Friday, July 02, 2004

Saddam analysis

CNN has an article today: Psychology of Saddam

CNN brought in Jerrold Post, founder of the CIA's psychological profiling division, who later did his own profile of Saddam, to give his take on the man's performance.

"Well, I'm really struck. This is Saddam in command. He looks intense, focused, he's concentrating," Post said of Saddam's overall physical appearance. "What a remarkable contrast this decisive man in charge is with the amazing image we saw emerging from the spider hole."

Viewing the tape of Saddam just after his capture in December 2003, being examined by the coalition, Post observed, "Look at this compliant, 'little man' in a sense, obediently opening his mouth for the dental exam, then submitting and indeed bending his head for, while they search for lice. This is a Saddam that had never been seen before, yet -- I really want to emphasize -- this is the core Saddam psychologically."

Post is either...well, I won't go there...but the state of psychology in America is probably in the bottom drawer. Still, here's what should strike Mr. Post, considering the tons of anti-depressants and hyperactive drugs the Association doles out yearly in this country: Saddam Hussein was drugged when they pulled him out of that "spider hole". Post is even succumbing to the psychological language of the "capture". Is CNN Fox? They're gaining the same credibility in my mind over time. This is just one more tick of the clock.

At one point, before a judge many years his junior, Saddam sensed something, gathered his bravado and seemed to take over the proceedings.

"I can imagine him thinking, 'Young man, do you realize whom you're talking to? I am the president of Iraq,' and treating him with total contempt. And indeed, that is what continues to play out: Him taking charge of the courtroom," said Post.

Saddam did take charge, asking the judge to introduce himself, questioning the judge's credentials and stating his own.

"This is a theme he stresses throughout," said Post. "Not past tense. 'I am the President of the Republic of Iraq.' And after all, he got a 99 percent-plus election tally. So for him, this whole procedure is illegitimate."

And apparently that is totally psycho - for a man who was serving as the president of a country to be taken prisoner during war and still consider himself legally the president. Go figger. I'd say that until he is tried and convicted and legally removed from office (or dies), he is the president of Iraq.

When the judge began to read charges, including the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, Saddam exploded.

"This is an illegal session! ... I know what I am talking about!" said Saddam

"He still sees that war as justified, a very political paranoid in full flower," Post said.

You know where I'm going now. Could somebody get Mr. Post recent transcripts of Cheney, Bush, Rumsfiend, Rice, and Wolfowitz speeches? They still believe the invasion of Iraq was justified. Or at least they say they do. Political paranoids in fruit.

According to Post, when he spoke about the criminal being President Bush, Saddam emphasized, "I am an actor on the world stage. I am talking to the world. And I am going to persuade the world forcibly. I am in charge of Iraq. This is illegitimate, and my radical Arab followers should applaud my courage in still defying the West."

And I have no doubt they will.

Well, onward. Our work is not done. We have to finish making Saddam Hussein a martyr.

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


All about Saddam

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