Arab League scuttled secret exile offer for Saddam: U.A.E. officials

Canoe ^ | Nov. 1, 2005 | Staff

[KarinG1]

DUBAI, U.A.E. (AP) - Deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein accepted an 11th-hour offer to flee into exile weeks ahead of the U.S.-led 2003 invasion but Arab League officials scuttled the proposal, officials in Dubai said.

The exile initiative was spearheaded by the late president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, at an emergency Arab summit held in Egypt in February 2003, Sheik Zayed's son said in an interview aired by Al-Arabiya TV during a documentary. The U.S.-led coalition invaded March 19 that year.

A top U.A.E. government official confirmed the offer Saturday, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Saddam allegedly accepted the offer to try and halt the invasion and bring elections to Iraq within six months, said the official and Sheik Zayed's son.

[KarinG1]

My memory may be faulty, but I can't remember Saddam being offered the opportunity to hold free elections within six months as an alternative to having his butt kicked. The way I remember it, it was more like three days for his entire family to get the heck out of Dodge, and don't let the sun set on that third day while you are still there. Once again, I could be wrong in my recollection. Please correct me if that is the case.

[adamsjas]

He wasn't going to hold the elections, he was going to retire to a beach-side villa and run Iraq remotely via his elected Bathist henchmen.

[Prime Choice]

Deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein accepted an 11th-hour offer to flee into exile weeks ahead of the U.S.-led 2003 invasion but Arab League officials scuttled the proposal, officials in Dubai said.

There's something about this story that doesn't pass the smell test. I cannot quite put my finger on what it is, but the whole thing just doesn't ring true.

[anthraciterabbit]

I don't see how having Saddam Hussein, one guy, leave Iraq at the last hour reduces the danger the place represented at the time. There's still no other rational explanation aside from the machinations of the baathist state for the anthrax attacks which followed 9-11 and there was too much other stuff sitting there as well for anybody to allow that regime to continue to exist.

[adamsjas]

I don't see how having Saddam Hussein, one guy, leave Iraq at the last hour reduces the danger the place represented at the time.

Neither did Bush.