Free Republic

CAIRO, Egypt - Iraq's former information minister said Wednesday that Saddam Hussein was elated at the start of the Iraq war, but quickly became angry upon learning of his troops' losses. Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf — who gained notoriety during the war for making absurd claims of Iraqi military victories — made his comments during an interview on Abu Dhabi Television. During the first four days of the war, which began March 20, al-Sahhaf said Saddam was "in a state of ecstasy" about the progress of his soldiers in Basra, in southern Iraq. "But to the contrary, he was angry...

Editor's note: Iraqi information minister Mohammad Saeed Al-Sahhaf gained infamy in recent weeks for defiant proclamations that often ran 180 degrees opposite of reality. What career might await such a man in the post-Saddam world? Page 2 speculates ... (more)