Based on your source (third hand - Iraq radio (perhaps, perhaps someone fooling w/ the minds of the Iraq radio listeners) - interpreter - reporter), I'd keep my money on the simpler explanation - he survived.
I still say that the
simpler explanation is that we used the
right weapons for the job. We planned the operation pretty carefully.
You are just discounting any data which doesn't fit your presupposition that our military didn't do a very good job. I think it's easier to believe that they did. I think it's easier to believe that the Iraqis are just lying.