If Saddam had beans to spill, why hasn't he spilled them already?

[Taxloss]

I suppose it's tempting to imagine that Saddam's death is being hurried forwards in order to prevent his earth-shattering testimony to a new Democratic-run Congress, but I don't see why he's been holding his tongue all this time. He did, after all, have his own country until 2003, and plenty of opportunity to set the record straight about who agreed what with whom and when in order to embarrass - or worse - his fairweather friends in Washington. Even if he was keeping schtum in the hope of retaining power, it seems entirely reasonable that a man with a small army of body doubles might make contingency arrangements in the event of things turning sour. After he was deposed, he had all that time on the lam during which he could have granted a tell-all interview to one of the region's news organisations.

But he's kept his lip buttoned all this time. It's possible that there's a briefcase full of documents waiting with a trusted aide somewhere, waiting to be released once he's dead - a bit late for it to help a man who has always prioritised his own survival over all other considerations.

It's absolutely certain that he'll die sitting on an enormous number of secrets. But I don't think that there was going to be any killer testimony that would destroy Bush. If there was something he knew - why hold back?

Anyway, flame away.

[ck4829]

1. Because *BEEEEEEEEEEEEP*

He was always blanked out whenever he started yelling, plus there was a 20 minute tape delay to edit out anything that 'needed' to be cut out.

He may have said some very interesting things, we didn't hear it though.

[Taxloss]

3. And before then? When he was free? n/t

[xultar]

How the fuck is he gonna spill'em? Come on...wake up. You think they want him to?

NOT.

[Taxloss]

6. Why didn't he when he had the opportunity to?

Of course he can't now. That's not what I asked.

[newscott]

2. Nothing he can say will save his ass now anyway.

Think about it. He gets into the weapons of mass destruction debate then he implicates himself as a war criminal. He admits that the US propped up his war with Iran and he ruins his "image" in the Arab world as a strong leader. He's got nothing to win by throwing any of those bombs.

[xultar]

It wouldn't be about saving his ass. He knew he was executed when we invaded.

Come on.

[newscott]

11. I really mean his "legacy". All leaders consider their legacy.

I hadn't heard about the cutting off the microphone etc... I just assumed it was a sham trial anyway and decided not to pay attention to the dirty dealings.

[rubberducky]

4. And how would we find out,

if he did say anything?? Who would tell us??

[xultar]

9. That is the truth.

[Taxloss]

13. One of the Arab, or European, television channels, or newspapers?

There's a whole world out there, you know.

[NNN0LHI]

5. This may answer your question

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/11/AR2006101100394.html

Saddam Hussein Complains Mike Cut Off


By BUSHRA JUHI and JAMAL HALABY
The Associated Press
Wednesday, October 11, 2006; 7:57 AM

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Saddam Hussein rebuked the chief judge of his genocide trial Wednesday, accusing the court of keeping the former leader from defending himself.

Saddam criticized Chief Judge Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa for switching off the microphone when the ousted Iraqi president began shouting a verse from the Quran during the previous day's hearing. When Saddam refused to stop, the judge ordered him evicted from the courtroom.

"When the accuser and prosecutor talk, the world listens. When the man called 'the accused' speaks, you switch off the microphone. Is this fair?" Saddam asked al-Khalifa.

The judge replied that he had cut Saddam's microphone to "bring order to the courtroom."

[Taxloss]

8. Why not before he was caught? n/t

[xultar]

12. OMG - DUH...How's he gonna make a statement when 100k US Soldiers invadin his ass?

[Taxloss]

17. What, there wasn't time in the 18-month run-up to the war,

or before that, in the 12 years after Gulf 1, or when he was on the lam? Not a moment to make a few preparations?

[xultar]

22. What do you want him to say, he's innocent? A alien made him do it?

He porked barbara bush Sr? What?

[Taxloss]

30. I don't WANT him to say anything.

Some DUers seem to think that he's sitting on some pretty explosive dirt about Bush & company, and that's why he's being killed so "quickly". I'm wondering why, if that is the case, he has not enlightened us already.

[xultar]

32. You said - It's absolutely certain that he'll die sitting on an enormous number of secrets.

So you think he has something to say or you want him to say something.

Maybe he doesn't want to.
Maybe he has nothing to say.

So

[Taxloss]

35. Secrets, yes.

He ran a rather controversial Middle Eastern country, and fought two wars not counting the one that deposed him. He ran a totalitarian regime wrapped in secrecy. I'm sure he could tell us a lot about his time in power that has long been secret.

That doesn't mean that he knows any dirt on Bush & Co. I doubt he does.

[Iwasthere]

7. Do you really think they are going to allow him to ?

And you didn't see all the testimony from him either. We are being spoon fed info. Please read 1984 again. So very, very easy to manipulate the media. This is being proven more every day.

[Taxloss]

10. Why didn't he do it BEFORE he was caught, like I asked? n/t

[xultar]

15. The US Army is crawlin up your ass and you're gonna hold a press conference?

Come on...then there would have just been execution first. Trial second.

We took out most of the tv, radio and other communications first so he couldn't communicate.

[Taxloss]

19. And before then?

There were plenty of opportunities.

[xultar]

20. Give it up.

[Taxloss]

21. No answer, then?

He has his own country, and he can't find the time. Amazing.

[xultar]

27. Do you want him to admit he's a transvestite? He's gay? What do you want him to say?

What do you think he has to say?

[Taxloss]

31. See my answer to you above. n/t

[pinto]

14. Who knows. He was a pretty delusional despot. Maybe he'll go out the same way?

I wouldn't be surprised if some stuff surfaces post mortem, though, especially from former Baathists looking to make good in the new anarchy that is Iraq democracy.

[Joe for Clark]

16. I guess the obvious is that he thinks we just might intervene -

Which we certainly would not do if he did just start talking.

Personally, I don't care either way - I do think executing him will sill stir up an already bad situation.

Joe

[SheilaT]

18. And what exactly do you think

he has to say that's that important, that earth shattering? That Rumsfeld sold him arms? We already have the photographs to prove it. That he used our spy satellites to target Kurds? That's already been documented.

I can't even begin to imagine what "secrets" you think he possesses that matter at this point. He was just a tin-pot little dictator, propped up by our evil governments, and when he was no longer useful to us we took him out. And that's exactly all there is to say.

[Taxloss]

25. It's not what I think.

Some DUers seem to be under the impression that Saddam is being killed to prevent him dropping some extraordinary bombshell. I'm wondering why, if said bombshell exists, it hasn't already been dropped. Said bombshell might not, of course, exist. That's a good starting point for an explanation.

[SheilaT]

45. Which leads directly to the conclusion

that there is no bombshell. As i said, Saddam is not an owner of knowledge of importance. So why all this speculation, is beyond me.

[Ezlivin]

23. How long have you spoke Arabic?

As far as any of us non-Arabic speakers are concerned, Saddam could have told it all.

Have you understood one word that Osama has said? Neither have I. He could have said that "America is number one and Jesus Christ is Lord" for all I know.

Too bad we had that unfortunate incident at the Tower of Babel. (Just another thing we can pin on the Iraqis, I guess.)

[xultar]

29. Apparently they've checked all the Arabic stuff and found nothing to their liking.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

24. He is not the real Saddam?

[Life Long Dem]

26. I'm just going by Buish's translation of Saddam and he has said nothing.

Not a ting. Hmmm strange isn't it.

[xultar]

28. Maybe he wants to keep his secrets. Maybe he has nothing to say

This is a dumb thread.

[peanutbrittle]

33. First thought---Ramsey Clark may "know too much".....

Wonder where he is at now ??

Just a thought

[ck4829]

34. Because Saddam would incriminate himself, that's why

Saddam could have had this as the background during a press meeting:



Why didn't he do that? Because he would be admitting guilt.

[Taxloss]

36. A bit late for that, wasn't it?

He was a dead man whatever happened.

[newscott]

37. I agree. Even facing deathy by execution he will never admit guilt.

[bananas]

38. What are you smoking?

"After he was deposed, he had all that time on the lam during which he could have granted a tell-all interview to one of the region's news organisations."

Yeah, right.

[valerief]

39. What would he gain? Who would save him? nt

[Beelzebud]

40. If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it,

did it really make a sound?

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

41. My thoughts on this matter:

The United States' support of Saddam during the 1980s is a matter of public record (albeit a record that has been mostly ignored by the US media) and I highly doubt that Saddam would want to bring it up at this point. Let's face it, Saddam is not exactly proud of the support he received from the US. Any admission he made with respect to US support for Iraq during the 80s would be a tacit admission that he, the champion of Arab nationalism, :eyes: willingly accepted help and direction from the big bad Westerners who want to kill His People in the name of oil. I don't think many people in the US understand that to Arabs, Saddam's collusion with the US reflects as poorly on him as it does Rumsfeld, etc.

Apologies if this isn't making sense or is grammatically crap. I'm very jet lagged.

[Cameron27]

42. It makes sense, and I agree with you.

[stillcool]

43. I think...it's about the one..

finger pointing out and the four pointing back at you. Sometimes they leave information...in the style of Deep Throat, where they stipulate a certain amount of time be passed, or after certain people have died..before it be revealed. I would think while he is still alive, it would not be beneficial to him, or those closest to him to do a tell-all, adding in the factor of who would dare tell it? Even Phillip Agee wrote about his experience from a distance, and still went through hell... getting it published, and afterward getting harassed. I guess regardless of who you are, pointing fingers and telling tales is not healthy.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

44. Second Time In As Many Days That I'm Thankful For Your Logic And Rationality.

Thanks, for attempting to inject some sanity into this.

[donheld]

46. Do you really think he's had a chance?

Do you thing Connie Chung paid him daily visits? Do you think the US granted Al-jazeera total access to Saddam? To whom was he suppose to spill his beans if nobody to a chance to listen?

[Raine]

47. How would we know

he hasn't already ...

[Fire Walk With Me]

48. He's waiting until the last moment to leap into action and strike back with his hidden WMD.

[Fire Walk With Me]

49. Okay, he's going to strike from beyond the grave with his massive WMD stash.

Or maybe Bush and friends were lying lying lying and should not be let off for having done so.

Among other atrocities against the Constitution.