Let’s talk, says Saddam Hussein

Dec 15, 2003

AD DAWR, Iraq, Monday - Defeated Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein asked to negotiate when US forces captured him down a hole here in northern Iraq, Major Brian Reed, operations commander 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, said Monday.

AD DAWR, Iraq, Monday - Defeated Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein asked to negotiate when US forces captured him down a hole here in northern Iraq, Major Brian Reed, operations commander 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, said Monday.

“He said, ‘I am Saddam Hussein, I am the president of Iraq and I want to negotiate’,” according to Reed, talking to reporters near the hole under a bedroom at a remote farmhouse.

“The response was ‘President (George) Bush sends his regards’,”

Reed said, adding that a US soldier reported the conversation from Saturday night when Saddam was caught after eight months on the run.

Brigadier commander Colonel James Hickey said that when they looked into the “rat hole” the soldiers saw there was a man down there.

“Two hands appeared. The individual clearly wanted to surrender.

“We expected something more elaborate,” Hickey admitted. “What we found surprised us. We didn't think it would be so humble and simple.”

The colonel said he was also surprised there was no firefight.

“We were prepared to have a fight ... and use overwhelming power.”

Hickey said the mission, which was characterised by “stealth and speed”, was to “capture or kill” Saddam Hussein.

He was speaking on a dirt road within sight of an orchard the troops had cleared as part of the operation. Saddam’s hut stood a few hundred metres away on the outskirts of a small town on the the Tigris river bank.

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