March 3, 2005
EVEN WORSE THAN THE BA'ATH:
Iraq coup foiled by US invasion (The Age, March 3, 2005)
The eldest son of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was plotting to overthrow his father just as US troops advanced on Baghdad in March 2003, journalist Peter Arnett claimed in Playboy Magazine.Uday Hussein, known for his ruthlessness and flashy lifestyle, had won the support of the leadership of his father's Fedayeen militia to overthrow Saddam's 35-year rule, according to an advance copy of the April edition of Playboy obtained by AFP.
The controversial reporter, who was fired by the US NBC network in 2003 after suggesting the US war plan in Iraq had failed, made the claim following an 18-month investigation in which he says he gained access to Uday Hussein's inner circle.
The article cited a letter from Saddam Fedayeen commander General Maki Humudat, dated March 26, 2003, in which he swore allegiance to a new Iraqi government under the control of Fedayeen chief Uday Hussein.
That would have been a pleasant regime, eh? Posted by Orrin Judd at March 3, 2005 8:04 AM
If you like Saddam, you'll love Uday. He was Saddam without the mercy and compassion.
Posted by: Bart at March 3, 2005 8:19 AMCan I just point ou the infuriating statement that Arnett was "fired by the US NBC network in 2003 after suggesting the US war plan in Iraq had failed".
This is correct. He was fired after doing exactly that.... to a uniformed Iraqi Army "reporter"/interviewer, DURING THE WAR. So while US troops are dying in combat and advancing on Baghdad, Arnett is sitting with the Iraqi Army telling the world about the war plan "failing". The plan that about ten days later would seize Baghdad and drive Saddam into his hole.
Thus Arnett is shown to be disloyal (at best), incompetent, injudicious, and downright shameless in one fell swoop. How unjust to be fired by NBC for that!
Funny, the Age just neglected to mention any of that. I'm sure it was a harmless oversight. Lot 'a those going around in the media of late.
Posted by: Andrew X at March 3, 2005 8:43 AMPerhaps Peter Arnett was in line to become Uday's version of "Baghdad Bob". Evidently, he likes being a mouthpiece.
Posted by: jim hamlen at March 3, 2005 11:36 AMDefining dictatorship down.
Posted by: Luciferous at March 3, 2005 12:56 PMSo, the last argument against the Iraq War--that it caused "instability"--falls to the wayside. A coup by Uday would have caused even more instability than the invasion, and certainly wouldn't have involved any elections.
Posted by: Timothy at March 3, 2005 1:16 PM