SADDAM HUSSEIN CAPTURED IN TIKRIT
14 December 2003

US occupation authorities have confirmed that Saddam Hussein was captured in a raid near his ancestral home of Tikrit. The New York Times reports he was captured without a shot fired, while "hiding in a hole below the farm house, located in the town of Adwar". Images of the beleagured, bearded fugitive dictator have been widely broadcast across network television and cable news networks. The Financial Times reports that "Nazem Dabag, the leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, early on Sunday was the first to tell the world of Saddam’s arrest".

War opponents Chirac and Schroeder have said the capture of Hussein is a vital step toward stabilization of the region, citing the dictator's past crimes. Sen. Hagel hold ABC News that "this is far from over", warning that it is now crucial to ensure that the situation is handled properly. Many wonder if US forces will now be scaled back. Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE), who has supported the increase of US military presence, told NBC that he spoke last week with French President Jacques Chirac, who favored allowing NATO to take over peacekeeping and stabilization in Iraq.

Coalition Privisional Authority Administrator Bremer reportedly celebrated with the observation that "the tyrant is a prisoner". DNA tests were reportedly administered to confirm the identity of the prisoner, due to his known use of doubles and decoys. He was also shaved, in order to present an image that more closely resembles his widely recognizable face.

Le Monde reports that Abdel Aziz Hakim, President of the Transitional Governing Council, confirmed in Madrid that "the criminal" Hussein had been detained. The French paper also confirms that DNA test were positive.

Major General Ray Odierno told the press this morning that "mid-level people" and "family and tribal ties" contributed vital information. Other sources had reported that Kurdish leaders contributed key intelligence. Odierno said Hussein was best described as "very disoriented" and that he fired no shots from a pistol at his side.

The Assocated Press has said there is still no decision on how or where to try Saddam Hussein for war crimes. As reported in the New York Times:

Iraq's interim government established a special tribunal Wednesday to try top members of Saddam's government for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. At the time, they said Saddam could be tried in absentia.

Salon.com's wire reports claim that Hussein dug a hole and covered himself to escape capture, having to be dug out by US forces. British Prime Minister Tony Blair addressed some of his remarks to Iraq's Sunni muslims, saying this should be seen as an opportunity to join in moving Iraq into a democratic future.

Suspicions have been raised that an open trial would provide Saddam Hussein with an opportunity to pose as a martyr or a defender of his nation. US authorities may wish to use trial forum to broadcast evidence of Hussein's crimes, in order to justify the war itself. Speculation is widespread about whether a war crimes trial would allow occupying powers to determine whether or not there was indeed a WMD program.

NBC reports today that the WMD hunt in Iraq has been scaled back by occupation authorities, during the weeks leading up to Saddam's capture, with resources shifted toward security and stabilization. Search agents have since expressed concern about having to conduct their investigations with diminished security services, leading to talk of abandoning the search.

AP reports new bomb attacks in Central Iraq, in wake of Saddam capture. Some analysts have said they believe that it is Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, one of Hussein's most trusted long-time aides, who has been engineering the insurgency against Coalition forces and partners. [s]

UN URGES FAIRNESS, OPENNESS, INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS FOR HUSSEIN WAR CRIMES TRIAL
16 December 2003

Kofi Annan said in his report to the Security Council today that the Iraqis must be assured that current Coalition participants, allies of those forces and the UN itself, will continue to provide support both financial and military for the stabilization and democratization of Iraq. He also specified that any trial of Saddam Hussein for war crimes must withstand international human rights scrutiny, abide by the Geneva conventions and be transparent. [Full Story]

NO WMD, JUSTIFICATIONS FOR WAR IN QUESTION
26 January 2004

David Kay, chief weapons inspector for the Iraq Survey Group, who recently left his post, reports there was no evidence to indicate the presence of any weapons of mass destruction, any stockpiles, or any competent programs to develop such weapons. Kay said evidence was found that indicated there had been programs in the past, but that it appeared that all the weapons had been destroyed, and that the programs were in disarray, and no production facilities existed. [Full Story]