posted on May 17, 2004 12:07:52 PM new
Saddam fears Iraqi torture
CIA interrogators have seized on an admission by Saddam Hussein that he fears torture at the hands of his Iraqi enemies, and are threatening him with a quick handover to the new government in a renewed effort to break his silence.
They are also trying to exploit a new-found obsession of the former dictator with hygiene and careful food preparation to persuade him to begin giving information after five frustrating months of questioning.
Lengthy daily interrogation sessions have been structured around an apparent attempt to prepare Saddam to be handed over to the interim government that takes power after June 30.
The 67-year-old, who admitted that he feared torture soon after he was arrested last December, has been told his transfer will be delayed if he begins to co-operate with his interrogators.
Saddam is due to face trial at a war crimes tribunal in Baghdad after the transfer of sovereignty. Saddam has been held in solitary confinement since his capture.
He has good reason to fear that his Iraqi opponents might seek revenge for his brutal 24-year reign.
Many survivors of his prisons, and relatives of those who were killed by his regime, now hold positions in the interim governing council and a new Iraqi government is certain to introduce the death penalty for war crimes.
Saddam is said to be depressed and prone to angry outbursts during which he insists he is still the Iraqi president.
US officials are insistent that he has not been treated roughly. Washington is determined that he should not be able to claim he has been the victim of any abuse when he faces trial.
"The Secret Service has announced it is doubling its protection for John Kerry. You can understand why — with two positions on every issue, he has twice as many people mad at him." —Jay Leno
posted on May 17, 2004 01:13:47 PM new Who cares ?
Saddam is who cares if his former torture recepients get their hands on him.
Anything that can be used agains't him to obtain info is a plus.
"The Secret Service has announced it is doubling its protection for John Kerry. You can understand why — with two positions on every issue, he has twice as many people mad at him." —Jay Leno
posted on May 17, 2004 01:19:20 PM new
If he's a crazy man, then how would any info he spews be credible, unless the U.S. already knows the answers to the questions? Maybe if he's tortured enough he will let everyone in on where the WOMD are hidden.
