Theres a persistent rumour I come about regularly here in Europe, about how the Saddam we see on TV now is noit the same man as we saw a couple of years ago. The real Saddam would have died a couple of years ago and the Iraki’s replaced him with a double. Evidence is in the very different ears, hands and jaw when you compare old and new pictures. It’s almost stated as a matter of fact sometimes, kind of like ‘Well, everyone knows this of course, but it’s not in the interest of the Americans to say it out loud. They need a real bad guy to fight, not some duplicate.’
So my question is, is anything like this ever mentioned in the US press?
Yes, I’ve heard the mention of doubles on CNN too. But I don’t mean that he uses doubles, I mean the rumour is that he IS a double. That the original Saddam died a long time ago and that you’re fighting a man that doesn’t exist anymore.
I read an article on msn or cnn that had pictures of up to four doubles. They pointed out very subtle differences that I didn’t notice at first, but you can see incomparision after having it pointed out. Such things as in ear size, shape and placement, thickness of lips and so forth.
The only rumors that I’ve heard were that he uses doubles occasionally - especially at public appearances - to cut down on the risk of assassination.
I’ve never heard any stories that the “real” Saddam Hussein might have died and then been permanently “replaced.”
However (hypothetically), even if this is the case, how does this change the political/military situation? Does it change it at all? It’s not like the Iraquis really elected him anyways. He still has the reins of power and given the situation in the OP, he has had for some time.
Well, for all intents and purposes a long-standing duplicate would be him. Especially if there’s no proof that he even was replaced.
[/end of wild hypothesis]
But basically, this is too much urban-legend material for me to take it seriously, and it reminds me way too much of Heinlein’s “Double Star”
Doesn’t affect the military situation. Whoever he is, he is doing what the Bush Administration deems worthy of an attack. In fact, they’d probably use it as evidence of a devious and lying regime.
How can it NOT affect the military situation. The reason he’s such a big threat (supposedly) is his personality. All kinds of countries have WMDs, but only Iraq has Saddam. In fact, the US has suggested that if Saddam quit and go into exile, there’ll be no need for a war.
Yes, I’ve heard about doubles, but nothing about the “original” being dead.
Heck, last Halloween, Letterman had a bit of various kids dressed up as various celebrities and whatnot and coming into his “house”. One of the kids was a Saddam body-double.
) have to do is declare Saddam dead and the pressure is off them.