# Why were they checking in Saddam's mouth? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 15, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-they-checking-in-saddams-mouth/219037 "2003-12-15T01:57:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-they-checking-in-saddams-mouth/219037/1 "2003-12-15T01:57:07Z")
…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. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-they-checking-in-saddams-mouth/219037/2 "2003-12-15T02:01:00Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-they-checking-in-saddams-mouth/219037/3 "2003-12-15T02:02:19Z")
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] ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-they-checking-in-saddams-mouth/219037/4 "2003-12-15T02:05:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > \*\* I really like the word _uvula_. \*\* It’ll behoove ya to care for your uvula. -_motto of the National Uvula Foundation_ ---
**Author:** ![Reader99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df788c/32.png) [@Reader99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reader99)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-they-checking-in-saddams-mouth/219037/5 "2003-12-15T02:16:29Z")
one tv commentator speculated that it was part of the identification process, to compare his teeth to dental records. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-they-checking-in-saddams-mouth/219037/6 "2003-12-15T02:20:59Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![elfbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b782af/32.png) [@elfbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfbabe)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-they-checking-in-saddams-mouth/219037/7 "2003-12-15T02:21:21Z")
Continuing the search for weapons of mass destruction, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-they-checking-in-saddams-mouth/219037/8 "2003-12-15T02:33:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elfbabe \* > \*\*Continuing the search for weapons of mass destruction, of course. \*\* For a split second, my mind read that as “weapons of mastication.” ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-they-checking-in-saddams-mouth/219037/9 "2003-12-15T02:38:31Z")
T shirt idea: I saw Saddam Hussein’s uvula and all I got was this lousy t-shirt ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-they-checking-in-saddams-mouth/219037/10 "2003-12-15T02:54:21Z")
DAMN! Elfbabe beat me to the obvious joke! ---
**Author:** ![adirondack\_mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@adirondack\_mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adirondack_mike)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-they-checking-in-saddams-mouth/219037/11 "2003-12-15T02:56:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\*It’ll behoove ya to care for your uvula. > > -_motto of the National Uvula Foundation_ \*\* Does “behoove ya” and “uvula” rhyme? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-they-checking-in-saddams-mouth/219037/12 "2003-12-15T03:19:35Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Dignan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-they-checking-in-saddams-mouth/219037/13 "2003-12-15T03:26:17Z")
Maybe the examiner was checking for drugs … Just be glad they didn’t show the rest of the full cavity search. ---
**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-they-checking-in-saddams-mouth/219037/14 "2003-12-15T04:50:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hajario \* > **They could also have been swabbing the inside of his cheek for a DNA test.** Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! From the [BBC](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/photo_gallery/3318041.stm) (go to Picture 3): > [@](#): > > Mouth swabs were taken which assisted in confirming the identity of the ousted Iraqi leader. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-they-checking-in-saddams-mouth/219037/15 "2003-12-15T05:50:58Z")
Because his Evil Dictator’s Mutual policy included dental. ---
**Author:** ![SeekingTruth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@SeekingTruth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeekingTruth)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-they-checking-in-saddams-mouth/219037/16 "2003-12-15T05:55:05Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![hermann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b487fb/32.png) [@hermann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hermann)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-they-checking-in-saddams-mouth/219037/17 "2003-12-15T06:13:20Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-they-checking-in-saddams-mouth/219037/18 "2003-12-15T07:07:38Z")
“Hello? Is there anybody in there…? Just nod if you can hear me. Is there anyone at home?” ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-they-checking-in-saddams-mouth/219037/19 "2003-12-15T07:15:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hermann \* > \*\*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. \*\* Did you mean gun or are you insinuating he’s Barney Fife? ---
**Author:** ![hyjyljyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/0ea827/32.png) [@hyjyljyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hyjyljyj)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-they-checking-in-saddams-mouth/219037/20 "2003-12-15T18:44:48Z")
No gum chewing or mass murder allowed while in custody. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-they-checking-in-saddams-mouth/219037.md?page=2)