U.S.- 'No Conclusions' Saddam Speech Was Authentic

Reuters | 3/20/03

[kattracks]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. official said on Thursday the United States was drawing "no conclusions" as to the authenticity of a defiant speech by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein following the launch of war against Iraq.

"We've reached no conclusions about who that was, or when it was taped or anything like that," the senior administration official told reporters. He declined to confirm reports Saddam was a target in opening strikes on Wednesday of the U.S.-led war to oust the Iraqi leader.

[kattracks]

It wasn't Saddam.

[demlosers]

I'm hearing it was Saddam's voice on tape.

[Ragirl]

It's odd he was wearing glasses, don't you think? Some guy on fox said that he thought it was odd too.

[mewzilla]

Someone please inform Katie Couric. This obviously hadn't occurred to that twit, and I'm not sure General Schwartzkopf got it through to her.

[Nubbin]

That guy wasn't Saddam. He looked to me like the charmin guy, Mr. Whipple.

[Grig]

Ditto.

But what is the best position for the US to take? If they present evidence that it isn't, they might get a lot more people to surrender without a fight, or even force anotoher broadcast giving more evidence to work with. At same time, if he is already dead then the US has less justification to enter Iraq now.

I think it's best if they create doubt and uncertainty without proving it one way or the other. Best of both worlds, and it seems to be what they are doing with this statement.

[Grig]

Voices can be easily imitated.

[mystery-ak]

I have to agree.....his face was heavier...puffy/swollen....it sure didn't look like Saddam.

[shattered]

I guess the bottom line is that they are not going to tell us anything.

[CT]

TV SPEECH 'WAS A TAPE' (Sky News)

Saddam Hussein was targeted in the US cruise missile strikes on Baghdad - but it could be days before we know if he was killed.

Just hours after the attacks, the Iraqi dictator made a television appearance urging his people to fight to victory and declaring a holy war.

But US Security Offials say a glitch proves his appearance was pre-recorded and not live.

And they have not ruled out that it could have been a body double and not the Iraqi dictator.

Saddam is known to have a number of "doubles" he uses for public appearances.

CIA Director George Tenet is believed to have met with US President George Bush yesterday afternoon, claiming to know the whereabouts of a meeting of senior Iraqi officials.

The Iraqi leader is believed to have been one of five Government leaders at the meeting in a "private residence" in Southern Baghdad.

Earlier Mr Bush insisted that if Saddam Hussein was killed in the attacks it could "change the course of the war".

Last Updated: 08:08 UK, Thursday March 20, 2003

[Physicist]

It's odd he was wearing glasses, don't you think?

I think he got them from Hans Blix.

[woofer]

I have to agree with you, Kat.
I thought the jerky splicing of the tape was a give-away, also. Like it was made in a hurry with a couple of doubles standing by at several impromptu studios sites. And the guy's hair wasn't quite as black as Saddammy's.

[tomahawk]

WHY are we allowing ANY SPEECHES or broadcasts by Saddam's regime?

They are going to take the media dupes to their destroyed baby milk factories and show injured civilians in hospitals.

We need to take Iraqi TV OFF THE F'ING AIR ASAP, or we risk losing the PR war.

THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. Someone is asleep at the Pentagon.

[Claire Voyant]

George Tenet ......he better NOT have screwed up Bush totally. I would not trust hi in a million years.

[null and void]

Iraq presser: Bush and Blair should be targeted: sounds Like we must have hit close to Saddam (live thread)

VERY close, I bet.

It's odd he was wearing glasses, don't you think?

His face looked swollen in his little press conference. He was atypically sitting down. I think the unprecidented wearing thick eyeglasses was to cover two incipient shiners...

[Common Tator]

I have to agree.....his face was heavier...puffy/swollen....it sure didn't look like Saddam.

This guy did not look like the saddam whose pictures were taken 2 days ago. The real Saddam has a cleft chin. This guy did not.

The Iraqi commanders are aware that Saddam may be dead. If he is they dare not use chemical or biological weapons. They cannot hope to use the defense that Saddam would have had my wife, children and me killed if I had not used them. It is hard to claim that a DEAD Saddam would have killed you for not following his orders.

That is the prime advantage this attack brings. Until Saddam can prove he is alive and in control the Iraqi Republican Guard may not use biological or chemical weapons. Saddam made me do it... will not work if Saddam and his sons are dead.

[DubbleD]

He was wearnig glasses because he was reading his prepared "speech".

[dawn53]

At same time, if he is already dead then the US has less justification to enter Iraq now.

Ding, ding, ding!!! You win the prize!

Why would we admit to taking him out this early. Then we'd hear the UN say, okay regime change has been achieved.

[mystery-ak]

You are correct, CT......can someone post a side-by-side pic of Saddam?

[ReaganRevolution]

We need to take Iraqi TV OFF THE F'ING AIR ASAP, or we risk losing the PR war. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. Someone is asleep at the Pentagon.

My understanding from this mornings news was Iraqi tv is off the air. This tape was broadcast to only places that have satellite tv, which the Iraqi people are not allowed to have. The Iraqi people are watching what our miltary is showing them if anything.