# Anybody remember OBL and Hussein? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 25, 2003, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528 "2003-10-25T18:39:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Aldebaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528/81 "2003-11-01T19:07:13Z")
spogga, when someone believes something the person got through a certain process that formed his idea’s. May I ask something: Why do you want to answer the questions I asked to an other member while that member is clearly not around to answer them and to eventually read what you write, so to speak in his place? Salaam. A ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528/82 "2003-11-01T19:08:37Z")
It’s called an attempt eradicate ignorance, Aldebaran. I hope you find that a refreshing concept. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528/83 "2003-11-01T19:09:55Z")
I left out the word _to_ after the word _attempt_ above. The first sentence, thus, should read: “It’s called an attempt to eradicate Ignorance, Aldebaran.” ---
**Author:** ![spogga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@spogga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spogga)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528/84 "2003-11-01T19:17:36Z")
Your first sentence was unintelligable, please repeat. Your second is really not much better but in answer may I suggest that it is possible that Hajario may return to this thread and eventually read my posts…so to speak! ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528/85 "2003-11-01T19:41:28Z")
For an American, I’d wager that I was as cynical as anyone could be when I saw the statue of Saddam come down. Funny, but the obvious nature of the importance of getting Saddam and UBL, IMO, is lost on very few Americans. But, should such and American express that opinion, I’ll be sure to direct them to this thread. I don’t think the link works. I would love to read what alJazeera has to say though. Could you quote some of the relevant stuff? Mukhabarat + Fedayeen + Baathists + former Republican Guard + al Qaeda + antidemocratic Sunnis + Iranian and Syrian intelligence covert ops + various terror groups fron Iran, Syria and beyond, perhaps? Just a temporary marriage of convenience. I doubt seriously that Baathists who want to reclaim power are blowing themselves up. Lots of groups have motivations for wanting the US out. A successful democracy right there would be like a shining beacon in an ocean of crap. The latest “day of resistance” pissed off some shopkeepers and kept some kids from going to school, among average Iraqis. ---
**Author:** ![Aldebaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528/86 "2003-11-01T19:41:53Z")
spogga, May I suggest you to reflect on the process that formed your idea’s. You will immediately discover the meaning of my sentence. Salaam. A ---
**Author:** ![ammo52](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@ammo52](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ammo52)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528/87 "2003-11-01T19:44:15Z")
More and more of the captured raghead’ers are singing like canaries. One of 'em with knowledge as to Bin Laden’s whereabouts will rat him out eventually… if we don’t kick his rock over ourselves first. ---
**Author:** ![Aldebaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528/88 "2003-11-01T20:06:39Z")
Beagle, Many parents in Iraq seem to be afraid these days to let their children go to school - or on the streets in general- because of the wave of abductions that seems to be taken place.(Don’t ask me what those abducters want to gain as ransom from people who have nothing). As for AlJazeera… You can go to their English page on > **[Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/)** > > News, analysis from the Middle East & worldwide, multimedia & interactives, opinions, documentaries, podcasts, long reads and broadcast schedule. Salaam. A ---
**Author:** ![Aldebaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528/89 "2003-11-01T20:11:24Z")
ammo, Can you describe in detail the singing raghead canarie? You have discovered a whole new species of birds… It certainly shall make you famous. Salaam. A ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528/90 "2003-11-01T20:13:32Z")
**Ammo52** , calling people ‘ragheads’ is not likely to endear you to the moderators of this forum. But you don’t have to believe me; I’m sure one of them will be along shortly to explain this point. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528/91 "2003-11-01T20:17:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mehitabel \* > \*\*Rest assured that the average American is keenly aware of the hunt for Osama and Saddam, and any hints in the hunt are reported in the international sections of newspapers. I promise I am telling the truth. Please be courteous enough to believe us on the board who are living here. > > Thank you. \*\* Which essentially proves his point… “hints in the hunt are reported in the international sections of newspapers.” Which is to say, they are no longer front-page news. America’s attention span on any particular issue in the media is about 90 days. After that, we don’t want to hear about it anymore, resolved or not. Certain issues- the environment, for example- force themselves onto the agenda and stay there, but the search for bin Laden and Hussein has gone the way of Ken Lay being prosecuted. Remember not so long ago when the search for Hussein took up half an issue of Time? A little before that, when the search for OBL got the same treatment? We may not have forgotten, but as a nation we have stopped caring. It would be a boost for Bush if one or both were caught, but it isn’t going to harm him, at least in the runup to this election, if they aren’t. The half dozen soldiers being flown back in body bags each week, on the other hand, could well be his undoing. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528/92 "2003-11-01T20:21:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ammo52 \* > \*\*More and more of the captured raghead’ers are singing like canaries. > > One of 'em with knowledge as to Bin Laden’s whereabouts will rat him out eventually… if we don’t kick his rock over ourselves first. \*\* I suggest you stop by [www.goarmy.com](http://www.goarmy.com) I’m sure you’d enjoy kicking rocks yourself, and it would keep you off this board. ---
**Author:** ![ammo52](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@ammo52](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ammo52)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528/93 "2003-11-01T21:50:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by El\_Kabong \* > \*\ ***Ammo52** , calling people ‘ragheads’ is not likely to endear you to the moderators of this forum. But you don’t have to believe me; I’m sure one of them will be along shortly to explain this point. \*\* Umm… time out here. I sincerely hope you aren’t suggesting I called anyone ON THIS BOARD a raghead. And as I’ve already explained, I’m somewhat “forced” to use raghead’ers since the M word is one that I have trouble typing. It’s really the ONLY word, inexplicably, to present such a challenge. I believe our friend Aldebaran suffers from a very similar disorder, seemingly to the consent of the moderators. “US’ers,” as it has been pointed out repeatedly even during my very short tenure here, is an insult. One which is masked behind an “excuse” so patently lame it defies belief. Surely what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. I’d look forward to hearing otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528/94 "2003-11-01T22:03:31Z")
> [@](#): > > I sincerely hope you aren’t suggesting I called anyone ON THIS BOARD a raghead. No I didn’t. I was just saying that historically, that term has been considered a form of hate speech on this board and use of it in the past, for whatever reason, has been known to result in action by the Mods. Meanwhile, I decline to join your little guerrilla action over “US’ers”, which I personally find a non-issue. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528/95 "2003-11-01T23:11:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Aldebaran \* > \*\*Hajario, > > 1. Which “Saddam’s organisation” do you have in mind? > > 2. How do you come to the supposition that there was contact between OBL and Hussein > > 3. Which type of intelligence do you suppose they exchanged? > \*\* I don’t think that it’s unreasonable to assume that, as the leader of a country, he had foreign operatives, just like we have here in the U.S. Some were spies and some of those spies worked through unofficial channels with spies for other groups. In that manner, information and support could have been exchanged. OBL and Hussein certainly had some commonality in their enemies and would have reason to provide mutual support. They could have exchanged all sorts of information, just like the U.S. and the U.K. do. This could be information gathered from stolen documents about, say, how to make various weapons or about various security measures at an airport. All of the usual stuff that spy networks find, again just like here in the U.S. I do think that the specifics of the 9/11 attacks came as a suprise to Saddam but not the fact that something big happened around the time that it did. Does that mean that I think that Saddam was in any way behind the 9/11 attacks? It most certainly does not. I do think that he did help the groups that did it in a general way, and they helped him, over the years. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528/96 "2003-11-01T23:30:22Z")
Haj… why not suggest that the British Secret Service was behind the whole thing? You have just as much evidence (which is to say, none)… ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528/97 "2003-11-02T01:58:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dutchboy208 \* > \*\*Haj… why not suggest that the British Secret Service was behind the whole thing? > > You have just as much evidence (which is to say, none)… \*\* What exactly is your issue with what I said? Specifically. 1. Who do you think I think was behind those attacks? 2. Who do you think was behind the attacks? Haj ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528/98 "2003-11-02T02:14:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Beagle \* > \*\* > Mukhabarat + Fedayeen + Baathists + former Republican Guard + al Qaeda + antidemocratic Sunnis + Iranian and Syrian intelligence covert ops + various terror groups fron Iran, Syria and beyond, perhaps? Just a temporary marriage of convenience. > \*\* Actually, UbL specifically named the Iraqi Baathist party as infidels, (along with about a gazillion other groups of people) in his message to the Iraqi people. Being infidel is punishable by death. I figure it’s his equivalent of the “You’re either with us or against us,” speech. Since he’s called for the death of members of the Iraqi Baathist party, I’d consider that to be a very odd sort of alliance. Just because these groups all have a stake in getting the US out of Iraq, doesn’t necessarily mean that they have allied. ---
**Author:** ![spogga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@spogga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spogga)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528/99 "2003-11-02T06:02:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Aldebaran \* > \*\*spogga, > > May I suggest you to reflect on the process that formed your idea’s. > You will immediately discover the meaning of my sentence. > Salaam. A \*\* You are not talking to an idiot here so refrain from your sarcastic remarks. The meaning of your sentence, in fact the meaning of most if not all of your sentences, is either insulting or inflammatory and filled with an irrational hate of the United States of America and its citizens who you disparagingly refer to as US’ers which I suspect is a thinly disguised way you have devised of saying ‘users’. Tell me mr muslimite, have you ever said anything at all that favours the USA. ---
**Author:** ![spogga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@spogga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spogga)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528/100 "2003-11-02T06:06:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Aldebaran \* > \*\*ammo, > > Can you describe in detail the singing raghead canarie? > > You have discovered a whole new species of birds… > It certainly shall make you famous. > Salaam. A \*\* Yet again you fail to read the post correctly Quote:\*\* LIKE a canary \*\* Like I said before, pay attention [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-obl-and-hussein/209528.md?page=6)