Gotcha sucker!: Saddam caught

IAF SG

'Ladies and gentlemen: we got him!'

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. forces captured Saddam Hussein without firing a shot after learning he was hiding at a farm house near Tikrit, Iraq, officials said.

Gen. Ricardo Sanchez said members of the Fourth Infantry Division found Saddam hiding in a "spider hole" about six to eight feet deep. Troops also recovered various small arms, a taxicab nearby and $750,000 in cash, just south of Tikrit.

There were no injuries, and Sanchez described Saddam as "talkative and cooperative."

The news conference was attended by members of Iraqi Governing Council and Coalition Administrator Paul Bremer.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we got him," declared an exultant Bremer as he began a Baghdad news conference announcing the capture of the notorious Ace of Spades, as Saddam was known on the deck of cards that showed the Iraqi fugitives most wanted by coalition forces.

Iraqis and Americans broke out in applause and cheers at the news of his capture. Outside the building, celebratory gunfire filled the air, said United Press International's Beth Potter.

"This is a great day in Iraq's history," Bremer said. "For decades hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have suffered at the hands of this cruel man. For decades he has threatened and attacked your neighbors. Those days are over forever. Now is the time to look to a future of hope and reconciliation. Iraq's future has never been more full of hope. The tyrant is history. The economy is growing."

Hope they'll get osama next, with his pants down!

laurence82 SG

Whoopee
Yesh
Go to hell Saddam!

snk86 SG

YAY! there goes my mom’s AIA stocks, woah!!!! my new LANCER 8!!!!!!!!!

the Bear SG

thought that was Fidel Castro they arrested there Laughing

but seriously... so what now?

Viper52 SG

I suspect the resistance would have it's wind taken out of its sails. There will be die-hards, no doubt, that will carry on the fight with limited effect, but I would think most would go home now that Saddam has been captured. Plus I think with the shadow of Saddam gone, more ordinary Iraqis would be willing to help the Yanks root out the die-hards.

The Al-Qaeda who've already infiltrated into Iraq via Syria, Iran and Saudi Arabia, would be a whole other kettle of fish however. They were not inspired by Saddam, so his capture would make no difference to them. They will continue their attacks in Iraq, and since the Iraqis do not really welcome them in the first place, they do not rely so much for help from an already-hostile local populace.

In short, expect the RPG attacks on American helos and ground convoys to taper off, but the suicide car bombs will continue, if not intensify

|-|05| SG

Have to see though...If he did coordinate the attacks then maybe it will taper off however if this was all planned they might just follow the plan of action under orders not to give up so tough call.

Viper52 SG

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3319035.stm

Analysis: The end of resistance?

By Jonathan Marcus
BBC defence correspondent

Saddam Hussein's capture marks a huge morale boost for US forces and a serious blow to Baathist elements engaged in armed resistance against them.

This is the definitive end of the Baathist regime. There can be no succession.

Saddam Hussein is in custody and his two sons, who were major props to his regime, are both dead.

But this does not mean that armed resistance to the Americans and their allies will end.

This after all derives from a number of factors - political, nationalist, religious and criminal. They include:

- One of Saddam Hussein's last acts in power was to empty the prisons;

- Many criminal gangs have resumed their activities

- Many people associated with the former regime - disbanded officers and soldiers, for example - are increasingly disgruntled

- small numbers of foreign fighters may be crossing into Iraq to carry out personal acts of jihad

Many former Baathists may be increasingly bitter after Saddam Hussein's capture.

But they have nowhere to go and US forces are likely to try to track them down with renewed vigour.

Nonetheless, the arrest of the former Iraqi ruler creates a dramatic shift in the psychological climate.

Final closure

Many ordinary Iraqis have already been celebrating in the streets.

Whatever the day-to-day realities around them, many people have combined their frustration with the Americans with a fear that as the "resistance movement" became more audacious, the US might simply pack up and go home and Saddam Hussein's henchmen would return.

They now know that is no longer possible.

Clearly the Americans will hope to extract as much information as they can from Saddam Hussein.

He may have had only a limited role in the resistance activities; most analysts believe that he spent most of his time trying to evade capture.

But to the extent that the planning for the resistance seems to have gone on well before US troops crossed into Iraq he may well be able to throw some light on its organisation and extent.

He will also be questioned about weapons of mass destruction and on alleged links between al-Qaeda and the Iraqi regime.

Crucial medium

Prior to his capture, the governments in both London and Washington have been embarrassed by their inability to find much evidence justifying either set of claims.

But it is not all going to be plain sailing ahead.

Creating some form of fledgling democracy is not going to be easy given the deep ethnic divisions in the country.

Until now, perhaps the potentially most dangerous group facing the Americans has been the Shia in the south.

They have bided their time and have by and large gone along with the current arrangements, waiting to see how the US plans to accommodate their interests.

But if the US fell out with the powerful Shia, then the ensuing violence could make the Baathist opposition pale in comparison.