Why were they checking in Saddam's mouth?

Factual Questions
1

…in the video taken after his capture?

I can only guess that either…

  1. It was just a simple health check, to make sure he “didn’t have nothin’ ‘catchy.’”

or…

  1. To check for suicide capsules.

or maybe even…

  1. To get a peek at his Uvula. I mean, when else are you EVER going to get another chance to see Saddam Hussein’s Uvula?

My money, of course, in one #1. But I just thought I’d ask, to be sure.

2

It’s just a general part of a quicky health check up. They could also have been swabbing the inside of his cheek for a DNA test.

Haj

3

I think 1 and 2 are reasonable assumptions.

I really like the word uvula. It’s right up there with vas deferens.

[sub]
Q: What’s the difference between a prostate and a garden hose?
A: Well, there’s a vas deferens.
[/sub]

4

It’ll behoove ya to care for your uvula.

-motto of the National Uvula Foundation

5

one tv commentator speculated that it was part of the identification process, to compare his teeth to dental records.

6

one video clip I saw seemed to have Saddam pointing at parts of his mouth while the doctor was taking a look. Who knows, maybe he was pointing out fillings, or perhaps cold sores.

7

Continuing the search for weapons of mass destruction, of course.

8

For a split second, my mind read that as “weapons of mastication.”

9

T shirt idea:

I saw Saddam Hussein’s uvula and all I got was this lousy t-shirt

10

DAMN! Elfbabe beat me to the obvious joke!

11

Does “behoove ya” and “uvula” rhyme?

12

It’s assonant rhyme. (Or, at least that’s my story)
Anyway, yeah, probably combination of 1, 2, and the swab for DNA testing.

And do you realize this just made me feel very compelled to go look at my uvula in the mirror?

13

Maybe the examiner was checking for drugs …

Just be glad they didn’t show the rest of the full cavity search.

14

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! From the BBC (go to Picture 3):

15

Because his Evil Dictator’s Mutual policy included dental.

16

He had a pistol on him, if he wanted to kill himself it wouldn’t have been a capsule in his mouth.

He promised the world he would never be taken alive. Yet, we took him without a shot fired.

What a tough guy.

17

I’m thinking his hiding spot was so cramped that he couldn’t get the bullet out of his pocket in time to use it on himself.

18

“Hello? Is there anybody in there…? Just nod if you can hear me. Is there anyone at home?”

19

Did you mean gun or are you insinuating he’s Barney Fife?

20

No gum chewing or mass murder allowed while in custody.