Hussein was surprised by US invasion of Iraq - Political Forum

J.Locke777 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-27-2008, 11:57 PM

Quote:

(CNN) -- Saddam Hussein let the world think he had weapons of mass destruction to intimidate Iran and prevent the country from attacking Iraq, according to an FBI agent who interviewed the dictator after his 2003 capture.
According to a CBS report, Hussein claimed he didn't anticipate that the United States would invade Iraq over WMD, agent George Piro said on "60 Minutes," scheduled for Sunday broadcast.
"For him, it was critical that he was seen as still the strong, defiant Saddam. He thought that (faking having the weapons) would prevent the Iranians from reinvading Iraq," said Piro.
During the nearly seven months Piro talked to Hussein, the agent hinted to the Iraqi that he answered directly to President Bush, CBS said in a posting on its Web site.
"He told me he initially miscalculated ... President Bush's intentions. He thought the United States would retaliate with the same type of attack as we did in 1998 ... a four-day aerial attack," Piro said. "He survived that one and he was willing to accept that type of attack."
"He didn't believe the U.S. would invade?" Correspondent Scott Pelley asked.
"No, not initially," Piro answered.
Once it was clear that an invasion was imminent, Hussein asked his generals to hold off the allied forces for two weeks, Piro said. "And at that point, it would go into what he called the secret war," the agent said, referring to the insurgency.
But Piro said he was not sure that the insurgency was indeed part of Hussein's plan. "Well, he would like to take credit for the insurgency," he said.
Hussein had the ability to restart the weapons program and professed to wanting to do that, Piro said.
"He wanted to pursue all of WMD ... to reconstitute his entire WMD program."
Hussein said he was proud he eluded U.S. authorities who searched for him for nine months after the U.S.-led invasion, Piro said.
"What he wanted to really illustrate is ... how he was able to outsmart us," Piro said. "He told me he changed ... the way he traveled. He got rid of his normal vehicles. He got rid of the protective detail that he traveled with, really just to change his signature."
Hussein was hanged in 2006.

I've been saying this for a while now: That Saddam was trying to bluff his way into looking strong and powerful to deter an Iranian attack, however, his plan backfired and the US invaded. Of course, it also doesn't help that our informant gave us bad information that confirmed the existance of WMD's. Something which is now known to be incorrect. To put a long story short, our Iraqi informant was someone who wanted drama and the money the US was paying for intel on Iraq, so he gave us bad info and took off with the money. To my knowledge, he has since been apprehended.

Now that I have a source to back up some of what I've said on the subject (although most of this is already common knowledge) I figure it will spark better debate and allow for more informed opinions. Not calling out anyone in particular, but I have seen some pretty "out-there" ideas regarding the reasons behind the US invasion of Iraq.

Any thoughts related to this are appreciated.

Aya · #2 (**permalink**) 01-28-2008, 02:18 PM

It's been not just because of Iran. If a dictator admits that he hasn't the weapons he's talking the whole time about his position gets weakened and a rebellion in the own "government" is probabilistic.

twoswordali · #3 (**permalink**) 01-29-2008, 02:06 PM

are we forgetting that the US put sadam in power in the first place. He thought that after a while he could acualy run the Iraq without his former support that put him into power, he thought that he could stop US from the oil what an ass. USA plotted planned and stole Iraq with out Saadam. was he surprised hell yeah he thought that he could bite the hand that fed him. Look how fast they caught him shit they knew his every move! And caught him in a fucking rats hole. What was the thing he kept on repeating during his trial "Iam the president of Iraq" "I am the president of Iraq" He brought into the idea that those who placed him in that position placed him there to rule. He was wrong and look how fast they had him hanging from a rope. This is a message to all countries that if USA wants something that you have they will give you a good deal but if you withhold the goodies we will fuck you up and hang your ass if you are the president or not!

LampCord · #4 (**permalink**) 01-29-2008, 05:48 PM

I was shocked that Saddam was surprised.

No one moves an Army half way around the world if they don't intend to use it. Its just not cost effective. Its almost unheard of in military history. Once we landed troops in Kuwait, I knew we would invade.

The smartest move he could have made was wait till we had everyone in place and then allow the inspectors in. This would have put us in a very precarious position. Imagine if we had then packed up and left only to have him once again kick the inspectors out!

But then, he was Saddam Hussein. Not Albert Einstein. Just a stupid thug that got his way by threat, violence and intimidation. Not brains. And that's why he's dead now.

twoswordali · #5 (**permalink**) 01-29-2008, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LampCord

I was shocked that Saddam was surprised.

No one moves an Army half way around the world if they don't intend to use it. Its just not cost effective. Its almost unheard of in military history. Once we landed troops in Kuwait, I knew we would invade.

The smartest move he could have made was wait till we had everyone in place and then allow the inspectors in. This would have put us in a very precarious position. Imagine if we had then packed up and left only to have him once again kick the inspectors out!

But then, he was Saddam Hussein. Not Albert Einstein. Just a stupid thug that got his way by threat, violence and intimidation. Not brains. And that's why he's dead now.

No he is dead because USA had no more use for him and rather than wait and have him tell the world what really happened he was hanged.This should frighten the hell out of you this is saying that we will kill anyone who opposes us anyone. So when you make the decision to speak out look out you could very well be next!

progress · #6 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008, 01:29 AM

Sadaam was given a green light by Washington to invade Kuwait, that's accepted. Washington's response was swift, (too fast maybe?) and they left no doubt among the Iraqi military who was the empire. Some 200,000 people killed outright, and the highway from Baghdad to Kuwait was littered with the remains of RETREATING Iraqi soldiers, who were literally gunned down as they ran from military vehicles. Others were burried alive. Ever wonder what those plows were for on the front of those Abrahms tanks?

Hussein had seen US military and diplomacy at work, there's no reason to assume he wouldn't be expecting retalition, even for his noncrimes. He knew an invasion was coming, evidenced by his compliance with UN. In fact Wahington was a little upset at his compliance, they felt like they were being led around.

Forget what Piro has to say, he is deflecting the discussion from what matters.

Undertone · #7 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 06:16 AM

This is a cop-out by those who believed the WMD stories.
Hussein and his people were giving daily press releases denying they had WMD. They made no effort whatsoever to make people believe they had WMD.
Every whacked-up demand by the weapons searchers was met. Ridiculous demands (such as allowing Westerners to search the main Mosques, for nukes) were made, in the hope Saddam would refuse to co-operate and thus justify invasion. Saddam even opened the doors of his own residences to weapons inspectors and was in the process of destroying legitimate conventional missiles when tanks rolled in.
I believe when he opened the prisons and released ALL prisoners, and started selling AK's for 50 bucks, he realised the game was up for him and that the future battle would involve a guerrila war against the U.S by his people.

AzTeK · #8 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 06:51 AM

I believe Saddam simply had a serious megalomania problem - as most dictators of course. I once saw a video where he was testing some really primitive weapons including slingshots and what not that some of his aides presented to him - weapons that could be later used by the insurgency but were so low-tech they sort of would stay beneath the radar of a regular military.

His generals also told him to blow up all bridges leading to Baghdad so they could buy some time, since US tanks would not have been able to just roll in in that case. Saddam however said he needed those bridges to leave the city after he triumphed over the US, so he decided not to blow them up.

Undertone · #9 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 07:12 AM

It would be nice to believe that Saddam was some kind of bumbling idiot who wouldn't blow up bridges so he could celebrate later and so on but it's clear he was a very capable leader and was far from stupid. It seems after the first Gulf War he and his Generals had a post invasion strategy, which didn't involve tank battles, desert trenches or aerial combat. It's clear they planned to use the Fedayeen and small well armed local units to wear down the Americans. His spokesman, who many smugly dubbed "Comical Ali" said "We will embroil, them confuse tem, and keep them in quaqmire." Who's laughing at Comical Ali now?

Charlie_Harper · #10 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 03:14 PM

I firmly believe that Saddam fully expected to get attacked; just not consciously aware of this fact. He knew in the back of his head that he was living on borrowed time, but would'nt acknowledge that. He thought he did a pretty darn good job presiding over Iraq- and for the most part, he did as he was the sole headhunter there- there were no Zarkawi's or Bin Laden's in Iraq while he was in the hot seat. If anyone threatened his rule, he probably would have put them through a shredder or worse.
This story ends with a point that if someone-well anyone has something that the corrupt US government wants, friend or foe, it matters little, as they will forcibly take it and remove whoever presents themselves as an obstacle.