Ex-Marine says Saddam's Capture was Fictionalized

**Tages** · 03-10-2005, 11:37 AM

Another lie? Well, throw it on top of the pile.

Ex-Marine Says Public Version of Saddam Capture Fiction

United Press International

A former U.S. Marine who participated in capturing ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein said the public version of his capture was fabricated.

Ex-Sgt. Nadim Abou Rabeh, of Lebanese descent, was quoted in the Saudi daily al-Medina Wednesday as saying Saddam was actually captured Friday, Dec. 12, 2003, and not the day after, as announced by the U.S. Army.

"I was among the 20-man unit, including eight of Arab descent, who searched for Saddam for three days in the area of Dour near Tikrit, and we found him in a modest home in a small village and not in a hole as announced," Abou Rabeh said.

"We captured him after fierce resistance during which a Marine of Sudanese origin was killed," he said.

He said Saddam himself fired at them with a gun from the window of a room on the second floor. Then they shouted at him in Arabic: "You have to surrender. ... There is no point in resisting."

"Later on, a military production team fabricated the film of Saddam's capture in a hole, which was in fact a deserted well," Abou Rabeh said.

Abou Rabeh was interviewed in Lebanon.

© YellowBrix, Inc. Copyright 1997-2005

OK, some thoughts on this:

1. He is of Arab descent and now living in Lebanon, and this was a Saudi paper, so that might be something to think about.
2. However, cui bono, the Pentagon has a lot more reason to lie about this than he does.

While writing this post I came across this article that says the Pentagon is calling the guy a liar and they haven't yet confirmed if he was in that group of marines at the time. Keep in mind that WorldNetDaily is an internet tabloid rag owned by a guy (Joseph Farah) who, putting it politely, is a few cans short of a six pack, and that WND is notorious for plagiarism, so I normally wouldn't use it, but it's the best I could find about the Pentagon response.

**i_mmmchocolate** · 03-10-2005, 11:39 AM

I heard this morning on The View of all places.

It doesn't make a difference to me where they captured him.

**west3man** · 03-10-2005, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by i_mmmchocolate

I heard this morning on The View of all places.

It doesn't make a difference to me where they captured him.

It WOULDN'T HAVE made any difference, to me, where they captured him.

The possible fact that they went through the trouble of filming a "dramatization" and passing it off as the real deal DOES matter to me.

**Huh?** · 03-10-2005, 11:49 AM

Hadn't heard this yet.

(goes off to research)

**Ed Cunard** · 03-10-2005, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by i_mmmchocolate

I heard this morning on The View of all places.

It doesn't make a difference to me where they captured him.

I saw that too. I like it when Meredith gets fiesty. And she got feisty.

**i_mmmchocolate** · 03-10-2005, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by Ed Cunard

I saw that too. I like it when Meredith gets fiesty. And she got feisty.

I noticed that too. She always gets that way when she mentions a political news topic.

Oy, I used to like Joy, but not anymore. I love her jokes- can't stand her voice.

**Samurai** · 03-10-2005, 11:54 AM

Already been debunked...

http://theneocon.blogspot.com/2005/0...story-was.html

First of all, there were no major Marine units in Iraq at the time that Saddam was captured. The last Marines to leave Iraq left at the end of September '03 (I was in the last Marine convoy to leave Iraq, trust me on this one). Marines did not re-enter Iraq en masse until January of '04.

Second, I tried searching the Marine Locator on Marine Online, this guy has no account (something that's been required for a few years now).

Third, I tried searching the Marine Corps Uniform Board tool for looking up who has been approved for a Combat Action Ribbon (something he would have received had he, you know, ever been shot at or shot at someone), his name does not show up (tool located here: https://lnweb1.manpower.usmc.mil/ma...tion.nsf/search).

Fourth, I looked up who was killed around that time here: http://icasualties.org/oif/BY_DOD.aspx and couldn't find either anyone of Sudanese descent, nor any Marines (goes back to my first point) killed around that time.

This guy is making it up.

**west3man** · 03-10-2005, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by Ed Cunard

I saw that too. I like it when Meredith gets fiesty. And she got feisty.

I miss being able to watch that show.

**Samurai** · 03-10-2005, 12:01 PM

And more info can be found here: http://www.thegreatsatan.com/

It seems the United Press International, who broke the story, are now backtracking...

**StoneGold** · 03-10-2005, 12:05 PM

Not saying it was true or false, but it wouldn't be the first time the military was caught lying or reenacting to make things look better. Off the top of my head, the whole Jessica Lynch thing, and Iwo Jima. And that's honestly without trying to think about it too hard.

**macul** · 03-10-2005, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by StoneGold

Not saying it was true or false, but it wouldn't be the first time the military was caught lying or reenacting to make things look better. Off the top of my head, the whole Jessica Lynch thing, and Iwo Jima. And that's honestly without trying to think about it too hard.

From what I recall the Lynch thing seemed to be more of a media fabrication. I thought the military almost immediately backed off any types of stories that she fought off attackers and was raped or the such. But I might be incorrect.

**Tages** · 03-10-2005, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by Samurai

Already been debunked...

http://theneocon.blogspot.com/2005/0...story-was.html

Information...from the Department of Defense.

Golly, if they say he must be lying...

It seems the United Press International, who broke the story, are now backtracking...

They aren't. They are clarifying. "Just to say, the Pentagon denies this."

**Cei-U!** · 03-10-2005, 12:15 PM

Sounds more like a desperate attempt to rehabilitate Saddam's macho image than an expose of military monkeyshines to me. I call bullshit on this one.

Cei-U!
I summon the not-so-hidden agenda!