The Iraqi National Congress is absolutely sure that former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein has been captured by U.S. troops in Tikrit wearing a beard. (It was reported early on that his beard was fake, but that later proved to be untrue.)
“We are 100 per cent sure that Saddam has been detained by American forces,” said Intifadh Qanbar, spokesman for the INC, headed by Ahmad Chalabi, a member of Iraq’s interim Governing Council.
“Saddam Hussein was captured this morning in Tikrit. He had a fake beard that he had taken off,” to be identified, he said, adding “he was hiding in a house.”
The political ramifications are absolutely huge. Gone are the days of chastising Bush for not getting it done in Iraq. Now that we’ve achieved one of the most important objectives in Iraq–capturing Hussein–Bush has achieved a large political victory.
Democrats have yet to discuss the economy following its success of late. This capture means the war’s off limits as well. The Democrats just took a major blow today, and what’s good for the Iraqi nation and for the United States continues to be bad for the Dems. I believe they’ll be uncharacteristically silent for the next few days/weeks.
More: Saddam frantically dug himself a hiding hole as U.S. troops closed in.
He had dug a hole and buried himself as US soldiers moved into the house where he was hiding, a spokesman said.
“The American soldiers had to use shovels to dig him out,” the spokesman said.
Yet more: And the Iraqis are celebrating.
Celebratory gunfire rang out across the Iraqi capital, radios played festive music, drivers honked their horns and passengers on buses and trucks chanted “They got Saddam, they got Saddam,” as word of the former dictator’s capture spread from car to car and shop to shop on a sun-filled Sunday afternoon.
So, too, are U.S. troops in the region. Looks like everyone is celebrating. Except for the Democrats, who now have to figure out a way to deal with the good news.