But that all changed with the last video. The one in the room with the walls covered with bedsheets. Saddam, sons and four officers.
There would be no reason for the cheesy backdrop except to hide items that could indicate his location. Reminiscent of the Osama videos. IN the first one he appeared before distinctive rocks. An American geologist identified the location - then blabbed about it on CNN. After that, Osama appeared in houses, some with sheets, even a fake painted scenery background I recall.
Plus, did you see the faces of the people at the meeting? The sons looked forlorn. One general stared strangely into the camera, trying to communicate something. Saddam showed no anxiety, he was smoking a cigar, laughing. I guess he always imagined himself going like this or something. Or just didn't care.
Good observations.
I always thought the first broadcast, the one where he's wearing reading glasses, was also genuine simply because he would not prerecord himself looking so bad.
I'm not surprised Saddam is more in control of himself than his associates. Laughing and smoking. He's always been into theatrics.
Besides, for good or evil, he's the one who's the real thing there. The rest, including his sons, are just flunkies. Murderous, evil flunkies, true. But then, that's what impresses Dad.