# Everything's cool, Saddam's been arrested. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 14, 2003, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934 "2003-12-14T12:07:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![pantom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/34f0e0/32.png) [@pantom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantom)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/141 "2003-12-15T16:16:35Z")
Well, **CarnalK** , you’ll be happy to know my little scenario is falling apart right before my eyes. The dollar is hovering at unchanged, give or take a little on either side, and so is oil, fercryinoutloud (actually +.30 cents, according to the screen I’m looking at right now), which was down a cool 4 bucks overnight, according to the talking heads. Looks like Saddam’s capture is being taken as a nonevent. Maybe I’ll be wrong about the election too? Hmmm… ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/142 "2003-12-15T16:21:03Z")
Huh? Nobody here thinks that the US has given up on the search for bin Laden. We’re not banging on desks because–try to imagine–most of us TRUST THE PROFESSIONALS who are looking and know that they’re doing their best. We’re more patient than we’re given credit for and even the most hawkish know that killing the children in the houses of the civilan neighborhood bin Laden has doubtless secreted himself in, that being the way of his cowardly kind, on the soil of a tenuous ally, may not be the best way to do things. And what did the search for Saddam have to do with bin Laden anyway? We can multitask. We can have more than one national goal and look for more than one murdering bastard at a time. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/143 "2003-12-15T16:28:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mehitabel \* > \*\*And what did the search for Saddam have to do with bin Laden anyway? We can multitask. We can have more than one national goal and look for more than one murdering bastard at a time. \*\* I fully agree with _that_. I just wish your government would have communicated the two matters as unrelated as well. Rather, they deliberately insinuated the two were somehow related, thereby shifting the focus from the hard-to-catch-really-scary-guy to the easy-to-overthrow-army-with-possible-WMD’s-and-definite-shitloads-of-oil. And bonus, they caught the dictator, too! Ticker tape parade, woohoo, God bless America, yadda yadda. A lot of people perhaps even believe this is somehow payback for 9/11. Meanwhile, no progress on the hunt for the guy that _really_ brought down the two towers. I ask again, am I reading the wrong sources? I read zero, zilch, fuck all, about Bin Laden these days. How many “professionals” do you need to convince Pakistan to let you comb out 40 square miles? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/144 "2003-12-15T16:32:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*Don’t forget the tip from a family member. \*\* Oh, sure, you’re right. There was a tip. But it’s possible there were lots of tips. Maybe even thousands of tips. And it’s possible that a significant percentage of them were deliberately deceptive, misleading, outdated, or just plain inaccurate. Family members especially might mislead you unless they just have an ax to grind or for some reason value the money more than their own culture and tribal ties. I still think they did a pretty good job. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/145 "2003-12-15T16:39:21Z")
Waving $25 million around makes it a whole lot easier to do a “good job”. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/146 "2003-12-15T16:51:23Z")
Some of the cash Saddam and his boys pilfered from the national bank was new (if not all of it). We had the serial numbers. It’s use was being closely tracked. Just another of the tools allowing us to close in. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/147 "2003-12-15T17:08:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*Well, I still have a hard time getting it. I visit the US quite often, and it does indeed have its share of morons. But not moreso than, say, my country. Or the UK. Or France. I’d say moronism is just a percentage of the population, no matter where you are. Americans have the reputations for being uneducated egocentric bastards, but I’d have to say that reputation applies to a small group of exceptions, and it’s certainly not the rule in my experience. > > I won’t even fall for the temptation to shout that all the morons voted for Bush, because that’s simply not true. > > What is it? Are people afraid of criticising the administration in times of war (or semi-war, since a declaration of war was never even issued)? Are even experienced politicians afraid to be branded “unpatriotic”, or somesuch Brutusesque moniker? The Democrats should have been all over this - yet, while I do see a lot of press on the Democrats pointing and laughing at the fact that GWB hasn’t produced the WMD’s yet, I don’t see them banging their fists on their desks demanding why the armed forces aren’t being deployed to locate and capture the man who slapped NYC, the US, and the Free World in the face. > > Why? Forget the common man - why don’t _politicians_ pick up this gauntlet? > > Or am I reading the wrong sources? \*\* Oh you were seriously asking? 😛 Well first I wouldn’t label people who _voted_ for Bush as morons, just those who still **blindly** support him. I’ll admit that I was happy when Bush won, I didn’t think too much of him, but I thought he had some good people around him. I thought he might be a bit more of a straight shooting guy, but most importantly, I can’t stand whiney Al Gore. So Bush to me started off, like any pres, with a clean slate. I’ve thought long and hard about this situation, and I don’t know what angers me the most. To be honest, it’s a toss up between squandering the good will of the post 9/11 world, and the politicizing of this whole “war on terror” by both Dems and Repubs. Ironically as I type this, I think I’ve figured out what stinks the most about this situation. What it has brought out in people. It goes without saying that this is one of the most complex ordeals (on the geopolitical side) the world has dealt with in recent times. There are so many dynamics in play, yet it’s been reduced (at least in the US POV) to us (the coalition) versus the “evildoers”. This is an extension of something that always irked me about politics, that you had to stick to your side, even if the other side had a good idea. If they have a good idea, you stonewall it, because you don’t want them to take credit for it. So now we have this black and white, US vs. them situation on so many different levels. Dems Versus Repubs versus the French versus the terrorists, and every is 100% right, and if you aren’t with me, you are with _them_. So here I am adding my two cents to this fucked up blob of whatever, and wondering if anyone else thinks the piggybank is full too. This situation has brought out the worst in a lot of people, and fear we won’t ever be headed back to civility. I do have to say that I think Bush is one of the most dangerous men involved here, and nothing will improve until he is out, but as always YMMV. **Ahunter3** was recently torn a new one for a comment he made, but sadly I find myself agreeing with him. I don’t know if finding SH made the situation better or worse. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/148 "2003-12-15T17:11:58Z")
I really don’t know who all these people who keep telling the pollsters Iraq and 9/11 were related ARE. I mean, I know some pretty dumb people and nobody’s ever said there’s a link at all to me. I have to say I think, judging from the Beeb and Skynews, the Yurpeen media has exaggerated this idea. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/149 "2003-12-15T17:12:11Z")
Sounds like it wasn’t so much tips, as info obtained from interrogations. [http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/12/15/sprj.nirq.saddam.reward/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/12/15/sprj.nirq.saddam.reward/index.html) > [@](#): > > In recent days, U.S. officials pulled in former Saddam bodyguards and members of Tikriti families close to his regime for intense interrogation. Information extracted from one person led to another and then eventually to the former Iraqi leader. > > “Over the last 10 days we brought in about five to 10 members of these families, who then were able to give us even more information and finally we got the ultimate information from one of these individuals,” Maj. Gen. Ray Odierno, commander of the 4th Infantry Division troops, said Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/150 "2003-12-15T17:36:10Z")
regarding_the guys who happened to be third-row center shouting “Death to Saddam”._ > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > **No offense, but do you have a cite for that? I’d be interested in reading it, but my sources so far do not carry stories along those lines.** So far, Coldie, the news sources on Google just call them “several Iraqi’s” or even “Iraqi reporters”. They were like third-row center, in perfect position to show them, Bremer, and the plasma TV with Saddam getting lice-inspected. At least one photographer was taking pictures of them. Wolf Blitzer on CNN has been positively beaming since yesterday. He too could be described as a “reporter” or “Rovian machination” despite the lack of a pay stub signed by Herr Karl Rove. I’m with **AHunter3** when he says: _Everything is not cool. Not by a long fucking shot._ Amen. ---
**Author:** ![Akatsukami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea666f/32.png) [@Akatsukami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akatsukami)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/151 "2003-12-15T17:39:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > **Point still stands: the possibility of large numbers of civilian casualties wasn’t a deterrant in Iraq - so I don’t see how it could be a valid reason not to go after OBL, if they know where he is. Mind you, I don’t want to see _any_ civilians dying if at all possible, but we all know that’s utopia right there.** I respectfully offer for your consideration the large number of people (I’ll call them that for courtesy’s sake) in this thread, on this board, and marching in the demonstrations, who act as if convinced that Utopia is just around the corner…if only that fascist idiot Bush isn’t re-elected next year. > [@](#): > > **And if innocent blood is going to be spilled, then I’d prefer it to be in the process of capturing and/or killing the man who masterminded the 9/11 attacks, rather than in the process of shoving aside an inept army to secure some oil supplies.** Aside from the “secure some oil supplies” bit (IMAO, chanting “No blood for oil!” is the last refuge of a scoundrel) I agree. But, as I say, let’s establish some ground rules here: [list=1] [li]ObL is a vicious, bigoted thug. That will remain true even if a UNSC resolution to that effect fails to pass.[/li][li]Mullah Omar is a vicious, bigoted thug who granted sanctuary to other vicious, bigoted thugs. That will remain true no matter how many people are shocked, _shocked_ that the U.S. would invade a sovereign nation like Afghanistan…or Pakistan.[/li][li]Musharraf is a vicious, bigoted thug. An _inept_ thug, granted, but still a thug. I would allow him a bolthole, where he can indulge himself with his millions and mistresses, on the theory that he’d act like any rat if cornered, and it’s better for me to lose my lunch than for others to lose their lives. That bolthole should not be the presidency of Pakistan, however.[/li][li]ISI is, to a good approximation, comprised of vicious, bigoted thugs. Pleas that they’re acting in the service of the State, or for the greater glory of Allah, fall on deaf ears around here.[/li][li]“Using military force” translates to “killing people and breaking things”. Assuming, for the sake of discussion, that we agree on the nobility of the mission, what level of violence is then tolerable? I suggest that the first video of a Pakistani child being hit by American fire does not mean that that level has been exceeded. I leave to you to debate those who do.[/li][li]A popular – and largely successful – tactic used by watermelons in the past few decades is to attack an energy source, assuring us that there is an alternative…only to attack that alternative in turn. If the U.S. should turn aside from Iraq to hunt down ObL – or to take out Kim Il Jong, or Robert Mugabe, or \, we’re not going to see that tactic in the debate, agreed?[/li][/list=1] ---
**Author:** ![Tee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@Tee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tee)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/152 "2003-12-15T17:39:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mehitabel \* > \*\*I really don’t know who all these people who keep telling the pollsters Iraq and 9/11 were related ARE. I mean, I know some pretty dumb people and nobody’s ever said there’s a link at all to me. I have to say I think, judging from the Beeb and Skynews, the Yurpeen media has exaggerated this idea. \*\* I agree. I know of no one, nobody, who thinks “the hijackers were Iraqis” or whatever. The two issues are mutually exclusive, with the possibility of both being part-and-parcel of some wider pan-Islamic agenda or something…_that_ may be where the pollsters come up with the idea that the two are related. If so, that’s the extent of it. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by World Eater_ > **Without Bin Laden to fund and establish networks, what good > are they?** So…the problem goes away once he’s incarcerated in NY? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/153 "2003-12-15T17:45:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\*Waving $25 million around makes it a whole lot easier to do a “good job”. \*\* Possibly. It might also make it a whole lot easier for every nutjob and desperado in Iraq to crawl out of the woodwork and offer a “tip” which is nothing more than a wild guess, making the task harder. Some of the tips might even have been contradictory. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/154 "2003-12-15T17:50:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tee \* > \*\*So…the problem goes away once he’s incarcerated in NY? \*\* Yes, the _problem of Osama Bin Laden_ goes away when he’s incarcerated in solitary confinement and has all communication with the world cut off. He is tougher to replace then the network is, that’s for damn sure. Care to explain how replacing someone who has spend decades building up a their terrorist infrastructure, and has hundreds of millions of dollars is not a big deal? OBL has some big expensive time invested shoes to fill. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/155 "2003-12-15T18:10:47Z")
First off, **World Eater** , thanks for your elaboration. I’m trying to get the picture, somewhat. It’s not a pretty picture, but it helps to understand. The US is one of my favourite countries, and the people of the US deserve a much better reputation than they’re often granted. Yet, the behaviour I rail against here reinforces all those ugly stereotypes to (realtive) outsiders like myself, especially without a proper context. Thank you for providing one. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mehitabel \* > \*\*I really don’t know who all these people who keep telling the pollsters Iraq and 9/11 were related ARE. I mean, I know some pretty dumb people and nobody’s ever said there’s a link at all to me. I have to say I think, judging from the Beeb and Skynews, the Yurpeen media has exaggerated this idea. \*\* Maybe the European media are exaggerating this - God knows most Euro media like a bit of Republican bashing every now and then. But my impression’s not just from Euro media. There have been plenty of threads on these boards devoted to the peculiar choice of words when GWB was speaking about Iraq “harboring terrorists”, or words to that effect. Exaggerated or not, the Bush administration **did** insinuatue a connection between Iraq and the War on Terror, and they did not make any effort to distinguish between your run-of-the-mill Baathist, who happens to be anti-American, and therefore -obviously :rolleyes:- is a terrorist, and the real creepy fucks like OBL. And undeniably, a fair share of the American public took it hook, line and sinker: they’re convinced Saddam had _something_ to do with 9/11. Bush et al used the public’s post-9/11 anger, and carefully redirected it to a more convenient target. It seems that if you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes truth. Unfortunately. **Akatsukami** said: > [@](#): > > **I respectfully offer for your consideration the large number of people (I’ll call them that for courtesy’s sake) in this thread, on this board, and marching in the demonstrations, who act as if convinced that Utopia is just around the corner…if only that fascist idiot Bush isn’t re-elected next year.** I don’t know who you’re referring to, but I hope it’s not me. While I certainly would cheer rather loudly should Bush lose the 2004 elections, far be it from me to state that should such an event occur, the world would be a better place all of a sudden. I do feel that another 4 years of GWB in the White House benefits no one, least of all the American people. I don’t know if that’s what you were getting at, but there you have it. > [@](#): > > **Aside from the “secure some oil supplies” bit (IMAO, chanting “No blood for oil!” is the last refuge of a scoundrel) I agree.** You’ll note that I did not chant “No blood for oil!”. Just as you label that extreme end of the spectrum “the last refuge of the scoundrel”, I label the assumption that this war had nothing to do with oil as hopelessly naive. I’m not saying you support that particular notion, but then again, neither do I support what you suggested I had said. > [@](#): > > **1. ObL is a vicious, bigoted thug. That will remain true even if a UNSC resolution to that effect fails to pass. > 2. Mullah Omar is a vicious, bigoted thug who granted sanctuary to other vicious, bigoted thugs. That will remain true no matter how many people are shocked, shocked that the U.S. would invade a sovereign nation like Afghanistan…or Pakistan.** Agreed on both descriptions. Here’s my point, though. Do you honestly think the US would have caught as much flack for going after OBL as it did for invading Iraq? Not a lot of countries objected to the military actions in Afghanistan, certainly not allies like France and Germany. The attacks on NYC and Washington affected us all, and the US would practically have been given _carte blanche_ by the Western World had they pursued Bin Laden into Pakistan, even _if_ the latter country objected. Yes, it would have constituted the invasion of a sovereign nation. And no, it would not have gotten a UN mandate, either. But it sure as hell would have been _understood_. > [@](#): > > **5. “Using military force” translates to “killing people and breaking things”. Assuming, for the sake of discussion, that we agree on the nobility of the mission, what level of violence is then tolerable? I suggest that the first video of a Pakistani child being hit by American fire does not mean that that level has been exceeded. I leave to you to debate those who do.** It’s incredibly hard for us to decide what level of violence, or what number of casualties, are tolerable. And I won’t engage in that sort of armchair diplomacy. And no, I wouldn’t withdraw all support at the first sight of a dead Pakistani kid, sad as the instance may be. > [@](#): > > **6. A popular – and largely successful – tactic used by watermelons in the past few decades is to attack an energy source, assuring us that there is an alternative…only to attack that alternative in turn. If the U.S. should turn aside from Iraq to hunt down ObL – or to take out Kim Il Jong, or Robert Mugabe, or \, we’re not going to see that tactic in the debate, agreed?** Although all your examples are downright bastards in their own right, you won’t see such an approach from me. I’m merely baffled by the relative silence surrounding Bin Laden. That’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/156 "2003-12-15T18:12:52Z")
Here’s a picture of one of the Iraqi Journalists shouting “Death to Saddam” at Viceroy Bremer’s so-called press conference: [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?g=events/ts/121403saddamcapture&a=&tmpl=sl&e=274](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?g=events/ts/121403saddamcapture&a=&tmpl=sl&e=274) The story has marched on: So far we’ve heard of a “spider-hole”, Saddam had $750,000 in cash, a pistol, identified himself and tried to negotiate. In Breaking News, Fox just reported the American soldiers “were about” to toss in a grenade. They did not shout, “Fuck you, Kaiser Wil” as was earlier reported. Rather, they quipped: “Greetings and Salutations from Kaiser Bush.” It’s unclear if Saddam had 3 million jobs, an exit strategy for Iraq, Osama’s whereabouts or information on the Anthrax terrorist in the hole. :b ---
**Author:** ![New\_Iskander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/db5fbb/32.png) [@New\_Iskander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Iskander)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/157 "2003-12-15T18:31:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*How about a Texas cowboy who showed contempt for international law, lied his way into an illegal war and slaughtered thousands of people for no fucking reason? Bush is only marginally less of a criminal than Hussein is. \*\* Good grief. Executioner, buy this man a couple of beers! ---
**Author:** ![Tee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@Tee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tee)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/158 "2003-12-15T18:37:01Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by World Eater_ > **He is tougher to replace then the network is, that’s for damn sure. Care to explain how replacing someone who has spend decades building up a their terrorist infrastructure, and has hundreds of millions of dollars is not a big deal? OBL has some big expensive time invested shoes to fill.** Wow. I’m surprised he has shoes. He didn’t exactly have to work for the money, he had it anyway, and he probably didn’t have to work very hard building up an “infrastructure.” I’m not sure there is such a thing, just a loosely-organized system of people of people (arms dealers, people who run camps) who may work together. There’s seemingly no shortage of people willing to explode for eternal reward. And no end to the other people who would support them in it financially. You can find the same al-qaeda rhetoric in London nowadays, and I’m sure no one wants to hold a London mosque responsible for a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv…what exactly is so fascinating about this _one_ man, that doesn’t apply to possibly hundreds of others? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/159 "2003-12-15T18:51:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tee \* > \*\*Wow. I’m surprised he has shoes. > > He didn’t exactly have to work for the money, he had it anyway, and he probably didn’t have to work very hard building up an “infrastructure.” I’m not sure there is such a thing, just a loosely-organized system of people of people (arms dealers, people who run camps) who may work together. There’s seemingly no shortage of people willing to explode for eternal reward. And no end to the other people who would support them in it financially. You can find the same al-qaeda rhetoric in London nowadays, and I’m sure no one wants to hold a London mosque responsible for a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv…what exactly is so fascinating about this _one_ man, that doesn’t apply to possibly hundreds of others? \*\* Well how many other cartoonishly evil guys are out there with global connections and $300,000,000 in their coffers? I didn’t say he was irreplaceable, just that whoever follows him has some big flip-flops to fill. Not a lot of guys have 20 million or so lying around to buy some plutonium, and that’s what sets him apart from the small fishes. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/160 "2003-12-15T18:59:34Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic_ > **How about a Texas cowboy who showed contempt for international law, lied his way into an illegal war and slaughtered thousands of people for no fucking reason?** I don’t think that’s fair. Cowboys work hard for a living. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934.md?page=9)