Sadaam flees Baghdad to Syria?

monkspider · April 3, 2003, 23:26

I mentioned this in the news thread, but I felt that it was such an interesting topic it merited some discussion.
Here is the gist of what is believed to have happened.
"Baghdad pre-paid and chartered entire Hotel Cote d’Azur De Cham Resort at Syrian Mediterranean port of Latakiya near Assad family villa. Group may include Saddam Hussein or his sons, but this is not confirmed.

Top Iraqi officials hiding there since March 23, four days after coalition invaded Iraq, guarded by Syrian commando unit armed with anti-air missiles and Syrian naval missile boats securing port"
www.debka.com

In a speech recently, even Rumsfeld has tacitly admitted that Sadaam and his family may have "fled the country".

If Sadaam were to flee to Syria, perhaps even to fight another day, would this be a political defeat for Bush? Would it hasten the outbreak of a Syrian-American war, especially in light of Israel's recent threats of all out war with Syria (http://www.jordantimes.com/Wed/news/news4.htm) , along with Powell and Rumsfeld's earlier threats?

Urban Ranger · April 3, 2003, 23:39

Dubious source.

Israel's threats are just as empty as that of Rummy's, if Saddam Hussein were to leave for Syria.

Six Thousand Year Old Man · April 3, 2003, 23:41

Quote:

Originally posted by monkspider

If Sadaam were to flee to Syria, perhaps even to fight another day, would this be a political defeat for Bush? Would it hasten the outbreak of a Syrian-American war, especially in light of Israel's recent threats of all out war with Syria (http://www.jordantimes.com/Wed/news/news4.htm) , along with Powell and Rumsfeld's earlier threats?

Yes.

Maybe. It would be interesting, in the Chinese sense, if it did lead to a Syrian-American war. At this point, US relations with the Arab world couldn't get much worse, so Bush/Cheney might feel they have nothing to lose by hunting down Saddam even if it takes them through Syria or wherever he flees to next.

Urban Ranger · April 3, 2003, 23:43

Quote:

Originally posted by Six Thousand Year Old Man
It would be interesting, in the Chinese sense, if it did lead to a Syrian-American war.

DRoseDARs · April 3, 2003, 23:46

I'm with UR in confusion with that statement, please clarify...

Zero · April 3, 2003, 23:48

If Saddam did flee to another country, (whether it be syria or wherever he is welcomed) and we decide to attack that country too, anti-war protest will get worse.

Administration would look bad and defeated if Saddam did escape, but they can twist stuff by saying their main goal has been achieved (regime change) and just call it a day.

If Saddam did flee the country, I wonder if he is planning something. Would he be expecting us to chase after him? Is he expecting to then flee to another possible refuge and dragging everyone into a war? it could happen. and maybe this is his way of attempting to get mideast to get involved in the jihad that hes been looking for.

Six Thousand Year Old Man · April 3, 2003, 23:50

Quote:

Originally posted by Urban Ranger

"May you live in interesting times" has been said to be a Chinese curse. The idea being, that uninteresting times are safer.

DRoseDARs · April 3, 2003, 23:51

EDIT: Responding to Calc's post

Kinda like what they did with Osama bin Laden...

Zero · April 3, 2003, 23:52

Quote:

Originally posted by DRoseDARs
EDIT: Responding to Calc's post

Kinda like what they did with Osama bin Laden...

we are supposedly "still in pursuit". but yeah it will be like that.

DRoseDARs · April 3, 2003, 23:54

Quote:

Originally posted by Six Thousand Year Old Man

"May you live in interesting times" has been said to be a Chinese curse. The idea being, that uninteresting times are safer.

Interesting indeed. Learn something new everyday...

That sentence is going into my sig, thanks 6K.

Six Thousand Year Old Man · April 4, 2003, 00:05

No prob, thanks DRoseDARs...

If the Americans do chase Saddam/Bin Laden all through the Middle East... it certainly will make the idea of a jihad more likely, though Saddam will just be an excuse the mullahs use. Really, though, the Americans should have knocked on the Saudis' doors before Iraq's... assuming this is about terrorism and not (just) oil.

Zero · April 4, 2003, 00:11

I wonder if Saddam hasnt cooperated with Bin laden alread, they are now chillin' together sharing stories about how US sucks and stuff...

Six Thousand Year Old Man · April 4, 2003, 00:15

Quote:

Originally posted by Calc II
I wonder if Saddam hasnt cooperated with Bin laden alread, they are now chillin' together sharing stories about how US sucks and stuff...

I always got the impression that Saddam was a pretty secular guy, that he basically tried to suppress the religious sects in Iraq. I don't know if he and Osama would get along, for that reason.

Despite that, I can see Osama and his supporters using the US treatment of Saddam as an excuse for further terrorism... sort of 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' argument.

Lefty Scaevola · April 4, 2003, 00:28

Quote:

Originally posted by DRoseDARs
I'm with UR in confusion with that statement, please clarify...

Ancient Chinese curse:
"May you live in interesting times"

DRoseDARs · April 4, 2003, 00:30

6K beat you to it, Lefty, but thank you for clarifying as well.

Six Thousand Year Old Man · April 4, 2003, 00:32

cross post!

Urban Ranger · April 4, 2003, 01:26

Quote:

Originally posted by Lefty Scaevola
Ancient Chinese curse:
"May you live in interesting times"

This comes as news to the Chinese community.

DinoDoc · April 4, 2003, 01:28

Quote:

If Sadaam were to flee to Syria,..., would this be a political defeat for Bush?

I fail to see how it could be anything but a victory. The man hardly has enough friends in the Arab world to stage a victorious return from Elba Island, so to speak.

Urban Ranger · April 4, 2003, 01:32

They rather have him instead of a US bootlicker.

DinoDoc · April 4, 2003, 01:35

Quote:

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
They rather have him instead of a US bootlicker.

You sound like the people that link al Qaeda to Saddam.

Urban Ranger · April 4, 2003, 02:08

Quote:

Originally posted by DinoDoc
You sound like the people that link al Qaeda to Saddam.

What kind of response is that?

DinoDoc · April 4, 2003, 02:19

Quote:

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
What kind of response is that?

The kind your previous post deserved.

Outside of Iraq, Saddam becomes irrelevent. Any power attempting a counter-revolution is going to have thier own man they'd like to be in charge.

Drake Tungsten · April 4, 2003, 02:45

Quote:

It would be interesting, in the Chinese sense, if it did lead to a Syrian-American war.

Nice reference...

Az · April 4, 2003, 02:48

The link from "Jordan Times" is funny, esp. since I never heard of any such statements.

Pyrodrew · April 4, 2003, 04:07

Quote:

I wonder if Saddam hasnt cooperated with Bin laden alread, they are now chillin' together sharing stories about how US sucks and stuff...

Quote:

I always got the impression that Saddam was a pretty secular guy, that he basically tried to suppress the religious sects in Iraq. I don't know if he and Osama would get along, for that reason.

SNL recently did a sketch on Saddam calling Osama. Episode: Jennifer Garner 02/15/03. I cannot find a transcript for it, but I liked it.

MichaeltheGreat · April 4, 2003, 04:35

Quote:

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Dubious source.

Israel's threats are just as empty as that of Rummy's, if Saddam Hussein were to leave for Syria.

Good one.

Drake Tungsten · April 4, 2003, 04:39

Is anyone else watching CNN right now? Walter Rodgers is reporting live with the 7th Cav and it's riveting. He and his crew are giving first aid to an Iraqi soldier while the Army is trying to knock out an AA emplacement that has been putting airbursts over their heads for hours. I love embedded reporting...

alva · April 4, 2003, 06:33

When is the next generation of videophones coming along?

-

I doubt many countries would be keen of taking him in (at this point at least).