Grinder
14 December 2003, 13:40
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2003 - With three words -- "We got
him" - Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III announced
at a press briefing in Baghdad today that U.S. forces had
captured Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein near his hometown of
Tikrit.
Saddam was taken into custody at a small mud-walled
compound outside the village of Adwar at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 13.
About 600 members of the 1st Brigade, 4th
Infantry Division, along with special operations
forces, launched Operation Red Dawn after receiving
intelligence that Saddam was in the area, said Army Lt.
Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, commander of coalition forces in
the country.
Bremer, the coalition administrator, said it was a "great day" in
Iraq's history. "For decades, hundreds of thousands of you
suffered at the hands of this cruel man," he said. "For
decades, Saddam Hussein divided citizens against each
other. For decades, he threatened and attacked your
neighbors. Those days are over forever."
The ambassador called on Iraqis to look to the future. He
urged those who supported Saddam to reexamine their views
and cooperate to build a new Iraq. "Your future has never
been more full of hope," he said
Sanchez described the operation that captured Saddam. The
general said it was a cordon-and-search operation, and
coalition forces sustained no casualties. In fact, he said,
coalition forces never fired a shot.
"For the last several months, a combination of human
intelligence tips, exceptional intelligence analytical
efforts and detainee interrogations narrowed down the
activities of Saddam Hussein," Sanchez said.
Sanchez said intelligence pointed to two likely spots where
Saddam could be hiding. He said the Americans struck with
lightning speed under cover of darkness. The troops
initially did not find Saddam. "As a result, the 1st Brigade
Combat Team elected to cordon the area and conduct an
extensive search," Sanchez said. "Coalition forces
subsequently found a suspicious location."
In the search, U.S. forces discovered a "spider hole."
"After uncovering the spider hole, a search was conducted
and Saddam Hussein was found hiding at the bottom of the
hole," Sanchez said. "Saddam was captured without
resistance."
Coalition forces moved the former Iraqi dictator to a
secure area, and he has undergone medical tests and
questioning. Bremer said Saddam was "cooperative and
talkative."
Coalition forces also uncovered some weapons and $750,000
in $100 bills. Two other Iraqis were detained.
Sanchez showed a video of the spider hole and then showed
Saddam undergoing medical tests. Iraqi journalists at the
press conference erupted at the sight of Saddam, shaking
their fists and shouting "Death to Saddam." The Iraqi
dictator had a full beard and looked disheveled.
Sanchez called the capture of Saddam "a defining moment in
the new Iraq." he said the capture brings closure to the
Iraqi people. "Saddam Hussein will never return to a
position of power from which he can punish, terrorize,
intimidate or exploit the Iraqi people as he did for more
than 35 years," the general said.
Saddam will continue to be held at an undisclosed location.
The determination on how to try Saddam will be made later.
Pentagon officials said President Bush was informed of the
possible capture yesterday. It was confirmed to him this
morning.
The streets of Baghdad erupted with "celebratory gunfire,"
according to correspondents in the Iraqi capital. Officials
said some Iraqi regime diehards may launch attacks, but
that coalition forces are prepared. In the long term,
officials said, they see the capture as going a long way to
bring stability to the country.
Bremer and Sanchez, while visibly pleased by the capture,
said much work remains to be done in Iraq, and pledged to
continue working with the Iraqi Governing Council to build
a new Iraq.
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2003 - With three words -- "We got
him" - Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III announced
at a press briefing in Baghdad today that U.S. forces had
captured Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein near his hometown of
Tikrit.
Saddam was taken into custody at a small mud-walled
compound outside the village of Adwar at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 13.
About 600 members of the 1st Brigade, 4th
Infantry Division, along with special operations
forces, launched Operation Red Dawn after receiving
intelligence that Saddam was in the area, said Army Lt.
Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, commander of coalition forces in
the country.
Bremer, the coalition administrator, said it was a "great day" in
Iraq's history. "For decades, hundreds of thousands of you
suffered at the hands of this cruel man," he said. "For
decades, Saddam Hussein divided citizens against each
other. For decades, he threatened and attacked your
neighbors. Those days are over forever."
The ambassador called on Iraqis to look to the future. He
urged those who supported Saddam to reexamine their views
and cooperate to build a new Iraq. "Your future has never
been more full of hope," he said
Sanchez described the operation that captured Saddam. The
general said it was a cordon-and-search operation, and
coalition forces sustained no casualties. In fact, he said,
coalition forces never fired a shot.
"For the last several months, a combination of human
intelligence tips, exceptional intelligence analytical
efforts and detainee interrogations narrowed down the
activities of Saddam Hussein," Sanchez said.
Sanchez said intelligence pointed to two likely spots where
Saddam could be hiding. He said the Americans struck with
lightning speed under cover of darkness. The troops
initially did not find Saddam. "As a result, the 1st Brigade
Combat Team elected to cordon the area and conduct an
extensive search," Sanchez said. "Coalition forces
subsequently found a suspicious location."
In the search, U.S. forces discovered a "spider hole."
"After uncovering the spider hole, a search was conducted
and Saddam Hussein was found hiding at the bottom of the
hole," Sanchez said. "Saddam was captured without
resistance."
Coalition forces moved the former Iraqi dictator to a
secure area, and he has undergone medical tests and
questioning. Bremer said Saddam was "cooperative and
talkative."
Coalition forces also uncovered some weapons and $750,000
in $100 bills. Two other Iraqis were detained.
Sanchez showed a video of the spider hole and then showed
Saddam undergoing medical tests. Iraqi journalists at the
press conference erupted at the sight of Saddam, shaking
their fists and shouting "Death to Saddam." The Iraqi
dictator had a full beard and looked disheveled.
Sanchez called the capture of Saddam "a defining moment in
the new Iraq." he said the capture brings closure to the
Iraqi people. "Saddam Hussein will never return to a
position of power from which he can punish, terrorize,
intimidate or exploit the Iraqi people as he did for more
than 35 years," the general said.
Saddam will continue to be held at an undisclosed location.
The determination on how to try Saddam will be made later.
Pentagon officials said President Bush was informed of the
possible capture yesterday. It was confirmed to him this
morning.
The streets of Baghdad erupted with "celebratory gunfire,"
according to correspondents in the Iraqi capital. Officials
said some Iraqi regime diehards may launch attacks, but
that coalition forces are prepared. In the long term,
officials said, they see the capture as going a long way to
bring stability to the country.
Bremer and Sanchez, while visibly pleased by the capture,
said much work remains to be done in Iraq, and pledged to
continue working with the Iraqi Governing Council to build
a new Iraq.