting event and will probably be the model for all other countries we invade, should the need arise. That is why we should be very careful how we interrogate Saddam. I initially thought turning him over to Mossad was a good idea. I don't think so any more. We should behave mercifully to our vanquished foe, since he is now impotent and it will reflect well upon us throughout the world.

Definitely, do not turn him over the the Hague, or to Iraq, at least not at first.

I believe GITMO would also be a bad idea. His humilation is complete already. Let's treat him no better and no worse than any American prisoner. At the time it is sensible to dispose of him and exact revenge, simply turn him over to Iraq. They'll bloody him and our hands will be clean.

[elli1]

I was wrong about Idi Amin having lived in France...he was in exile in Saudi Arabia (via Libya & Iraq). I got him corn-fused w/ Baby Doc Duvalier, who is living in exile in France (unless he's daid, too.)

[Democratshavenobrains]

The Dems are already bleating about us not respecting Saddam's human rights by checking him for lice.

[possum]

Wasn't the United States. Was two different nations: The Union and the Confederacy.

The "Union" was the United States of America, the same government we pay taxes to today. The "Confederacy" was either a band of misfits and traitors or a legitimately independent country, depending upon whom you ask.

[Hank Kerchief]

Tojo SHOT himself, BUT WAS SAVED BY US DOCTORS. He was tried for war crimes, convicted and HANGED. You're welcome.

Thank you! You are right.

Hank

[RightWingAtheist]

[Paleo Conservative]

But Texas did
Texas Revolution 1836 (Battle of San Jacinto) Yep!

[Lazamataz]

Where ya been? :o)

[Sapper26]

You know, I kind of thought it was a navy guy, but Jodl was the only name I could think of. But Jodl did end up bouncing from the end of a rope. (Or maybe not)

[Al Simmons]

"But Jodl did end up bouncing from the end of a rope. (Or maybe not)"

You're right. He did.

[capitan_refugio]

And we kept his wooden leg.

[capitan_refugio]

I would add Pierre Laval to your list. He was the "Chief of Government" for Vichy France, and fled to Spain following the fall of the Vichy Government. The Spanish eventually kicked him out, and he was captured by American troops in Linz. One could argue, that the traitor Marshal Henri-Philippe Petain was the "Chief of State" for the Vichy government, but Laval was the real conspirator and power behind the Nazi-loving French government.

[F16Fighter]

"Actually, I thought they should have shot him on site. A dead Saddam is more valuable than a live Saddam...As long as he is alive the movement is alive."

This was my initial reaction as well...

Of course, upon completion of my suggested two-week long "interrogation," anything could have happened, could it have not? ;-)

Apparently, our people believe it was better in the long run to parade a cowardly, pussified Saddam in front of the camera, instead of this supposed "warrior" his supporters thought he was.

They're betting this does more to expose his legend as nothing more than a fraud to demoralize, and thus negating the "movement" instead of turning him into a martyr. It may make more sense.

[F16Fighter]

"Ah, but we could turn him over to Iraqis/Kurds for interrogation purposes, could we not?"

Yes -- after we worked him over...

[MeekOneGOP]

Caption this: Billionaire Tyrant captured
posing as homeless man in RatHole

[TheSpottedOwl]

I think, though, that the invasion of Iraq (two times, now!) is more of a traditional war. More of what I would think of when I think of the term 'enemy nation'.,/i>

This is true, If I remember correctly, we basically kidnapped Noriega? I can't remember the details :/

[RiflemanSharpe]

I am sad to say you missed one that was captured. Jefferson Davis was captured by union forces at the end of the Civil War. There was one before Saddam.

[Leatherneck_MT]

2 Nations

You do not occupy your own country.

The Congress of the United States gave the South their independence defacto, AFTER the North had won the war, when they refused to allow them to send their congressmen and senators back to Washington DC. They never recognized the South as a part of the United States until many years later. This was directly contrary to what Lincoln wanted to do.

Yeah the misfits won unfortunately. Everyone gets lucky once in awhile.

[Lazamataz]

I am sad to say you missed one that was captured. Jefferson Davis was captured by union forces at the end of the Civil War. There was one before Saddam.

I'm of the opinion that America was too fractured at that point to really be seen as America. Seems like it was 2 different nations entirely -- the Union and the Confederacy. All the paperwork says the Union was America, but... the character of the nation was drastically different.

[Lazamataz]

Tut, tut! Hitler died on April 30, 1945. Admiral Karl Dönitz became Führer at that point. He surrendered to Allied forces on May 7, 1945.

Technically. But can it truly be said that Karl (Dunkin') Donitz was really the true leader of Nazi Germany? He was a stand-in, only necessary due to a dead Hitler.

[Lazamataz]

We don't have conventional wars anymore. Last one was WWII.

Korea: Definitely.

Vietnam: Probably.

Gulf War I: Definitely.

Gulf War 2: Definitely.