Schorr Propagates Propaganda

Although I usually enjoy the commentaries of Daniel Schorr, I was quite displeased to hear him indicate that Saddam Hussein may be attempting to direct the actions of the insurgency from prison. Schorr suggested that Hussein's lawyers may have used certain keywords at a press conference in Jordan that were actually cryptic instructions for the insurgency. This sort of an accusation is wrong on so many levels.

First off, you have the nature of Saddam himself. He has been repeatedly described by experts as a perpetual optimist, not the sort of person that would have a sophisticated contingency plan in case of his capture. To make arrangements like that would have been a display of weakness that is extremely uncharacteristic of him and the Iraqi people. Furthermore, in his world, if an enemy leader is captured, they are publicly shot, not allowed to stand trial and release statements to the press. Why would he expect treatment that is any different?

Second, there is the nature of the insurgency. It does not seem to have any sort of large scale organization, but rather it seems to be organized into small cells. A rebellion that is not lead by the inner circle of the Baath party would have no way of knowing how to puzzle out the meaning of a secret message. The individual insurgents seem to be motivated by revenge, a desire to free their country from occupation, and religious zeal, not loyalty to their former leader.

Any anouncements that Saddam makes from jail are purely an attempt to maintain dignity.