Replies

I still wonder what happened to all of the Saddam decoys. I would think that some of them were being smuggled around the countryside too as cover for the real Saddam.

I would also think that many if not all of them (who didn't surrender) have been executed by Saddam loyalists (they would know too much about the inner workings of the efforts to hide Saddam and the communication network).

Has anyone done a post-capture analysis of the "Saddam videos" that Saddam released after Gulf War II: Operation Topple Saddam began? It would be interesting to know just which of those Saddam videos used fake Saddams. There was speculation at the time they were made but I haven't heard any later analysis.

It is still an interesting subject because some left wing nuts alledge that Saddam "couldn't" have grown his beard that thick while in hiding. He certainly could have if it wasn't him on every one of those videotapes.

"I still wonder what happened to all of the Saddam decoys. I would think that some of them were being smuggled around the countryside too as cover for the real Saddam."

My guess is Saddam had them executed for that very reason: He couldn't afford letting a look-alike take advantage of the situation and take over. The downside of being a dictator is constant paranoia.

I think this is why the guy is shown wearing plastic gloves while examining Saddam's mouth after his capture. We wanted to be sure we got a swab of his DNA. Remember, people in Iraq were doubting last July that we had really taken out the two sons, despite our photos of them in the morgue.