The Insider: Daily Terrorism Report
Dec. 15 -- On Saturday, December 13 at approximately 8:30 pm local time in Iraq, U.S. forces found and captured deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. In the aftermath of this historic event, many questions have surfaced related to the fate of the imprisoned former leader, the implications for the Iraqi people, and the impact on the insurgents and the U.S. occupation in Iraq.
Today's special report touches on how U.S. intelligence finally tracked Hussein down, who provided key clues, what information U.S. investigators will obtain from documents and interrogations of Hussein and what kind of judicial proceedings is he going to face.
ABCNEWS has also learned from U.S. Treasury and intelligence officials that the $25 million reward for Saddam Hussein will not be paid. The person who provided the location did so after being arrested in Baghdad Friday at a Saddam safe house. His name is being withheld for fear he could face reprisals from others who are in custody with him.
SADDAM CAPTURED
How Did it Happen?
Anatomy of Saddam's Capture
After nearly nine months and billions of dollars spent hunting for the elusive Iraqi leader, in the end, Saddam Hussein went without a fight. (ABCNEWS)
How We Got Saddam
'Don't shoot,' the bearded, submissive man said to the soldiers. He was Saddam Hussein, hiding in a hole, the man the Pentagon called 'High Value Target Number One.' The story of his capture — and what's next. (Newsweek)
Saddam's Wife Helped Locate Him
A flurry of unconfirmed reports said Saddam's second wife had provided U.S. forces with information about his whereabouts. In Tikrit, Maj-Gen Raymond Odierno said that over the past 10 days soldiers from 4th Infantry Division had questioned up to 10 members of families "close to Saddam". He said: "Finally we got the ultimate information from one of these individuals." In an interview with the Sunday Times, the second wife of Saddam Hussein, who is living in Lebanon with his only surviving son under assumed names, says she received a telephone call or a letter from the ousted Iraqi dictator at least once a week. Asharq Al Awsat is reporting that there are speculations that tapping the wife's phone may have led the U.S. to Saddam's location. (The Independent, The Sunday Times, Asharq al Awsat) Please note: Registration is required for The Sunday Times piece
Betrayal by Clan Led to Hussein's Capture
The hunt for Saddam Hussein ended late Saturday with information from a member of his tribal clan. (NY Times)
A Possible Iranian Role?
The fact that head of the Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani first announced the news about the capture of Saddam Hussein to the Iranian news agency raises some questions about a possible Iranian role, comments Al Hayat newspaper. Informed sources told the paper that Talabani succeeded in getting assistance from Iranian intelligence and hinted that it may be related to the banning of the Iranian opposition group Mujaheddin Khalq from Iraq. The paper reports that the Iranians had intensified their intelligence efforts and were successful at certain times in obtaining information about Saddam's movements. Talabani however denied yesterday any Iranian cooperation in the capture of Saddam. Sources in northern Iraq said that Talabani contacted "informed" residents and assured them that their names would not be given to the U.S. forces if they reveal Saddam's location. They said Talabani was also in constant contact with the U.S. forces carrying out the operation until the capture. Other sources went as far as saying that Hussein asked the Iranians through letters to grant him asylum in return for "important information that he has." (Al Hayat)
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