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.
Sounds like he was meeting with the enemy.
Just damn.
Uday was even more of a Psycopath than his father was.
And we care about this NON story because?
What is that, Dragon?
Candy Gram.
"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."
PLEASE tell me Arnett isn't suggesting that the psychotic Uday Hussein was somehow some closet classical liberal brimming with zeal for democracy and just chomping at the bit to free Iraq and usher in a golden era of democratic governance. And PLEASE don't tell me Arnett is using this to say that the US shouldn't have acted, that Uday was going to do its job for them and overthrow his father bringing Iraq into the family of nations.
The mentally ill Uday Hussein was worse than his father! He was an absolute blood thirsty psychopath who picked women off the street to rape, even taking them in the middle of wedding ceremonies and forcing their husbands to watch, then killing both of them. Uday was known for his love for capricious murders and torture. PLEASE Peter, I hope you're not suggesting that Uday Hussein in power in Bagdhad would have been far preferable to overthrowing the Hussein mafia's hold on Iraq and bringing democracy to the country via US force. If so, you're as deranged as Uday.
I don't believe Arnett any more than I believe Dan Rather.
"...journalist Peter Arnett..."
"urinalist Petey Arnett"
Lowlife, subhuman filth...
Junk science from Arnett. The good part: Uday ain't takin' ova.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,93291,00.html
July 30, 2003
Saddam Hussein's son Uday…killed last week by coalition forces…apparently knew months ago that his demise was imminent. The London Telegraph says that three days before the fall of Baghdad on April 9, Uday told the director of Iraqi television, "I think the end is near" because "this time I think the Americans are serious, Bush is not like Clinton."
Who in his right mind would read, or listen to anything that has Peter Arnett has to say?
And screw Yahoo News!
Given the source there is no part this that should be belived. O'l Peter is great at making things up as proven.
KC_Conspirator
More crap from Arnett. This is just made up so that those that hate America, opposed the war, and the resulting purple fingers from the election, can now claim they were still right. This is about as credible as his Tailwind story.
Or as credible as the granddaddy of all Arnett tales, the we had to destroy this village to save it yarn.
No, that was Eason Jordan.
Most could care less what he said I'd hope. He's using dead people for sources, how's he supposed to back it up?
Just like that quote he won a Pulitzer for, it's all simply bulls**t. He needs attention.
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