Posted on 03/03/2005 2:29:47 PM PST by nickcarraway
Wed Mar 2, 5:40 PM ET
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - The eldest son of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) was plotting to overthrow his father just as US troops advanced on Baghdad in March 2003, journalist Peter Arnett claimed in Playboy Magazine.
Uday Hussein, known for his ruthlessness and flashy lifestyle, had won the support of the leadership of his father's Fedayeen militia to overthrow Saddam's 35-year rule, according to an advance copy of the April edition of Playboy obtained by AFP.
The controversial reporter, who was fired by the US NBC television network in 2003 after suggesting that the US war plan in Iraq (news - web sites) had failed, made the claim following an 18-month investigation in which he says he gained access to Uday Hussein's inner circle.
The article cited a letter from Saddam Fedayeen commander General Maki Humudat, dated March 26, 2003, in which he swore allegiance to a new Iraqi government under the control of Fedayeen chief Uday Hussein.
"According to your direction and command to form a new government under the leadership of your Excellency (Uday), we have informed all the senior officers of the Saddam Fedayeen of your desire to appoint them as your candidates for office in your government," the letter said.
Uday had planned to announce his seizure of the crumbling reins of power later the same day, but was thwarted when US jets bombed his Youth TV studios in Baghdad, according to Arnett.
The ambitious heir had even formed a shadow government on the outskirts of Iraq's capital, Baghdad that was disguised under the cover of his powerful Olympic committee and funded by murky oil deals, he said.
According to Arnett, the oldest son of the Iraqi dictator had long been chafing under his father's iron fisted rule and blamed his father for the punishing international sanctions on the country.
"Though it has not been reported until now, Uday Hussein was the biggest proponent of regime change inside Iraq," Arnett wrote.
"During the previous 10 years, he had slowly assembled the elements of power -- military, military and political management -- designed to overthrow his tyrannical father," said the reporter who was in Baghdad as US troops approached following the launch of the March 19, 2003 US-led attack.
But, according to the journalist, Uday's coup plan came too late as US-led forces were just days away from the Iraqi capital.
He and his younger brother, Qusay, were forced to flee Baghdad along with their father as the Baath party military machine collapsed ahead of the US seizure of the city in early April.
Uday and Qusay were killed in a blistering battle in the northern city of Mosul on July 22, 2003, while Saddam Hussein was captured alive in his home town of Tikrit in December of that year.
Arnett, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his Vietnam War reporting and covered the 1991 Persian Gulf War (news - web sites) for CNN from Baghdad, was fired from NBC at the end of March 2003 after granting a disputed interview to Iraqi state television.
In that interview just days before Baghdad fell, he said the US war plan was failing. "Clearly, the American war planners misjudged the determination of the Iraqi forces," he said.
Well then we shouldn't have gone in to Iraq if Saddam's son was going to over throw him anyway!/lib logic
Like anyone should believe anything Arnett has to say anymore.....
Good grief, which is worse as an authority, Arnet or Playboy.
Is he suggested we didn't need to dump Saddam, that we could have waited for that humanitarian, Uday Hussein, to come to power?
Uday the Rapist replacing Saddam the Brute. What a massive improvelence, dahlin'!
Oh, come on. Who would put this in writing?
Unless the guy planned to show it to Saddam to get rid of Uday.
The one thing they have in common: over-exposed boobs.
Did he mention the torturing...murders...rapes...and other criminal activities both brothers were engaged in. Who would think that a viable option for Iraq would be anyone from that demented family?
Isn't arnett the douche who kept Saddam's crimes under wraps so that CNN could stay in Baghdad?
If so, why does anyone care what a propagandist liar like this has to say?
Finally, even if this were true, can the libs honestly say that Saddam's son would be an "improvement"? LOL
So, his treatment of the players on the national soccer team was just practice.
Uday was a punk compared to his daddy.
SO9
He is a liar's liar.....lies like a rug on the floor.
Peter Arnett could gag a maggot!
First, Arnett is full of crap!
Second. If this were true, then going into Iraq BEFORE Uday had overthrown his old man was the best thing we could have done, considering that his 'human shredding' would probably have increased once he came into power.
And who knows how many more Kurds would have been gassed to death.
We should have let The Rapist topple The Thug. Yeah that's the ticket. Next theory please.
I honestly don't see the point either. One could have argued that Uday was a greater threat than Saddam.
Playboy has articles?
"Playboy has articles?"
LMAO!!!!! ;)
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