OK, I just watched the non-Saddam speech on MSNBC. Why announce that he'll speak, and then put up some flunky, instead? Possible answers:
They're nuts and/or stupid.
Saddam's TV double had a heart attack.
The real Saddam thought he was well enough for an appearance, but then fell ill or died at the last minute.
They're saving the real Saddam for May sweeps.
You only get to pick one.
Stephen:
BZZZZT.
Actually, Saddam's interview w/ Peter Arnett ran long, and since that objective journalist had waited so patiently for his chance, the kindly Mr. Hussein dispatched his aide to give his address instead, so that Mr. Arnett wouldn't have to be too inconvenienced....
I vote for the May sweeps - after all, Reality TV is all about the ratings!
Dangit! My #2 pencil's tip snapped off!
Why do we only get to pick one? Where's the fun in that?
Blogger won't let me publish!
Yesterday I wrote that I thought Saddam was dead.
Today, I'm not quite as sure, but, if my speculation is correct,it doesn't matter at all.
When Saddam didn't show for the speech today, I wondered why the regime would schedule an appearance by the Maximum Leader and then not produce. I also remembered a couple of reports to the effect that Hussein's family was attempting to flee the country. Could it be that Hussein is actually alive, considers the war lost and is constructing the fiction of his own death so as to avoid post war difficulties such as trial for war crimes and/or crimes against humanity?
Either way, it will make no difference as to whether or how we use Hussein's death (or "death") in the war.
Or maybe he's gone on a two week drunk like his hero Stalin did after Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa. Methinks it won't work out as well for Saddam as it finally did for Uncle Joe though.
Or maybe the video went: "Dear Iraqis, here am I and the wife on the beach in sunny Syria, having a lovely time, glad I'm not there."
Qusay accidently recorded over the tape.
