U.S. Military CONFIRM Saddam's Sons Killed in Mosul Raid

I wish we'd found another way to prove their deaths.
This, to me, strips us the moral high ground to condemn others when they show our dead troops on TV.

I'm really surprised that our govt made the decision to do this--so soon after our men and women were photographed dead for TV.

Of course, in the current political conspiracy theory environment, I guess the Bush administration would be accused on lying about it--and conspiring with the military to lie about it to boost Bush's popularity.

cjhsa
insults will get you nowhere

Some people just refuse to see the double standards of this administration. c.i.

There is no doubt in my mind that we could have established conclusively that the brothers were dead without those pictures.

There is no doubt in my mind that if the Iraqis (or anyone else) had killed important individuals from the United States and sent pictures of their bodies out that were like the pictures we have released -- everyone in America -- right wing; left wing; and middle of the roaders would be justifiably furious over it.

cjsha -- you would be one of the most outspoken if that happened.

the higher moral ground is in the basement

I don't see them as having any other choice. Obviously they are trying to protect the troops still in Iraq, with highly questionable results.

Obviously it would have been preferable to take them alive. I suspect the brothers had it planned such that that would never happen.

Frank, do tell how you would prove to 25 million Iraquis that they were dead, without pictures?

By the way, my milktoast comment wasn't aimed at anyone in particular.

Someone needs to stir things up around here. I'm promoting discourse, not personal attacks.

Well, so that was the reason why it was okay to present the allied soldiers?

Hey, some people think Hitler is still alive.

Better read up on your tabloids.

My guess is that you are not going to PROVE to 25 million Iraqis that those brothers are dead by exhibiting those pictues.

The pictures don't look anything like the brothers -- although I have little doubt but that they are of them.

Obviously, while in hiding -- they tried to change their appearances as much as possible -- and I don't know how it looks to you, but to me, it looks as though they did a pretty good job of it.

And quite honestly, the results of the fire-fight did little, in my estimation, to enhance the resemblance to what they looked like while alive.

Humans being what they are, there will always be doubts.

My preference would have been to simply check out the identities with DNA references -- have individuals who knew them well (and who could see through the disguise changes and fire-fight reconstruction) -- and have them identify the bodies. Then publicize the identifications as much as possible.

It would not be completely effective -- but neither are the pictures -- and it would have the advantage of being a great deal more civilized.


In any case, I seriously doubt the death of the brothers or of Saddam himself when his turn comes -- will ease tensions in Iraq. I think things will get noticably worse. We are making the the mistake of thinking that because most of the world hated them -- the Iraqis, as a whole do too.

But I suspect they will see the slaughter of the brothers -- and any of the other high officials as ARABS BEING KILLED BY SATAN. In essence, I see revenge, rather than reassurance, being the end result.

We'll see.

But I hope my explanation made my concerns more palatable to you, cjh. I accept your explanation that you are just trying to stir up conversation and debate. That's an admirable thing. I've been know to do that from time to time myself.

This day of horrible car crash photos (oops, I mean photos of dead men) is undoubtedly going to be cause for confusion among many Americans yet I hope MOST Americans! While we pause to rubber-neck at the grisly photos, will any pause to read the Final Congressional report on 9/11? That there is NO connection between Iraq and al-quaida for that disaster, the ultimate Bush justification for the War on Iraq? I fear that most of the world sees Americans as embarassments or worse as world citizens. Here is a link to how I view other folk's vison of Americans. No, this is no understatement to me.

I think it is larger than a2k allows, so here is the URL
http://sp.fotologs.net/users/c/o/b/a/l/t/cobalt/my_photos/2003/07/24/1059039503.jpg

If the link doesn't work, I will get a smaller version to post...

Dang, was too large, obviously. Let's try this one and if it doesn't work, I will get it into a public online album to share:

http://sc.groups.msn.com/tn/D1/C0/EulessBasic/b/12e.jpg

Hoof

My understanding was that the brothers bodies were identified by several Iraqis who knew them personally. This was widely reported and met only with skepticism from the Iraqi public. I'm sure DNA testing will be done, but it takes awhile.

I just hope they are who they are claimed to be. I'd hate to think that these two sick SOB's might get away.

My kids play soccer. I'm sure glad they didn't work for Udai.

I just saw some video of their corpses on MSNBC.

They have been cleaned up--embalmer's putty patching the wound on Uday's face; their beards have been shaved--and they look much more as they did, at least according to the pictures of them alive.

This seems a little grotesque to me, however.

Is the administration trying too hard to convince Iraqis of their demise?