The rumor is that Saddam may have taken refuge in the Russian embassy in Baghdad. If this is true, can we go in and get him or would that be the same as invading Russia?

Originally posted by Bee
The rumor is that Saddam may have taken refuge in the Russian embassy in Baghdad. If this is true, can we go in and get him or would that be the same as invading Russia? Al-Jazeera is reporting this. My understanding is that we can't go into the embassy and get him if he is there, but we certainly can surround and search any vehicles leaving there, and put diplomatic pressure on Russia. The Russians are denying that he's there.

It seems like it would be very difficult for him to be there without us knowing it, chiefly because the embassy would certainly be in contact with Moscow asking them what to do with him, and we'd intercept such communiques.

CBS is also reporting it as a rumor they can't disprove (whatever that means).

Say hello to the cold war again if the Russians are really stupid enough to grant him asylum...

Originally posted by Bee
CBS is also reporting it as a rumor they can't disprove (whatever that means). Hmmmm. That's an odd way of putting it.

It would be a shame if about 20 bunker busters missed there targets and hit the russian embassy.

Originally posted by SkyDog
Hmmmm. That's an odd way of putting it.

That's what I thought too.

I actually hope this is true. I think a dead Saddam would be considered a martyr, a live one that fled and had to ask for help will be considered a coward.

Originally posted by The Afoci
It would be a shame if about 20 bunker busters missed there targets and hit the russian embassy.

It happened to the Chinese embassy... ;)

Originally posted by The Afoci
It would be a shame if about 20 bunker busters missed there targets and hit the russian embassy.

You are joking, right?

Remember how pissed the Chinese were when we accidentally hit their embassy a couple of years ago? It would be many time worse if we bombed the Ruskies...

Originally posted by JeeberD
You are joking, right?

Remember how pissed the Chinese were when we accidentally hit their embassy a couple of years ago? It would be many time worse if we bombed the Ruskies...

I wasn't then, but after thinking about it, perhaps a special opps raid would be better.

Well considering how terrorist don't respect our embassies I find it ironic that someone like Saddam would expect us to just give in because he ran into one himself.

Originally posted by couriers
Well considering how terrorist don't respect our embassies I find it ironic that someone like Saddam would expect us to just give in because he ran into one himself.

He knows we don't exactly employ the same deplorable tactics he and his regime have demonstrated.

We'd no sooner delibeately bomb an embassy than we would use 9 year old kids as human shields.

Originally posted by Franklinnoble
He knows we don't exactly employ the same deplorable tactics he and his regime have demonstrated.

We'd no sooner delibeately bomb an embassy than we would use 9 year old kids as human shields.

I know this that is why I used the word "ironic".

If the Russians gave the regime protection in their embassy, that would be a foolish mistake.

If the Syrians gave them asylum, that would be even more foolish. Given Israel's ability to spy 24/7 on Syria will reveal the truth soon I'm sure. And if he's there, don't count Israel out on launching a strike. Unlike Iraq, it's a straight shot over the border to Syria.

Put it this way, any country that protects Saddam right now ... is foolish as hell.

If he is alive, I think it is most likely that he has fled to his home town. After seeing the U.S. resolve, I have a feeling that Syria and Iran want nothing to do with giving Saddam any sort of protection.

Saddam was never genuinely popular in the mid-east, among any nations nearby. Sure, some nations have paid lip service to supporting him, but, realistically, nobody's going to do him any favors.

Originally posted by SkyDog
If he is alive, I think it is most likely that he has fled to his home town. After seeing the U.S. resolve, I have a feeling that Syria and Iran want nothing to do with giving Saddam any sort of protection.

And the key there is "if he is alive." Personally, I believe we got him. Probably in the latest airstrike. Hopefully we can get some proof.

If he goes to any Arab neighbor, it will be Syria. It is a similar style government (secular) headed by another (not the same) faction of the Baath party. We'll find out soon enough.