# What would happen if Saddam surrenders?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-saddam-surrenders/162946>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [March 21, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-saddam-surrenders/162946 "2003-03-21T00:46:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-saddam-surrenders/162946/1 "2003-03-21T00:46:48Z")

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[There have been reports of secret Iraqi surrender talks](http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/030320/15/397wn.html).

What happens if the military surrenders? What if the military surrenders but Saddam doesn’t? What kind of conditions would the US accept?

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**Author:** ![Skid\_Row](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/779978/32.png) [@Skid\_Row](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skid_Row)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-saddam-surrenders/162946/2 "2003-03-21T01:01:02Z")

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That would certainly put the U.S. in a quagmire. President Bush has said that Hussein’s exile would be acceptable to him.

I disagree.

Anything less than arrest and prosecution for crimes against humanity and/or war crimes would be a tragedy (and politically close to a suicide attempt for President Bush). Of course, a well placed MOAB would make things a **lot** easier on everyone.

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**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-saddam-surrenders/162946/3 "2003-03-21T01:58:38Z")

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Very good question.

If S.H. surrenders, and the rest of regime follows suit, the US proceeds to the post-war activity of rebuilding Iraq. If we stay out, I’d expect to see a nasty civil war.

At this point, I doubt we’d accept any “conditions”. S.H. might or might be allowed to fly the coop. I’m not sure about that. If the military doesn’t surrender, it’s on to Shock and Awe.