# Should Bush duel Saddam? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 3, 2002, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707 "2002-10-03T17:01:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707/21 "2002-10-04T00:21:43Z")
Yes. Shrub should duel Saddam. To the pain! To the death! Can they both die??? Please? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707/22 "2002-10-04T02:17:41Z")
Yeah! Go for it! I’d pay to see it! I still say Bush and Gore should have had to duke it out in a steel cage match. This would be even better! ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707/23 "2002-10-04T02:43:22Z")
They are duelling. Bush’s weapon of choice happens to be the U.S. military. I know this is a ‘fun’ topic, but the suggested moral equivalence here is pretty revolting. It’s like saying Hitler should have just duelled Churchill. The winner gets Sudentenland. ---
**Author:** ![Soup\_du\_jour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Soup\_du\_jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_du_jour)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707/24 "2002-10-04T02:44:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Sure, we’d probably win on the presidential level – unlike his dad, Dubya is a real Texan, after all. And Texans are good at fights on face? Wow, maybe I should take up kendo. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LCP2972](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@LCP2972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LCP2972)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707/25 "2002-10-04T03:03:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by manhattan \* > \*\*Sure, we’d probably win on the presidential level – unlike his dad, Dubya is a real Texan, after all. > \*\* please tell me I’m being whooshed. he isn’t one, nope, not at all, I dont care if he can BS his way through a speech in espanol. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707/26 "2002-10-04T03:16:28Z")
Hmm, how about a duel using intercontinental ballistic missiles at a distance of 10,000 miles? Dubya should challenge Saddam to a footrace – running a distance of, say, ten miles. Since Dubya’s a devoted jogger, he should be able to manage, but Saddam would have a heart attack. That wouldn’t work very well if the VPs were to get involved, though. Cheney shouldn’t take on anything more physical than chess or billiards. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707/27 "2002-10-04T03:33:14Z")
After Fleischer’s remarks about assassinating Saddam, it’s nice to see the Iraqi’s make a move for the moral high ground. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707/28 "2002-10-04T05:03:19Z")
That’s NOT what he said. He was speaking of an internal coup. He said “A bullet, administered by another Iraqi, is also cheap”. ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707/29 "2002-10-04T05:06:18Z")
This match should be Hell in a Cell. ---
**Author:** ![barton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@barton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barton)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707/30 "2002-10-04T06:48:44Z")
I am reminded of a story in Mark Twain’s autobiography (there are several about dueling) where a friend of his is challenged to one by some young punk. His buddy shrugs and says something to the effect of, “Fine. Double-barrelled shotguns at ten feet.” Predictably, the duel did not occur. Saddam is supposedly an excellent rifle shot. I would say he would win with firearms. Unarmed, Bush is in excellent shape, but if Saddam is familiar with wrestling at all, he could negate that with his weight. If it were an intellectual contest, like chess, Saddam would win easily. ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707/31 "2002-10-04T07:12:46Z")
Hell, this ought to be good. A duel between Dubya and Saddam. I am sure billions of people will want to watch it live. Just think of the revenues. Oh, and don’t forget all the bettings. Maybe Saddam gets tricky and suggests a preztel eating contest. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707/32 "2002-10-04T10:36:18Z")
[warning: Wrestling Lingo ahead] If Vince Russo was booking it, it would be a Pretzel in a Cell. Well bush goes on about the “Axis of Evil” all the time. Lets see him back it up. Could you just imagine Bush choke slamming Saddam off the top of the cage through the Spanish Announcers table? I’d bet Bush no-sells everything. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707/33 "2002-10-04T10:47:51Z")
You know, I’ve never been able to figure out why everyone claims that Bush is some sort of lumbering idiot. Sure, he gets tounge tied, but c’mon folks… I like the idea of a knife fight. But the poncy elf fancier in me likes the idea of a Jello wrestling match. Must… Wash… Brain… ---
**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:** [October 4, 2002, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707/34 "2002-10-04T13:57:14Z")
Supposedly Saddam is in pretty bad shape. I remember reading recently that he now walks with a limp. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707/35 "2002-10-04T20:18:06Z")
I suppose it would have to be trial by champion now. Make it interesting - bare-handed, to the death. The US can use Ken Shamrock. Who does Iraq have? ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707/36 "2002-10-04T21:04:38Z")
Hell, I’d watch. I’d rather see a _mano e mano_ match then a comparison of who’s Army is bigger. :rolleyes: And Sam… lighten up. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707/37 "2002-10-04T22:36:31Z")
Silly **Avalonian**. Size doesn’t matter. [sub]Well, that’s what she _said_![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Semp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Semp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Semp)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707/38 "2002-10-04T23:07:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*Supposedly Saddam is in pretty bad shape. I remember reading recently that he now walks with a limp. \*\* Oh, that’s just what he _wants_ you to think. He’s just setting up his version of the rope-a-dope. “Never trust an Iraqi when death is on the line! Ha ha ha ha ha! …Urk!” ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2002, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707/39 "2002-10-05T03:20:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\*I know this is a ‘fun’ topic, but the suggested moral equivalence here is pretty revolting. It’s like saying Hitler should have just duelled Churchill. The winner gets Sudetenland. \*\* Really? Why not? Which is more revolting? Drafting a million men to fight over your macho feudalist desire to rule the Sudetenland (or wherever) or doing it yourself? More seriously, since it’s generally agreed that this is at least partly a grudge match between Saddam & the Bush family, let’s have them duel over _that grudge._ (“You tried to kill Poppy!” “He wrecked my country to save the stupid _Kuwaitis!_”) I vote for a duel _instead of_ a war & a full regime change. I don’t expect there to be conditions on a duel that would change the rulership of the country, & I don’t expect they’d hold if imposed. I just want the tribalist mass murderer & the idiot wanna-be aristocrat to kill each other. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2002, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707/40 "2002-10-05T05:31:45Z")
**Squink** : seriously, what is with that Ari guy? Every time I see his smug mug on TV I just get so angry. I think my dislike for him is topped only by my dislike for Asscroft. I kinda let Bush slide because I honestly don’t think he knows any better and most of the time just says what he’s told. I remember a Doonesbury strip from a couple years back where Oliver North made a challenge like this to someone (Noriega? Qaddafi?) and Sid, the producer guy, actually tried to set it up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-bush-duel-saddam/130707.md?page=3)