DETO Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 **BREAKING NEWS** http://cdn.news.aol.com/aolnews_photos/08/04/20031214092209990007'> . Saddam found in underground hideout near Tikrit · No shots fired as 600 U.S. troops raided location · He'll "face the justice he denied to millions," Bush vows · Saddam "very disoriented" as he was led from hole · Iraqis celebrate in streets of Baghdad BAGHDAD, Iraq (Dec. 14) -- BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Without firing a shot, American forces captured a bearded and haggard-looking Saddam Hussein in an underground hide-out on a farm near his hometown of Tikrit, ending one of the most intensive manhunts in history. The arrest was a huge victory for U.S. forces battling an insurgency by the ousted dictator's followers. In the capital, radio stations played celebratory music, residents fired small arms in the air in celebration and passengers on buses and trucks shouted, ''They got Saddam! They got Saddam!'' After sundown, large explosions were heard in central Baghdad, and flames and thick smoke were seen; a policeman said there were no casualties. ''The former dictator of Iraq will face the justice he denied to millions,'' President Bush said in a midday televised address from the White House, eight months after American troops swept into Baghdad and toppled Saddam's regime. ''In the history of Iraq, a dark and painful era is over. A hopeful day has arrived.'' Washington hopes Saddam's capture will help break the organized Iraq resistance that has killed more than 190 American soldiers since Bush declared major combat over on May 1 and has set back efforts at reconstruction. But Maj. Gen. Ray Odierno, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, which captured Saddam, said the ousted leader did not appear to be directly organizing resistance - noting no communication devices were found in his hiding place. ''I believe he was there more for moral support,'' Odierno said. Saddam's capture was based on information from a member of a family ''close to him,'' Odierno told reporters in Tikrit. The crucial information came after prisoners from raids and intelligence tips led to increasingly precise information, as CIA and military analysts gradually narrowed down their list of potential sites where Saddam was staying, a U.S. official said. The capture took place at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at one of dozens of safehouses Saddam is thought to have: a walled compound on a farm in Adwar, a town 10 miles from Tikrit, not far from one of Saddam's former palaces, Odierno said. ''I think it's rather ironic that he was in a hole in the ground across the river from these great palaces that he built,'' Odierno said. The event comes almost five months after his sons, Qusai and Odai, were killed July 22 in a four-hour gunbattle with U.S. troops in a hideout in the northern city of Mosul. There was hope at the time that the sons' deaths would dampen the Iraqi resistance to the U.S. occupation. But since then, the guerrilla campaign has mounted dramatically. In the latest attack, a suspected suicide bomber detonated explosives in a car outside a police station Sunday morning west of Baghdad, killing at least 17 people and wounding 33 more, the U.S. military said. Also Sunday, a U.S. soldier died while trying to disarm a roadside bomb south of the capital - the 452nd soldier to die in Iraq. Saddam was one of the most-wanted fugitives in the world, along with Osama bin Laden, the leader of the al-Qaida terrorist network who has not been caught despite a manhunt since November 2001, when the Taliban regime was overthrown in Afghanistan. ''Ladies and gentlemen, we got him,'' U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer told a news conference. ''The tyrant is a prisoner.'' Some 600 troops and special forces were involved in the raid that netted Saddam - though not all were aware beforehand that the objective was ''High Value Target No. 1,'' Odierno said. Troops found the ousted leader, armed with a pistol, hiding in an underground crawl space at the walled compound, Odierno said. Rugs and dirt covered the Styrofoam lid covering the entrance to the hiding place, a few feet from a small, mud-brick hut where Saddam had been staying. The hut consisted of two rooms, a bedroom with clothes scattered about and a ''rudimentary kitchen,'' Odierno said. The commander said Saddam likely had been there only a short time, noting that new shirts, still unwrapped, were found in the bedroom. Saddam was ''very disoriented'' as soldiers brought him out of the hole, Odierno said. A Pentagon diagram showed the hiding place as a 6-foot-deep vertical tunnel, with a shorter tunnel branching out horizontally from one side. A pipe to the concrete surface at ground level provided air. Saddam didn't fire his weapon. ''There was no way he could fight back so he was just caught like a rat,'' Odierno said. Two other Iraqis - described as low-level regime figures - were arrested in the raid, and soldiers found two Kalashnikov rifles, a pistol, a taxi and $750,000 in $100 bills. A U.S. defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Saddam admitted his identity when captured. Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, who saw Saddam overnight, said the deposed leader ''has been cooperative and is talkative.'' He described Saddam as ''a tired man, a man resigned to his fate.'' ''He was unrepentant and defiant,'' said Adel Abdel-Mahdi, a senior official of a Shiite Muslim political party who, along with other Iraqi leaders, visited Saddam in captivity. ''When we told him, 'If you go to the streets now, you will see the people celebrating,''' Abdel-Mahdi said. ''He answered, 'Those are mobs.' When we told him about the mass graves, he replied, 'Those are thieves.''' The official added: ''He didn't seem apologetic. He seemed defiant, trying to find excuses for the crimes in the same way he did in the past.'' The White House said Saddam's capture assures the Iraqi people that the deposed leader is gone from power for good. ''The Iraqi people can finally be assured that Saddam Hussein will not be coming back - they can see it for themselves,'' White House press secretary Scott McClellan said. Eager to prove to Iraqis that Saddam was in custody, Sanchez played a video at the news conference showing the 66-year-old Saddam in custody. Saddam, with a thick, graying beard and bushy, disheveled hair, was seen as doctor examined him, feeling his scalp and holding his mouth open with a tongue depressor, apparently to get a DNA sample. Saddam blinked and touched his beard during the exam. Then the video showed a picture of Saddam after he was shaved, juxtaposed for comparison with an old photo of the Iraqi leader while in power. Iraqi journalists at the press conference stood, pointed and shouted ''Death to Saddam!'' and ''Down with Saddam!'' Though the raid occurred Saturday afternoon American time, U.S. officials went to great length to keep it quiet until medical tests and DNA testing confirmed Saddam's identity. DNA tests confirmed Saddam's identity, said the president of Iraqi Governing Council, Abdel-Aziz al-Hakim. Saddam was being held at an undisclosed location, and U.S. authorities have not yet determined whether to hand him over to the Iraqis for trial or what his status would be. Iraqi officials want him to stand trial before a war crimes tribunal created last week. Amnesty International said Sunday that Saddam should be given POW status and allowed visits by the international Red Cross. Ahmad Chalabi, a member of Iraq's Governing Council, said Saddam will be put on trial. ''Saddam will stand a public trial so that the Iraqi people will know his crimes,'' Chalabi told Al-Iraqiya, a Pentagon-funded TV station. British Prime Minister Tony Blair hailed the capture, saying the deposed leader ''has gone from power, he won't be coming back.'' ''Where his rule meant terror and division and brutality, let his capture bring about unity, reconciliation and peace between all the people of Iraq,'' Blair said. Celebratory gunfire erupted in the capital, and shop owners closed their doors, fearful that the shooting would make the streets unsafe. ''I'm very happy for the Iraqi people. Life is going to be safer now,'' said 35-year-old Yehya Hassan, a resident of Baghdad. ''Now we can start a new beginning.'' Earlier in the day, rumors of the capture sent people streaming into the streets of Kirkuk, a northern Iraqi city, firing guns in the air in celebration. ''We are celebrating like it's a wedding,'' said Kirkuk resident Mustapha Sheriff. ''We are finally rid of that criminal.'' Still, many Baghdadis were skeptical. ''I heard the news, but I'll believe it when I see it,'' said Mohaned al-Hasaji, 33. ''They need to show us that they really have him.'' ''Things will be better for my son,'' she said. ''Everyone says everything will be better when Saddam is caught. My son now has a future.'' After invading Iraq on March 20 and setting up their headquarters in Saddam's sprawling Republican Palace compound in Baghdad, U.S. troops launched a massive manhunt for the fugitive leader, placing a $25 million bounty on his head and sending thousands of soldiers to search for him. Saddam proved elusive during the war, when at least two dramatic military strikes came up empty in their efforts to assassinate him. Since then, he has appeared in both video and audio tapes. U.S. officials named him No. 1 on their list of 55 most-wanted Iraqis, the Ace of Spades in a special deck of most-wanted cards. Saddam's capture leaves 13 figures still at large from the list. The highest ranking figure among them is Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, a close Saddam aide who U.S. officials have said may be directly organizing resistance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Dobbs Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 yay. cuz he's obviously responsible for 9-11. and all of those weapons of mass destruction we found of his. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunm Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Rollerblading is gay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DETO Posted December 14, 2003 Author Share Posted December 14, 2003 U S A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DETO Posted December 14, 2003 Author Share Posted December 14, 2003 okay, we all know now that Bush will be re-elected as our Presednt... :nope: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
$360 Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Originally posted by DETO okay, we all know now that Bush will be re-elected as our Presednt... :nope: fuck. thats a really good point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phism Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Thank god, i was beginning to think they'd never find a leader that would be able to stabilize iraq. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr.testical Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 dis iz da bomb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClueTwo Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Originally posted by Ronnie Dobbs yay. cuz he's obviously responsible for 9-11. and all of those weapons of mass destruction we found of his. Rush Limbuagh said it best: "Do you really think an enemy of George W. Bush is a friend of yours?" I really don't think that the Iraqi's living in the states and in Iraq are celebrating because they now know he's still alive....Quit siding with the enemy unless you plan on hopping on the next plane... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
causinpanic Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 just blast him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DETO Posted December 14, 2003 Author Share Posted December 14, 2003 Originally posted by causinpanic just blast him! werd. they should have shot his ass once they found him...:rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Dobbs Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 if thats all that this war is based on, then i know for a fact there are far worse places to jump in and knock out the dictatorship. this war is just a scheme though. something to make up for 9-11 and the gulf war and all that nonsence just to make us feel that justice has been served because we obviously cant catch the real criminal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty_habiT Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Originally posted by LENS Rollerblading is gay hahaha good answer. I don't think they should kill him.... they should put him in prison.... so he can be someone's bitch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 dont kill him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DETO Posted December 14, 2003 Author Share Posted December 14, 2003 http://www.nunslaughter.com/Legend/InvertedFire.gif'> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WrIot Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Originally posted by phism Thank god, i was beginning to think they'd never find a leader that would be able to stabilize iraq. AND FUCK UP AMERICA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GamblersGrin Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 it looks like he was getting ready to deliver presents to all the good boys and girls of the world next week. maybe he changed his ways in isolation then? heh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrabble Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 I dont know about you guys, but I like it. I think it makes his face look slimmer. Rollerblading IS gay. edit: But so is skateboarding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DETO Posted December 14, 2003 Author Share Posted December 14, 2003 http://www.vietcong-game.com/images/weapons/vietcong/ak47_action.gif'> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japillahan Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 they diddnt mention it in the article, but they found tupac in the hideout too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyuzo Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 can't wait to see all the 'war trial coverage' bs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DETO Posted December 14, 2003 Author Share Posted December 14, 2003 Originally posted by E MARTYR and if we dont find any weopons of mass destruction, we should send some L.A police over there to plant them... :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_Europe Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Cant wait for the live trial... Shit will be better than OJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Durden Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Originally posted by LENS Rollerblading is gay i couldnt possibly agree more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiANEMeTion- Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Now what are they planning to do...they still don't have osama..and if sadam and osama were "the most dangerous" what about there friends,and the friends of those friends.. <span style='color:gold'>Noum would like to thank the "fuck the world foundation" for a job well done on having me not give a fuck. </span> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty_habiT Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 related link: www.iraqometer.com p.s. It'd be cool if the US gov made sadam chill out all day everyday in channel zero here on 12oz as punishment until he was DIEEEEEE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatbastard Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 didnt saddam have like 50 lookalikes all with full plastic surgery and manerism lessons? couldnt this guy be one of those? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imported_dowmagik Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 i fell asleep with my tv on last night and woke up @ 5:30am to the live broadcast of the news. i didnt think we'd find him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smart Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Originally posted by DETO okay, we all know now that Bush will be re-elected as our Presednt... :nope: Actually, Bush would have been much happier politically if this hadn't happened until next August or so... He probably could have weathered the bad press for another 7 months and ridden a huge upswell into the oval office again... As it stands, Bush faces a guranteed 11 months of 'peacekeeping', and he's gonna have to hand over the best prisoner he's gotten to date to some other country to prosecute... But still, all you guys can come up with is hate for Bush? How about a little gratitude for the knowledge that the man directly responsible for the deaths of a half million of his followers will never be able to kill on that scale ever again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClueTwo Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Originally posted by Ronnie Dobbs if thats all that this war is based on, then i know for a fact there are far worse places to jump in and knock out the dictatorship. this war is just a scheme though. something to make up for 9-11 and the gulf war and all that nonsence just to make us feel that justice has been served because we obviously cant catch the real criminal. And you are speaking from what? What about all the huge mass graves of dead people? http://www.foxnews.com/images/110521/26_22_121403_iraqis.jpg'> Dec. 14: Iraqis dance in the streets of Baghdad after learning that Saddam Hussein had been captured. This event brings further assurance that the torture chambers and the secret police are gone forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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