Why go to war, if you can assassinate Saddam?

von Neufeld · Post by **von Neufeld** » 2003-03-20 04:59am

The USA have broken the presidental order against assassination. But why go to war at all, then? Just send in a few special operatives to assassinate the man.

EmperorMing · Post by **EmperorMing** » 2003-03-20 05:03am

So-Dam Insane is technically the head of the armed forces, and not a president or minister. In such a designation, he is fair game to be whacked, even though he runs the whole country. Gotta love legalities.

The Duchess of Zeon · Post by **The Duchess of Zeon** » 2003-03-20 05:07am

We haven't broken the Presidential order against assasination. In wartime, Saddam Hussein is a legitimate target, so we can attack him in wartime.

Besides, the attack apparently failed, and trying a covert method of assasination as opposed to a raid would put the operatives at risk, no matter success or failure. It would also require a bomb to get his sons as well as just him, instead of just a sniper, and their removal as well would be necessary to decapacitate the regime.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-03-20 05:19am

Great idea, so now his even MORE insane son can takeover. The entire regime needs to be replaced, not just one man.

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2003-03-20 05:36am

Ahh, but first you have to know where he is and more importantly, where he will be.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-03-20 05:59am

Indeed, you think Saddam has been alive this long due to being lazy?

Kamakazie Sith · Post by **Kamakazie Sith** » 2003-03-20 06:05am

How do you know they haven't tried? Saddam is extremely paranoid, putting a bullet in someone like that isn't as easy as the movies make it out to be.

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2003-03-20 07:05am

No wonder the attack to kill Saddam failed,they again listen to the fucking CIA,they should have known the CIA can`t see anything beyond their own butt.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-03-20 07:10am

Because we'd also have to take out his two sons who are by all accounts worse than their father and a whole lot more messed up. Not to mention we'd probably have to send in troops regardless simply to keep the peace afterwards or we'd end up with a blood bath of a civil war. In short war is necessary if our objective is to actually fix the stituation as opposed to just offing Saddam.

paladin · Post by **paladin** » 2003-03-20 09:11am

You have to know where the Fucker is first.

Axis Kast · Post by **Axis Kast** » 2003-03-20 09:15am

The attack was designed to potentially kill Hussein and a number of high-ranking Iraqi officers before the war picks up in intensity (and thus throwing their defenses into chaos).

Why avoid assassination? We're looking for régime-change. Uday and Qasi are just as bad as Hussein himself. So are a number of the other potential leaders - none of whom would have incentive to fully disarm. We cannot be sure of competant, democratic government or total destruction of banned weaponry without some kind of on-site occupation.

Enforcer Talen · Post by **Enforcer Talen** » 2003-03-20 09:28am

assassination is simply impossible at this point - saddam is a complete paranoid.

Anarchist Bunny · Post by **Anarchist Bunny** » 2003-03-20 09:57am

The accounts I heard said the attack was targeting several high ranking Iraqi officals, but they had no idea where Saddam would be at the time.

Captain Cyran · Post by **Captain Cyran** » 2003-03-20 10:01am

Why can we not assassinate him, I do believe that at some point in time we signed something that said we couldn't assassinate political leaders....of course that has never really stopped us before...

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-03-20 10:07am

Because its not that simple. Saddam has 200 doubles and look alike, never appears in public and has a massive security apparatus to protect him. There have been scores of attempts to kill Saddam. All have failed, though its possibul last nights attack did the trick.

If he can be located, aircraft can do it. However firmly locating Saddam is near impossible, and without a firm location special operations forces cant do shit. In any case, his security is sufficiently strong that they'd need armored support and artillery even if the Special ops force was the entire 75th Ranger regiment.

Thus the reason for a multi division invasion.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-03-20 10:09am

Don't post in all italics. The US never signed anything, it was an executive order by Ford. However because Saddam holds the active rank of Field Marshal in the Iraqi Army he is fair game under that order.

von Neufeld · Post by **von Neufeld** » 2003-03-20 10:17am

Gosh, the US will face an army of clones.

Darth Gojira · Post by **Darth Gojira** » 2003-03-20 10:28am

Why not launch a coup? That has a chance of succeeding.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2003-03-20 10:58am

We are, a military coup.

Honestly, there are not enough opposers left over there, after the executions of the last decade, to mount a coup. We really fucked up last time (by listening to international opinion) and left the opposition to die when we left the Gulf region. But the responsibility is ours, we fucked up and this time we will make it right (as possible).

Darth Fanboy · Post by **Darth Fanboy** » 2003-03-20 05:05pm

Its not Just addam that has to go. The ruling Baath party and his sons have to be removed as well. Then theres the issue of being allowed free reign of the country for a couple months afterward so we can look around where we want.

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2003-03-20 05:19pm

How about Saddam sent some of his operatives to the U.S. and U.K. to assassinate Bush and Blair? It can't be that hard can it?

Raptor 597 · Post by **Raptor 597** » 2003-03-20 05:27pm

Nevermind Wacko Huessien Boys ordering everyone to commit mass fuit punch suicide.

theski · Post by **theski** » 2003-03-20 05:28pm

Anyone who is willing to give his life in the process can usually get close.. It is very hard to stop those who will give their life to take someone elses..

Axis Kast · Post by **Axis Kast** » 2003-03-20 06:41pm

I doubt whether assassination would work. There are too many potentials in Iraq for others to emerge from the woodwork, seize power, and follow a similar road. Better to occupy the country and put a better handle on the whole situation. If Hussein had died last night, it's still what we'd be doing. That was just to knock out command-and-control, not an effort to win the war in two minutes and call it quits. We wouldn't have tried anything like that anyway.

jegs2 · Post by **jegs2** » 2003-03-20 06:46pm

Since Executive Orders are drafted by US Presidents, future US Presidents are not obliged to follow them. I think that was a stupid executive order, and so apparently does our current President.

StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Why go to war, if you can assassinate Saddam?

Why go to war, if you can assassinate Saddam?

Re: Why go to war, if you can assassinate Saddam?

Re: Why go to war, if you can assassinate Saddam?

Re: Why go to war, if you can assassinate Saddam?

Re: Why go to war, if you can assassinate Saddam?

Re: Why go to war, if you can assassinate Saddam?

Re: Why go to war, if you can assassinate Saddam?

Re: Why go to war, if you can assassinate Saddam?

Re: Why go to war, if you can assassinate Saddam?

Re: Why go to war, if you can assassinate Saddam?

Re: Why go to war, if you can assassinate Saddam?