Saddam's Diamond-Buying Spree Suggests He May Flee

[Murpheeee]

London, Mar 9 (ANI): Saddam Hussein's personal jeweller has been in Thailand on a secret mission to buy millions of dollars' worth of diamonds, according to a report in The Sunday Times. The trip has prompted speculation that the Iraqi leader may be planning to flee or to send his family into hiding.

Quoting "sources with knowledge of the trip", the report says the jeweller travelled to Bangkok via Jordan and bought the diamonds in the Thai capital in a pre-arranged deal. This was his second trip, Saddam's son Uday having sent him there three months ago to buy a ring from an American dealer for 750,000 dollars, the report adds.

Saddam has been a perennial member of Forbes magazine's list of the world's richest people. Before the 1991 Gulf War he was said to be worth 10 billion dollars, but that estimate has now been reduced to 2 billion dollars, following sanctions imposed by the United Nations on Iraq.

Since the Gulf War he has not left the country, and only a week ago he declared in a defiant address that he would never desert in the event of war. But if, as reported, he is converting some of his fortune into jewels that can be transported easily, he may not mean what he says.


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[NewSc2]

You think you can stand up to the humongous army of the United States and live? Nope, not even a lunatic like Saddam thinks so.. he'll run his tail off when the time comes.

 

[isasir]

"he may not mean what he says"? OMG, next thing you know, we'll find out he was lying about not having any WMDs. 🙂

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Originally posted by: NewSc2
You think you can stand up to the humongous army of the United States and live? Nope, not even a lunatic like Saddam thinks so.. he'll run his tail off when the time comes.

The question is: Does he, like Osama, have enough friends to stay hidden?

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: Skyclad1uhm1

Originally posted by: NewSc2
You think you can stand up to the humongous army of the United States and live? Nope, not even a lunatic like Saddam thinks so.. he'll run his tail off when the time comes.

The question is: Does he, like Osama, have enough friends to stay hidden?

thing is, the US has been watching saddam for much longer than they've had tabs on osama bin laden, or at least thats the impression i get from the news.

 

[etech]

Originally posted by: Skyclad1uhm1

Originally posted by: NewSc2
You think you can stand up to the humongous army of the United States and live? Nope, not even a lunatic like Saddam thinks so.. he'll run his tail off when the time comes.

The question is: Does he, like Osama, have enough friends to stay hidden?

I doubt it. Two different people and situations. Saddam has ruled by fear and force. The people that might shelter him would also just as likely sell him out once those fears are removed. .

 

[KahunaHube]

if i was saddam and i had 2 billion dollars, whats the point of staying or pissing anyone off?!

i'd go buy an island and chill there til i die, no point in fighting. He must really be insane.

 

[etech]

Report: Iraq Leadership Rejects Ultimatum

15 minutes ago

"BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq leadership on Tuesday rejected the U.S. ultimatum for President Saddam Hussein and his family to leave Iraq or face war, Iraq's al-Shabab television reported"

We will have to wait and see.

 

[Mallow]

Sounds like he is gonna flee but why didn't he just disarm? Is he tired of being dictator?

 

[JYDog]

Originally posted by: KahunaHube
if i was saddam and i had 2 billion dollars, whats the point of staying or pissing anyone off?!

i'd go buy an island and chill there til i die, no point in fighting. He must really be insane.

Actually, I wouldn't be suprised if Sadam takes the exile route in the last hours...

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: KahunaHube
if i was saddam and i had 2 billion dollars, whats the point of staying or pissing anyone off?!

i'd go buy an island and chill there til i die, no point in fighting. He must really be insane.

Because sick, f'ed up individuals, don't think like that. He likes inflicting pain on people and creating attention to himself. It's a power trip. People like that can't just sit around an island for the rest of their life.