THEY COULDN'T FIND THEIR BUTTS IF YOU SPOTTED THEM THE LEFT CHEEK

CIA reported to believe Saddam is alive (Richard Sale, 6/2/2003, UPI)

The CIA has internal documents that make clear Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein is alive and hiding in greater Baghdad, protected by an underground resistance network of tribesmen and former Baath officials, administration officials told United Press International.

"There is a resistance network and it is stronger than we originally thought," one administration source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Saddam is moving around inside Iraq and he's got a lot of support," another U.S. government official said.

He added: "A lot of what is being reported in the press as `looting' is in fact sabotage by Baath party stay-behind groups."

The underground Baath resistance is made up of former party officials who are funded with money looted from the Iraqi treasury, this source said.

"There is credible evidence that Saddam is still alive and being sheltered," said former CIA chief Vince Cannistraro.

A CIA spokesman did not respond to requests for comment by UPI.

We hear he's hiding behind a pile of WMD. Why does anyone listen to the CIA anymore? They've gotten pretty nearly every important situation they've ever been asked to report on almost completely backwards. There are probably still reports being produced over there warning that the Soviet Union is a credible foe. Posted by Orrin Judd at June 3, 2003 12:08 AM