“We got him”
But now what do we do?
Yes, it was unlucky 13 for ex-Iraqi leader and tyrant Saddam Hussein as American troops finally nabbed him on December 13th.
But for the rest of the world, Christmas came early as news footage was broadcast around the globe showing ‘the butcher of Baghdad’ firmly in the hands of the coalition forces.
Discovered in a ‘spider hole’ on a farm near his hometown of Tikrit, Saddam surrendered without firing a shot.
However, conspiracy theories already abound as a number of questions have been raised by the state of the once pristine ruler.
For instance, his hair and beard indicate that he has not seen a barber for weeks.
The hole where he was found was a mere six feet across and primitive at best and he could not exit without help.
He looked beaten and hungry and gave up with barely a whimper.
In the hole was found 750,000 dollars but no means of communication.
According to the conspiracy theorists these facts all add up to one conclusion, that Saddam was actually being held prisoner.
After his last taped message on November 16th, they continue, Saddam was seized, possibly with the co-operation of his own men, and held in the infamous hole for three weeks or more. In the meantime his captors bargained for the 25 million dollar reward, mediated by Jalal Talabani’s Kurdish PUK militia.
This, they claim, would explain the ex-ruler’s docility, described by Lt. General Ricardo Sanchez as “resignation”. He must have regarded the US forces as rescuers.
Whatever the truth in his capture it is now time to bring Saddam to justice. Iraqis are eager to handle his trial, and President Bush promised last week to help them do just that.
Yet human-rights groups, some legal experts and countries that include neighbouring Iran want his trial conducted in an international court.
The probability is that the trial will take place in Iraq, with the majority of the country’s citizens calling for a public execution. The world awaits with bated breath.
thepaper.net |
