[S.O.L.]

Saddam is a savvy survivor. The Iraqis are not that stupid. They know very well by now that we can find and target them very quickly.

While I really hope 60 of them were just sitting there dining out waiting to be bombed, I think there are other possiblities.

I have not seen this mentioned as a possibility , but what if that restaurant just had a concealed entrance to an underground tunnel complex leading to a distant bunker that has its own second exit?

Whatever leaders entered the restaurant would just be laughing their asses off.

[Happy2BMe]

I highly doubt saddam or his goons would gather not even two miles from where Americans are occupying the former palace (love those words) just to tempt their fates.

Highly unlikely.

[Coop]

I have not seen this mentioned as a possibility , but what if that restaurant just had a concealed entrance to an underground tunnel complex leading to a distant bunker that has its own second exit? Whatever leaders entered the restaurant would just be laughing their asses off.

It's definitely a possibility. That's why nobody's confirming anything until they see a body or DNA. But even if these murderous thugs did survive by the skin of their teeth, I can guarantee you none of them find that close call particularly amusing.

FWIW, there supposedly was some intel pinpointing their location within 4-6 meters. If correct, that would rule out your secondary bunker.

[CCCnative]

I have not seen this mentioned as a possibility , but what if that restaurant just had a concealed entrance to an underground tunnel complex leading to a distant bunker that has its own second exit?
Kinda like a gopher. Unless you're very quick, you can only be sure of where he was.

[browardchad]

The Iraqis are not that stupid.

I've been thinking about the intelligence of this regime over the past few days, in light of what we've seen, and I do think they are stupid, in the western sense of the word, simply because they haven't had to be very smart.

The chem/bio weapons we're beginning to find aren't hidden in any clever fashion, because it didn't take a heck of a lot to foil 100 reluctant and sympathetic inspectors.

Our CIA has been effectively castrated since the Church commission, and so they really didn't have to worry much about internal operatives, until, perhaps, recently.

The French, Russian and German enablers have not been shy in supplying arms, intelligence and defense systems, but they neglected to tell their customer that these weapons were no match for our capabilities.

They were convinced, after 12 years of the U.S. deferring to the U.N., eight years of a US president who had no intention of actually unleashing our military, and bribing/blackmailing Security Council and other U.N. members, that they would not be invaded.

Finally, if Saddam and company were so very smart, why were they still in Baghdad?

Hubris and Arab guile, coddled and magnified by Russian/European/Liberal greed and opportunism? Yes.

Smart? No.

[oyez]

Whatever leaders entered the restaurant would just be laughing their asses off.

They are, but they are laughing on the run.

The Important thing is the Iraqi leadership is winning the war of disinformation about Saddam and that helps keeps the war going.

[el_texicano]

"a concealed entrance to an underground tunnel complex"

I thought of that too. But, if that's the case, why enter the stupid restaurant via the front door?? They could just meet like rats underground somewhere and nobody will know.

Another thing. If this was just a double that entered the restaurant, sooner or later with all the target practice we are getting, Saddam is gonna run out of doubles.

Don't know, but one thing's for sure. Saddam if alive still has a bulls eye painted on his back.