http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/breaking_1.html CAIRO — Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has for the first time signaled openness to an Arab plan for his exile in an effort to prevent a U.S.-led war against Iraq. Arab diplomatic sources said Saddam has agreed to send a senior aide to discuss "personal issues." The sources said the aide could arrive in Cairo over the weekend for talks on a plan to organize asylum in a Middle East country. On Monday, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz said Saddam would never leave Iraq Saddam's envoy was identified as Ali Hassan Al Majid, a senior member of the Iraqi Revolutionary Council. Majid, known as "Chemical Ali," has been accused of ordering Iraqi chemical weapons attacks on Kurds in northern Iraq in the 1980s, Middle East Newsline reported. The sources said Saddam has not accepted the Arab plan, promoted by Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. But they said the Iraqi president has agreed to explore the prospect that he, his family and aides would find safe haven in an Arab capital along with Western guarantees that he would not be prosecuted by any foreign government or international court. On Tuesday, the London-based A-Sharq Al Awsat reported that Saddam plans to send a message through Al Majid that the Iraqi president would not consider any plan for exile. The newspaper quoted an Iraqi official as saying that Al Majid's visit is meant to update Mubarak on the situation in Iraq and the activities of United Nations weapons inspectors. "Saddam Hussein will never leave his country, but will stay there until the last Iraqi shot is fired," Aziz told the London-based British Broadcasting Corp. "The danger will be greater for Iraq if the president leaves." But the sources said Saddam agreed that Al Majid would discuss what they termed "personal issues" with his Egyptian hosts. The sources said Al Majid, Saddam's cousin, was chosen over Iraq's prime minister or foreign minister. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who said any exile plan must be approved by the United States, is expected to meet Al Majid. Diplomatic sources said this will be the first high-level contact between Baghdad and Cairo since the visit by Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri to Egypt in November.
If this happens...and it averts war...will we then give credit for Bush for taking a hard-line stance?
I don't know if we'd want that, though. Would you? If what everyone says Saddam has done is true, I don't want him in a safe haven, I want him at The Hague.
i agree...he should be held accountable...but if it puts an end to that regime and puts a dent in the development of WMD,that's a good thing.
I agree with that. Maybe if he's not surrounded by his army, it'll be easier to, er, you know, take him out covertly.
The Hague? Screw that. Those soft Euros would just put him in jail. How about downtown Huntsville at the Walls Unit....
this may be the first time anyone has referred to "Huntsville" and anyone named Saddam in the same sentence.
Obviously, I'd prefer to see Sadaam in prison or executed (strangely enough, I don't think I'd be as satisfied if he's killed in battle). If the goal is regime change, then this would do the trick. It would also prevent more casualties among the Iraqi population. If this is legit, I hope the administration starts working OT to make this happen. However, I would really like to have him brought before Hague. Even if he only goes to jail, it's not like he'd be living a country-club lifestyle.
That's a great idea! Can someone say...SLUMBER PARTY IN LIBYA!!! Qadhafi: "Hi Saddam...welcome to my pad. You know, I was supposed to be on MTV Cribs, but for some reason, those rascals over at the UN said that wouldn't be a good idea." Saddam: "Mu'ammar...so good to see you old friend. I'm so glad you allowed me to come stay with you for a while. I was so sure that the blasted US was going to bomb me again and you know I can't have any interruptions while watching 'Joe Millionaire'." Qadhafi: "Don't worry Saddam. We've got all of the channels here...ESPN, Playboy channel, Home & Garden TV....hell, we can even pick up Channel 51 clearly." Saddam: "Whew...I was worried. Hey did you see that episode of 'Charmed' last week? Those chicks on that show are soooo hot." Qadhafi: "Yeah...chicks rule! Saddam, did you bring the beer like I asked you to?" Saddam: "You know it, homes....Schlitz Malt Liquor!" Both: "DON'T SAY BEER, SAY BULL! SCHLITZ MALT LIQUOR BULL!!! HAHAHAHAHAH"
I think this is what Bush had in mind the whole time. I was (and still am) pretty sure that all this war talk is/was one giant bluff to get rid of Saddam. The only "talk" Saddam understands is fighting. Clearly negotiations don't work with him. So Bush said to Saddam that we're going to war and the target is YOU. Not Iraq. Not the Iraqi people. YOU, Saddam. I have no doubt that Saddam isn't interested in dying for ANY cause (as his personal power and wealth is his only interest).
i've been saying that for a while now...i read in an article the other day almost an exact quote i've posted here before...that the administration asks for the star and the moon, when they'd really be satisfied with just getting the stars.
He has billions, if it averts a war, then I am all for it. Now, how is Bush going to sieze those oil fields now? DD
North Korea better start getting nervous. With Saddam out of the way they are next! I was actually very surprised by these news reports. I kind of forgot that Saddam's military should be very weak after a decade of international sanctions. It would be a short war.
You probably consider yourself a patriot too, don't you! You're either with the idea of threatening people willy-nilly or you're with the terrorists. Got that?
Yeah, something about a war involving the US, China, both Koreas, and Taiwan just doesn't appeal to me either.
does anyone think we're going to war with north korea?? it's so different from iraq...countries in the region are asking to take a diplomatic lead, as opposed to the mideast...as i understand it, north korea relies on us for a butt load of food...and i'm hearing more and more political commentators say it's a ploy to get more economic aid. that it's ultimately about money with the leadership in n. korea. we'll see...
