Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - U.S. Offers $25 Million Reward for Saddam

Double D · 07-03-2003, 03:25 PM

Thu July 3, 2003 02:15 PM ET

By Daniel Trotta
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The United States placed a $25 million bounty on the head of Saddam Hussein on Thursday as rocket-propelled grenades fired by suspected Saddam loyalists wounded more American soldiers.

Paul Bremer, U.S. administrator for Iraq, also offered $15 million for information leading to the capture of his two sons Uday and Qusay, calling all three "among the most evil men the world has known."

Bremer's appeal for information leading to Saddam's capture or confirmation of his death, televised to the Iraqi people, suggested Washington does not know whether he is alive.

Three months after a U.S.-led war toppled the man who ruled Iraq with an iron fist for a quarter of a century, there was still no sign of him or his sons.

The United States once called Saddam irrelevant after the war. But the language has changed since the rise in attacks on U.S. troops blamed on his supporters.

"They (Saddam and sons) may or may not be alive. But I recognize that, until we know for sure, their names will continue to cast a shadow of fear over this country," Bremer said, inviting people to come forward with information.

Bremer previously cited the possibility Saddam was still alive. U.S. military officials blame his supporters for an average of 13 attacks per day on the occupying forces in Iraq.

Hostile fire has killed 25 American soldiers since major combat was declared over on May 1, military sources said on Thursday.

Resistance fighters armed with grenade launchers wounded 10 U.S. soldiers in ambushes on Thursday. Two Iraqis were killed and 12 wounded as a result of the increasingly bold attacks on U.S. forces.

BIN LADEN AT LARGE

The United States also has a $25 million bounty on the head of Osama bin Laden, the exiled Saudi militant accused of masterminding the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington.

When reminded during a news conference that bin Laden was still at large, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition governing Iraq cited the example of former Panamanian leader General Manuel Antonio Noriega, who was captured during the 1989 U.S. invasion of that Central American country.

"That's absolutely true (bin Laden still at large). Equally within 48 hours of a reward being announced for General Noriega he was captured. So I think it goes both ways," the spokesman said.

Many Iraqis claim they spotted Saddam as Baghdad fell on April 9. They call him the master of disguise who hides in simple huts or dines in restaurants when the pressure is on.

Some believe Saddam may be hiding in his home town of Tikrit, his former power base.

MUSEUM OPENS

Amid the violence, there was some hope. Iraq briefly reopened its National Museum, displaying the Treasure of Nimrud and other antiquities that survived looting when Baghdad fell on April 9. Also on display was the shattered Vase of Warka, one of the looted items returned to the museum last month.

In the anti-American town of Falluja, about 30 miles west of Baghdad, the senior military intelligence official, Major Joffery Watson, said he could not confirm a U.S. claim that a bomb-making class caused a deadly explosion in a mosque.

Residents said the blast on Monday night killed nine people and they insist it was caused by a U.S. air strike. The U.S. Central Command said on Wednesday people learning how to make bombs triggered the explosion.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.j...log/GetContent
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Maybe we could have considered putting the bounty on his head _before_ we went barrelling in there?

07-03-2003, 03:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
Double D Junkie Location: Chicagoland	U.S. Offers $25 Million Reward for Saddam Thu July 3, 2003 02:15 PM ET By Daniel Trotta BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The United States placed a $25 million bounty on the head of Saddam Hussein on Thursday as rocket-propelled grenades fired by suspected Saddam loyalists wounded more American soldiers. Paul Bremer, U.S. administrator for Iraq, also offered $15 million for information leading to the capture of his two sons Uday and Qusay, calling all three "among the most evil men the world has known." Bremer's appeal for information leading to Saddam's capture or confirmation of his death, televised to the Iraqi people, suggested Washington does not know whether he is alive. Three months after a U.S.-led war toppled the man who ruled Iraq with an iron fist for a quarter of a century, there was still no sign of him or his sons. The United States once called Saddam irrelevant after the war. But the language has changed since the rise in attacks on U.S. troops blamed on his supporters. "They (Saddam and sons) may or may not be alive. But I recognize that, until we know for sure, their names will continue to cast a shadow of fear over this country," Bremer said, inviting people to come forward with information. Bremer previously cited the possibility Saddam was still alive. U.S. military officials blame his supporters for an average of 13 attacks per day on the occupying forces in Iraq. Hostile fire has killed 25 American soldiers since major combat was declared over on May 1, military sources said on Thursday. Resistance fighters armed with grenade launchers wounded 10 U.S. soldiers in ambushes on Thursday. Two Iraqis were killed and 12 wounded as a result of the increasingly bold attacks on U.S. forces. BIN LADEN AT LARGE The United States also has a $25 million bounty on the head of Osama bin Laden, the exiled Saudi militant accused of masterminding the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington. When reminded during a news conference that bin Laden was still at large, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition governing Iraq cited the example of former Panamanian leader General Manuel Antonio Noriega, who was captured during the 1989 U.S. invasion of that Central American country. "That's absolutely true (bin Laden still at large). Equally within 48 hours of a reward being announced for General Noriega he was captured. So I think it goes both ways," the spokesman said. Many Iraqis claim they spotted Saddam as Baghdad fell on April 9. They call him the master of disguise who hides in simple huts or dines in restaurants when the pressure is on. Some believe Saddam may be hiding in his home town of Tikrit, his former power base. MUSEUM OPENS Amid the violence, there was some hope. Iraq briefly reopened its National Museum, displaying the Treasure of Nimrud and other antiquities that survived looting when Baghdad fell on April 9. Also on display was the shattered Vase of Warka, one of the looted items returned to the museum last month. In the anti-American town of Falluja, about 30 miles west of Baghdad, the senior military intelligence official, Major Joffery Watson, said he could not confirm a U.S. claim that a bomb-making class caused a deadly explosion in a mosque. Residents said the blast on Monday night killed nine people and they insist it was caused by a U.S. air strike. The U.S. Central Command said on Wednesday people learning how to make bombs triggered the explosion. http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.j...log/GetContent ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Maybe we could have considered putting the bounty on his head _before_ we went barrelling in there?