Israel believes Saddam spoke live in morning TV broadcast

Jerusalem Post ^ | Mar. 20, 2003 | HERB KEINON

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

Israeli Foreign Ministry experts believe that Saddam Hussein was speaking live on camera when he addressed the Iraqi nation this morning on television and radio, shortly after the US launched a war against him.

Officials at the ministry's Center for Political Studies reached this conclusion largely based on the fact that Saddam was wearing glasses, and also because the Arabic he spoke was not very sophisticated, suggesting the speech was put together on the spur of the moment.

Had the speech been staged, it is unlikely that Saddam would have been shown wearing glasses, or appearing to read his remarks rather than having them memorized, the officials said.

Saddam also appeared to be under a lot of pressure and more disorganized than usual, when he made the speech, in which he characteristically lashed out at "criminal Zionism" in addition to the United States, it was noted.

In the speech, Saddam accused the United States of committing a "shameful crime" by attacking Iraq and urged the Iraqi people to "go draw your sword" against the enemy.

"We promise you that Iraq, its leadership and its people will stand up to the evil invaders, and we will take them to such limits that they will lose their patience in achieving their plans, which are pushed by criminal Zionism," he said.

[Dog Gone]

With all due respects to their foreign ministry, they aren't the intelligence branch.

[Trust but Verify]

Has anyone seen a transcript of 'Saddam's' speech?

[VRWC_minion]

Any more information that it wasn;t Saddam ? To tell you the truth it didn't look like the file photo's I'm used to seeing of him. Not only his looks but his demeanor looked very different.

[UncleSamUSA]

I'm trying to catch up on the "Was it really Saddam" threads here, but I can tell you one thing:

If it really was the authentic Saddam speaking, then Saddam seemed to be shocked and awed by the attempt on him because he looked terrible. Gaunt. Robotic. Flipping over pages on a notepad in a move even a high school debater would shun.

That is one shocked dude, if it was indeed the authentic dude. And what was with the glasses and the goofy beret? At first he looked like a puffy version of the aged Groucho Marx to me, complete with a not-quite-right mustache.

[MissAmericanPie]

The Pentagon reported that it was a tape. Just reported on Fox News.

[wharfrat]

You would too if your drawers were full of $hit;and the father of two sadistic idiot sons!

[steveegg]

Has anyone seen a transcript of 'Saddam's' speech?

I saw it on CNN; don't know if there's an FR thread on it.

[smith288]

My common sense intel says it was either taped or wasnt him based on the fact he didnt speak about any specific event and was acting totally different than the ordinary smooth operator

[TLBSHOW]

it was pure bs!

[over3Owithabrain]

I agree with the Israeli assessment about it not being taped. Saddam would have made it look better had he planned in advance. It was either a live double or a live dictator who had a very bad wake-up call.

[Lynne]

Just heard on KYW 1060 radio in Phila. that the Pentagon believes Saddam was taken out last night.

[CindyDawg]

Did any of yall hear what sounded like a gun shot during this speech?

[MrBambaLaMamba]

Saw the clip, it looked like one of his doubles. Maybe Saddam is off visiting Osama. We can hope.

The best way to end war and ensure peace is to kill the enemy. Killing the enemy also demoralizes socialists, democrats, and certain entertainers.

[Hatteras]

I was a bit confused when shortly before Brian Williams and MSNBC aired the tape of Saddam they were running crawls stating that the U.S. had taken over the TV and radio broadcasts in Baghdad. I guess not.

[Allan]

I do not believe Saddam would dare to speak live on TV.
What has the NSA been doing the last year
if not working overtime
at monitoring all forms of communication in Iraq?

Surely the location of the studio could be determined immediately
and goodbye Saddam!
By now it must be extremely dangerous for any top Iraqi official
to use any form of electronic communication.

[Mr.Clark]

FOX said the Pentagon was pretty sure it was pre-recorded, as the "live" feed froze last night.

[chiller]

When I saw the photo, I asked. Who's that? Wasn't Saddam, imho, but fits the "Saddam look-alike" mold very well. Any bets?

[maquiladora]

He gave the date and time at the start.

[OPS4]

That wa not Saddam and it was taped in my opinion.

OPs4 God Bless America!