# How would the U.S. react to Saddam being back in charge? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 5, 2004, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-react-to-saddam-being-back-in-charge/267574 "2004-10-05T00:03:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-react-to-saddam-being-back-in-charge/267574/1 "2004-10-05T00:03:18Z")
I know this is one of those “What if” questions - But let us say, after the Iraqi elections, Bush or Kerry (whoever is in charge) says, “Well, you’re in charge now. We’re going home. After all, it is your country.” The “elected” government realize they can’t handle the country. So they make a deal with Suddam and he takes over again (hey, it’s not so far fetched - it’s happened before [well - close]). Does the U.S. send in troops? send in planes? throw in the towel and say “We don’t want to deal with it?” TV ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Niceguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mr.Niceguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Niceguy)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-react-to-saddam-being-back-in-charge/267574/2 "2004-10-05T00:07:00Z")
I don’t know what the response will be, but I do believe this to be a very possible scenario. As far as I can see he is the only man for the job. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-react-to-saddam-being-back-in-charge/267574/3 "2004-10-05T01:14:01Z")
I would be upset - gross understatement. The US went to Iraq because (according to The Leader): 1. He had Weapons Of Mass Destruction -gas, germs, etc - none found 2. He had or was working on nukular weapons - none found 3. He was a bad Amurrica hating, freedom hating, Amurrica freedom hater 4. He was in league with Al Queda (however it is really spelled) -no link proven yet. The next arguments probably will be 1. he kicked puppies, 2. ate live kittens and 3. was wielding the Ring of Sauron. So, If Saddam was allowed to take over again, my first question MIGHT be well what the fuck did our people die for? What was the whole damn thing for? Then I might do some math on my retirement eleigibility and if possible, maybe leave the fucking country for good. What the hell, Mexico is right down the road from here. They don’t invade anybody. Besides, the Spanish language makes a lot more sense than English, even I might be able to learn it in time. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-react-to-saddam-being-back-in-charge/267574/4 "2004-10-05T01:35:00Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > 1. He was in league with Al Queda (however it is really spelled) -no link proven yet. Not even Rumsfeld is hanging on to that chestnut any longer: [MSN | Outlook, Office, Skype, Bing, Breaking News, and Latest Videos](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6180176/). ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-react-to-saddam-being-back-in-charge/267574/5 "2004-10-05T02:01:09Z")
> [@Early Out](#): > > Not even Rumsfeld is hanging on to that chestnut any longer: [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6180176/](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6180176/). True, but they sure did push it for a while, didn’t they. Now about the One Ring. Hmmmmm. Precioussssssss ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-react-to-saddam-being-back-in-charge/267574/6 "2004-10-05T02:13:03Z")
Say, didn’t I mention Haliburton? I could have sworn I did…right after WMDs. No? You say I didn’t? Oil vay! Gee, I’m sorry…must have slipped my mind when I was pitching my war campaign to the U.N. and the American people! Well, that’s ok…Haliburton’s just gonna overcharge the Army, anyway, so everyone benefits in the end, right? Hey, can’t the troops see how I’m right there behind them all the way (to the bank, that is!) 😃 - “W” - Jinx, No More Years ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-react-to-saddam-being-back-in-charge/267574/7 "2004-10-05T02:50:03Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > True, but they sure did push it for a while, didn’t they. Very skillfully, I might add. Various administration officials made statements in which they were very careful never to say directly that Saddam was behind 9/11, yet managed to link Saddam to terrorism, simply by mentioning him in the same sentence as Al Qaida. As a result, close to half the American public still thinks that invading Iraq had something to do with fighting terrorism. Very depressing. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-react-to-saddam-being-back-in-charge/267574/8 "2004-10-05T16:54:37Z")
After reading about [Santa Anna](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_L%F3pez_de_Santa_Anna), the failed nutty dictator who nevertheless managed to take control of Mexico on four separate occasions, I certainly wouldn’t say it’s impossible. ---
**Author:** ![Avenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Avenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avenger)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-react-to-saddam-being-back-in-charge/267574/9 "2004-10-05T17:11:19Z")
A strong leader who could hold together the country, stop the possiblity of an independent Kurdish state which would inflame Turkey, hold down the Shias and contain Iran? The Americans would be delighted shurley? ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-react-to-saddam-being-back-in-charge/267574/10 "2004-10-05T17:30:17Z")
Is there anything to stop him from throwing his hat into the ring come election time? He certainly won’t have been tried by then, so he would be eligible to run legitimately. Now that would be funny, if the Iraqis freely elected Saddam back into office. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-react-to-saddam-being-back-in-charge/267574/11 "2004-10-05T18:48:25Z")
**Cluricaun:** _Is there anything to stop him from throwing his hat into the ring come election time?_ [Apparently not:](http://www.zaman.org/?bl=international&alt=&trh=20040921&hn=12424) > [@](#): > > [9/21/2004] > Overthrown Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, who was arrested by US forces last December, reportedly plans to run as a candidate in the Iraqi elections scheduled for January 2005. > > Saddam’s lawyer Giovanni di Stefano told Denmark’s B.T. newspaper that Saddam decided during one of their discussions that he would declare his candidacy for the elections. > > Stefano said that there was no law that prevented Saddam from appearing on the ballot. He added that Saddam hopes to regain his presidency and palaces via the democratic process. > > Contrary to the statements of Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, Stefano claims, “Saddam has no chance to be tried before the elections. Moreover, no international law prevents him from coming forward.” > > Saddam’s lawyer defends that the ambiguity in Iraq will favor Saddam at the polls. Stefano remarked that a recent Gallup poll indicates that 42 percent of the Iraqi people want their former leader back. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-react-to-saddam-being-back-in-charge/267574/12 "2004-10-06T03:04:39Z")
I hope SH doesn’t get back in powre over there. We DID kill his only sons didn’t we? I would not be suprised at all if he regained power though. If he did it would be a giant pimp slap across Bush’s face. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-react-to-saddam-being-back-in-charge/267574/13 "2004-10-06T06:10:40Z")
My original question still stands - How would the U.S. react? ---
**Author:** ![Eolbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@Eolbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eolbo)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-react-to-saddam-being-back-in-charge/267574/14 "2004-10-06T09:12:33Z")
> [@TV time](#): > > My original question still stands - How would the U.S. react? The US wont react at all because its never, never, never going to happen. Great powers dont allow themselves to be publicly humiliated that way. Saddam Hussein is an old man with many troubles, such men are subject to heart attacks… Or perhaps he will accidentally cut off his own head in a hideous toothbrush incident. ---
**Author:** ![Avenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Avenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avenger)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-react-to-saddam-being-back-in-charge/267574/15 "2004-10-06T11:21:13Z")
> [@Eolbo](#): > > The US wont react at all because its never, never, never going to happen. Great powers dont allow themselves to be publicly humiliated that way. Saddam Hussein is an old man with many troubles, such men are subject to heart attacks… Or perhaps he will accidentally cut off his own head in a hideous toothbrush incident. Or they’ll ship over some of those voting machines from Florida for the election… ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-react-to-saddam-being-back-in-charge/267574/16 "2004-10-06T22:45:51Z")
> [@Stinkpalm](#): > > I hope SH doesn’t get back in powre over there. We DID kill his only sons didn’t we? Almost. He has a third son, Ali, who lives in England if I remember correctly.