# How do we know Saddam's not in his bunker? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 2, 2003, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-saddams-not-in-his-bunker/165880 "2003-04-02T03:50:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-saddams-not-in-his-bunker/165880/1 "2003-04-02T03:50:46Z")
The news reports keep saying “That’s not him on the video…he didn’t show up for the news conference…He hasn’t been seen, so he’s probably dead.” That may be so, but what’s also been mentioned as a possibility is his hiding out just until we’re reasonably sure that he’s dead and then… So, is his bunker still intact, that he might be in there? ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-saddams-not-in-his-bunker/165880/2 "2003-04-02T05:53:23Z")
Saddam has multiple bunkers, and we aren’t sure which one he is in, if he is still alive. ---
**Author:** ![yme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/35a633/32.png) [@yme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yme)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-saddams-not-in-his-bunker/165880/3 "2003-04-02T06:04:15Z")
Related: Who’s to say he isn’t even in Iraq. You could’ve just bought a slurpy off of him in a 7-11. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-saddams-not-in-his-bunker/165880/4 "2003-04-02T07:54:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DreadCthulhu \* > \*\*Saddam has multiple bunkers, and we aren’t sure which one he is in, if he is still alive. \*\* Right. So it’s hard to narrow it down. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-saddams-not-in-his-bunker/165880/5 "2003-04-02T11:06:10Z")
Well, the phone just rang and rang… and then the answering machine picked up. So it’s either that or he’s screening his calls. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-saddams-not-in-his-bunker/165880/6 "2003-04-02T11:09:06Z")
😕 Is that a joke? ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-saddams-not-in-his-bunker/165880/7 "2003-04-02T12:22:08Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-saddams-not-in-his-bunker/165880/8 "2003-04-02T12:44:52Z")
Okay then! ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-saddams-not-in-his-bunker/165880/9 "2003-04-02T15:46:28Z")
OSB also disappeared… As mentioned above, SH isn’t dumb, he would have numerous bunkers & they are nuclear proof too. I bet he has on under one of the hotels that american reporters are staying in, after all, he would know we won’t strike those. ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-saddams-not-in-his-bunker/165880/10 "2003-04-02T16:35:25Z")
**O** riented **S** trand **B** oard? ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-saddams-not-in-his-bunker/165880/11 "2003-04-02T16:50:31Z")
He may very well just be hiding, trying not to get blown up, or trying to draw us into a trap. But, he’s supposed to be leading his country through this, so wouldn’t you think that there’s got to be some damage to his public’s faith in him (or fear of him) if he “disappears?” Wouldn’t it be beneficial for him to be able to prove from time to time that he still actually exists? It shouldn’t be that difficult, even if he doesn’t want to leave a bunker he can videotape something down there that has some actual proveable relevance to current events, as opposed to general statements referring to things that were or could have been expected. > [@](#): > > hiding out just until we’re reasonably sure that he’s dead and then… And then what? He’ll jump out of a manhole in the street and yell “boogy boogy boo!” at passing soldiers? What could _he_ do? Saddam himself wouldn’t pull the trigger on a dirty bomb, or a chemical/biological attack. There’s also probably a plan that had already been put in place regarding when these weapons would be used (hence they might not need presidential authorization anymore). Anything he could do could be done just as well or better by other members of the regime. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-saddams-not-in-his-bunker/165880/12 "2003-04-02T17:19:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yme \* > \*\*Related: Who’s to say he isn’t even in Iraq. You could’ve just bought a slurpy off of him in a 7-11. \*\* Without his mustache, he is indestinguishable from the masses ---
**Author:** ![bobk2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@bobk2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobk2)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-saddams-not-in-his-bunker/165880/13 "2003-04-02T19:10:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by troub \* > \*\* > But, he’s supposed to be leading his country through this, so wouldn’t you think that there’s got to be some damage to his public’s faith in him (or fear of him) if he “disappears?” \*\* Its possible people in the Arabic world (right term?) would look at that differently than Westerners. They may, for example, applaud his ability to avoid detection. Example, according to the latest press; While the West may see the current engagement as a string of hard-fought military victories, many in Arab nations have growing admiration for the Iraquis having put up a fight for as long as they have. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-saddams-not-in-his-bunker/165880/14 "2003-04-02T20:19:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Running with Scissors \* > \*\*\*\*O\*\*riented **S** trand **B** oard? \*\* That’s right. Only Plywood is All-American! God Bless the USA! ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-saddams-not-in-his-bunker/165880/15 "2003-04-02T23:07:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by troub \* > \*\*He may very well just be hiding, trying not to get blown up, or trying to draw us into a trap. > > But, he’s supposed to be leading his country through this, so wouldn’t you think that there’s got to be some damage to his public’s faith in him (or fear of him) if he “disappears?” Wouldn’t it be beneficial for him to be able to prove from time to time that he still actually exists? It shouldn’t be that difficult, even if he doesn’t want to leave a bunker he can videotape something down there that has some actual proveable relevance to current events, as opposed to general statements referring to things that were or could have been expected. \*\* True. > [@](#): > > **hiding out just until we’re reasonably sure that he’s dead and then…** And then what? He’ll jump out of a manhole in the street and yell “boogy boogy boo!” at passing soldiers? What could _he_ do? Saddam himself wouldn’t pull the trigger on a dirty bomb, or a chemical/biological attack. There’s also probably a plan that had already been put in place regarding when these weapons would be used (hence they might not need presidential authorization anymore). Anything he could do could be done just as well or better by other members of the regime. \*\* [/QUOTE] Yeah, but I was thinking about the effect he might expect it to have on our morale. Letting us think “okay, he’s dead, now let’s really dig in” before the relevatory moment when he arises to rally his troops. Also, whether he’s dead or not, do we dare search too throughly for the body? I’ve read about how well these bunkers are concealed. Any “digging” could lead our soldiers right into a trap. **bobk2** : Good point. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-saddams-not-in-his-bunker/165880/16 "2003-04-03T00:43:33Z")
Wait. What’s the General Question here? ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-saddams-not-in-his-bunker/165880/17 "2003-04-03T01:09:32Z")
Well, I didn’t think it was M&P. Should it be in a different forum? ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-saddams-not-in-his-bunker/165880/18 "2003-04-03T01:52:39Z")
Dunno. I honestly don’t know your question. Is it, “how do we know Saddam isn’t alive?” The answer is, “we don’t.” But I’m unaware of anyone definitively claiming he isn’t. I’ve seen the government kind of taunt him in a pretty standard propaganda move to try to flush him out if he’s alive, and I’ve seen more than enough analysts with no access to the facts whatsoever claim he “might” be dead, but that’s it. He is either dead or he isn’t – the facts are unavailable to us at this time. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-saddams-not-in-his-bunker/165880/19 "2003-04-03T02:35:19Z")
The question was in the OP: “Is his bunker still intact, that he might be in there?” and **DreadCthulhu** provided the answer “Saddam has multiple bunkers, and we aren’t sure which one he is in, if he is still alive.” However, there have been interesting responses since then, so if you think it’s moved out of GQ territory, do you want to move it to the appropriate forum? ---
**Author:** ![djbdjb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@djbdjb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djbdjb)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-saddams-not-in-his-bunker/165880/20 "2003-04-03T05:51:57Z")
Here are some questions that are sort of on this topic and may have factual answers… Does anybody else think there are people in the CIA who look at these tapes of meetings and look at hair length/mustache trims/weight loss, etc. to try and find proof that the tapes can’t be recent? I do. Does anybody here actually do such work and can tell us about it? 🙂 On the other side, I think these tapes prove the existence of an Iraqi bureacracy that keeps track of what meetings have already been shown (so they don’t show a duplicate) and which meetings are consistent (dont show suddenly long hair or other changes). Perhaps the difficulty of doing this is some proof that they meetings shown are in fact recent? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-saddams-not-in-his-bunker/165880.md?page=2)