Speaking of Saeed al-Sahhaf, the US Reportedly Refuses His Surrender
The following story published by the BBC, if true, is a real tragedy: Saddam’s mouthpiece ‘seeks surrender’. Apparently al-Sahhaf fears for his life, but US forces have refused to take him into custody because he is not on the top 55 list and being a Shiite Muslim is not considered to have been a powerful force in Saddam’s regime. If this report is true, I think it is mistake not to take him into custody. Despite having blown all his credibility during the war, he nevertheless is the one Iraqi that has emerged from the war as a cult-celebrity. While I could make the usual jokes about turning him over to the talent agent of his own choice, I actually feel that al-Sahhaf could play a serious role in bringing democracy to Iraq. Because nobody takes him seriously, he can speak plainly and openly without being considered a threat.