h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I can't resist.

What do you think? Is it possible? Surely, if they can land a man on the moon (or fake a moon landing), they can fake the capture of a tinpot dictator, can't they? But why would they? To make him look bad? Look bad to who? Didn't he look bad enough already?

What do you think?

Just to whet your appetites:

'A former U.S. Marine who participated in capturing ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein said the public version of his capture was fabricated.'

http://www.wokr13.tv/news/national/story.aspx?content_id=422B960A-26BA-4891-9E60-21C8818788D4

And, if you want more do a Google News search for 'saddam' and 'capture': seems lots of outlets have picked up the story. Even the Pentagon has felt a need to comment on the report.

The imagery of Sadam living in a hole in the Earth (like an animal, or the Devil)is much more suggestive than the thought of him living in a house like 'normal' folks, isn't it?

After the whole farce of WMD was exposed, perhaps it was more useful to kinda subliminally supply the lied-to Americans (with God-fearing values, don'tcha know) with a sense that Evil had truly been conquered. Especially convenient since God is on *our* side, but the war hasn't gone as smoothely as Bush misled us to believe.

I honestly don't know what to believe on this one. Both stories seem absolutely reasonable to me (unlike the moon-landing-was-a-hoax story). The thing is, if it was staged, my reaction is 'Oh, another lie from the Whitehouse. What a surprise'. If it wasn't staged, my reaction is 'Oh, another lie from the News Media. What a surprise.'

That's a pretty sad comment on both the White House and the News Media.

If they had staged it, I think they could have come up with a lot better scenario. Something that would have been more heroic than smoking a guy out of a hole in the ground.

Xanatic: I disagree. Assuming that the event was staged (interesting allegations, but require corroboration before I'm willing to jump on board), then the best way to play it from a propagandist perspective is to show the once-mighty leader, who continuously defied UN and US forces, in a pitiful and desperate condition reinforces the impression of a Great Victory by coalition forces. By making the capture a heroic effort, you perpetuate the idea that Saddam was defiant and courageous in the end. He also becomes a brave figurehead and martyr for the resistance forces.

The Romans used to accomplish the same thing by parading vanquished leaders through the streets of Rome in chains. Hannibal remained a figure of legend and fear long after his death for Romans at least partially because he never suffered this fate.

I concur, analogies of digging a filthy confused looking man from the ground by the conquering "Heroes" (infidels, non-belevers) is not a story that will be re-told by his supporters to their grand children. Especially (allegedly) he said he would never be taken alive.

I really don't know what to think. This is a war in which Truth has been truly victimised.

Iraq has become a philosophical Abu Ghraib.

Mmmm, I have often wondered. The photo that sped around the world, of SH, mouth wide open, gloved fingers prodding inside, his head being checked for lice... pure demonisation!

Interesting.

actually I think they demonised him, as a pre-cursor to attack iraq. Then humanised him so as not to create a myth/legend/martyr and someone (not just someone, a no one) sticking their fingers into the DEVIL incarnate, some how took that illusion of invincibilty from him.

Considering the staged rescue of Jessica Lynch and the associated propaganda that went with that, I would not be at all surprised if this is another Hollywood production.

Donald

Me neither - and the surprise is how many people think the Jessica Lynch thing was all kosher!

It should also be noted that no one had a problem about Dorothy clicking her heels (with magic shoes) together seemed to have a problem with her mysteriously appearing back in Kansas.....I think we should just all sit back and drink a sasparilla and contemplate that.