Saddam is captured

Okay, I know this is big news. And boy did Georgie need it. (The effect it will have on the situation in Iraq has yet to be seen - give it some time.)

May I continue with my conspiracy theory bit for a moment here?

This is the first time I've ever seen a government leader looking all grubby from "hiding in a hole". It's possible. First time for everything and all. I just don't believe that's the story.

LaHood's little remark about the capture being imminent came on December 2. I want to see the rest of the story. If the tip came on or before December 2, what came between then and now? Other bits of information I'm sure we will be given piecemeal by the press.

Nothing on Reuters just now, but Al Jazeera has this:

Sanchez said that the army had received intelligence late on Saturday of two possible hideouts near the village of Aghwar.

Some 600 special forces participated in the raid to capture the ousted Iraqi leader, who was found hiding in what Sanchez called "a spider hole". He had some $750,00 with him and was not injured.  article

That's a lot of money to spend in a hole.

Still need to know what LaHood was referring to on December 2.

The soldiers finally tracked the fugitive down to the bottom of a narrow, man-sized hole in the ground, some two to three-meters (six to eight feet) deep, Sanchez said.

Who put him there? It wasn't his choice of hiding places, I'm quite sure.

Hey, but nobody cares! He's been captured!

This is a great show, isn't it?

Author! Author!

"Enchanting day"?

This also from the Al Jazeera article:

US forces showed a videotape of the hideout. The video showed a bearded Hussein recieving a medical examination, to the applause of the journalists. Some members of the audience shouted "Death to Saddam" when they saw the video.

In the Iraqi capital, celebratory gunfire rang out, radios played festive music, drivers honked their horns and passengers on buses and trucks chanted "They got Saddam, they got Saddam!"

US troops stationed around Iraq cheered when they heard the news.

Don't get excited boys, you're not going anywhere.

Ah, blood lust.

Forces from the 4th Infantry Division along with Special Forces captured Saddam, the U.S. military said. There were no shots fired or injuries in the raid, called "Operation Red Dawn," said Lt. Gen. Richardo Sanchez.  article

I agree it would have been a bad idea to stage it so that there was resistance. No amount of glory to the enemy should have been permitted in his capture. No, the symbology of dragging him defeated and grubby out of a hole in the ground is much too rich. They've even been touting it in the news as a "spider hole". I can't quite figure that operation name, though. I'm missing something there.

I wonder why they shaved his beard.

You know, though, it really was a good idea to try out the slaughter of the sons first. Find out how people would respond. Which was - we want to see the bastards alive and punished, or for those who don't want to admit to such vengefulness, we should have kept them alive for information.

Bremer began the press conference with the dramatic announcement, "Ladies and gentlemen, we got him." His statement was greeted by jubliant applause and cries from the audience, who were mainly journalists.  article

Silly people. Now I see that there was method in the madness of continuing to repeat the same old line that Saddam was a monster and Iraq, nay the entire world, is better off without Saddam. The silly masses can now celebrate and cheer a hero who captured the monster. Sir George defeated the dragon.

What it looks like for certain is a chance for Cowboy Codpiece to say "Mission Accomplished" again. And more "loose ends" tied up so he can pull out of Iraq before the next election.

Sure, I'll admit that the story could be just what they're saying it is. But come on! I'm not a conspiracy nut. I'm not a Bush hater. Okay, maybe I'm both of those. But the fact remains that pretty much everything this administration has done from the onset of this whole mess has been staged. You've seen it. You've seen the reports of the lies from the start and the show-boating and the staged photo-ops. The Jessica Lynch show. The Thanksgiving Day show - a story whose official lie got changed three times before they were through. And that was just about one part of the story - the infamous campaign line - "Was that Air Force One I Just Saw" - emblazoned on buttons for sale the very next day. Why would you think this is anything but more of the same? If you believe this one, you're the one who's being unrealistic - not me.

P.S. Look at this picture on ABC's site. Talk about depicting the man as a dragon! Images are more powerful than words - they speak to the psyche.

....but hey, believe what you want....you will anyway.