Gerüchte: Informationsminister Al-Sahaf (Comical Ali) beginn Selbstmord - 500 Beiträge pro Seite

[Heizkessel]

Guardian

Al-Sahaf in suicide riddle

Annie Lawson
Tuesday April 15, 2003

It may well be the ultimate in spin from the Iraqi minister of information, but this afternoon there are reports circulating that Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf has committed suicide.

Two Iranian newspapers today published reports of the minister`s demise, which came from Iraqi refugees who took shelter at Iraq`s borders near the Iranian town of Dehloran over the past week.

They said that Iraq`s famed information minister took his own life just hours before Baghdad fell into the hands of the coalition forces last Wednesday.

The Iranian newspaper Mardomsalari and Iran`s Arabic newspaper, Al Wifaq, both carried claims that al-Sahaf hung himself a few hours before Baghdad fell to US forces on April 9. However, the refugees did not provide any source to confirm the claim.

But White House press secretary Ari Fleischer yesterday said the US government believed former Iraqi leaders, including deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz and al-Sahaf, may be hiding in Syria.

The fate of the man dubbed "Comical Ali" might not be known, but he is sure to live on in legendary status for his own creative interpretation of the truth, denying what was quite obvious to everyone around him.

An Iranian news agency allegedly close to top conservative military figures attributed the fall of Baghdad to a secret tripartite agreement between Saddam Hussain, Russia and the US.

According to the Baztab agency, al-Sahaf was instructed to stay in Baghdad until the very last moments to lend the impression that everything in Saddam`s camp was under control. The agency also claimed that Russia gained $5 billion to orchestrate this agreement.

Al-Sahaf became somewhat of a cult figure in the early stages of the conflict when he declared that the "infidels" were facing "slaughter", despite the images of US tanks rolling into Baghdad and the sound of artillery fire reverberating around the city.

And when the Americans took control of Saddam international airport, he claimed Bush`s troops had all been slaughtered.

Standing on the roof of Baghdad`s Palestine Hotel, and ignoring the sight of Iraqi troops running for cover on the other side of the Tigris river, al-Sahaf declared: "Baghdad is safe. The battle is still going on. Their infidels are committing suicide by the hundreds on the gates of Baghdad. Don`t believe those liars."

But his most famous and incredible spin was his claim to reporters that the Americans would find their "tombs" in Baghdad, when US tanks were visible to camera crews filming his impromptu briefing.

A website dedicated to some of his more fanciful claims has been inundated and nearly 1,000 T-shirts emblazoned with his face have already been sold.

[Stephen]

Und wann ist er fertig

[Gryphius]

Niemals. Alles Lügen!

[mausschubser]

Das wäre ein trauriges Ende für jemanden, der in diesen traurigen Krieg vermutlich unfreiwillig echte Komik gebracht hat.

Mit ihm war der Tag nicht so grau...

[00000001]

Er war bei Weitem besser als die amerikanische Propagandamaschinerie. Und diese Betrüger aus den USA haben sich leider nicht umgebracht - wozu also unser aller Informationsminister?

[black_jack]

der ist gut weg.

[Indexer]

 

Ich vermute eher, der coacht jetzt diesen zappligen Jerry Lewis Imitator in Doha

[tiramisusi]

Wer weiß, vielleicht kommt ein ein paar Jahren raus, dass Saddam Hussein und seine ganze Clique ein ruhiges Leben in Florida führen, als Resultat einer Absprache, die in etwa so geht: Die Amis haben ihnen ein sorgenfreies Leben mit Nutten, Coca-Cola und Britney Spears-Postern versprochen, wenn sie ihnen, den Amerikanern, die Ölquellen etc. ohne Giftgaseinsatz oder radioaktive Verseuchung übergeben.

Hollywood, bitte melden.

TS

[wolaufensie]

...jetzt übertreibt er aber wirklich,...das
wird hinterher schwer zu begründnen sein - leben - tot - leben !! - schwierig, schwierig......
aber ihm trau ich medienmässig alles zu....

[00000001]

"Wir haben sie in ihren Panzern eingeschlossen."



Einfach unvergeßlich.

[citrona]

der infominister einfach unglaublich , soll ich das nun glauben , der war doch so vital wie wenn er Werbung für Hardcore gemacht hätte

[00000001]

We have shot down 2 Apache helicopters. Have the Americans said yet that they were shot down by their - what do they call it - friendly fire? No? Well... [dramatic pause, then smiles] ...not yet!"

[Gryphius]

Was gibt`s denn an dieser Aussage auszusetzen?

"Bush is a very stupid man. The American people are not stupid, they are very clever. I can`t understand how such clever people came to elect such a stupid president."

[apiru]

"I repeat, there is no U.S. presence in Baghdad."

[apiru]

"Saddam was going to tear that down anyway."

[Gryphius]

apiru
verzieh Dich!

[apiru]

@Gruftius: schmier ab

[Gryphius]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2927031.stm

Profile: Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf
Mohammed Saeed Sahhaf
Sahhaf: A Shi`a Muslim outside Saddam Hussein`s Sunni clique
Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf has become a familiar face in homes around the world since the start of the war.

As information minister, he is the regime`s mouthpiece, called on to give an upbeat assessment of events at the same time the world`s media shows the noose tightening around Baghdad.

However, the man some would call Saddam Hussein`s optimist is not considered to be one of his closest allies.

A Shia Muslim, Mr Sahhaf is an outsider in the Sunni-dominated government that has been in power since 1968.

He is one of the few senior Iraqi officials not to come from the area around Saddam Hussein`s hometown, Tikrit.

Born in Hilla, near Karbala, south of Baghdad, Mr Sahhaf`s rise to a senior government position came relatively late in his career.

Sahhaf`s performance as the country`s top diplomat was not nearly as good as that of Tariq Aziz
Iraqi official

After studying journalism at university, he planned to become an English teacher, but gave that up when he joined the Baath Party in 1963.

A spell as head of Iraqi broadcasting was followed by stints as ambassador to Burma, Sweden and the UN.

He was made foreign minister in 1992, a post he held until 2001, and which spanned the difficult years of post-Gulf War UN sanctions and the ousting of UN weapons inspectors in 1998.

According to Haidar Ahmad of the opposition Iraqi National Congress, Mr Sahhaf was disliked for his opportunism and gained a reputation as a party lackey.

In his latter years as foreign minister, Mr Sahhaf came in for considerable criticism and was often compared unfavourably to his predecessor, current Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz.

Speculation

Saudi Arabia`s Al-Watan newspaper quotes an unnamed high-ranking Iraqi as saying: "Sahhaf`s performance as the country`s top diplomat was not nearly as good as that of Tariq Aziz."

Uday Hussein
Uday Hussein reportedly forced out Sahhaf as foreign minister

The London-based Al-Quds newspaper said: "He often made speeches that would have been more appropriate for a defence minister or a police commissioner."

At an Arab summit shortly before his removal as foreign minister, there were press comments that he "did not appear to be authorised to make decisions on the spot".

Much speculation surrounded Mr Sahhaf`s dismissal as foreign minister in April 2001.

Some observers said that Saddam Hussein`s son Uday forced him out after blaming the Iraqi delegation at the summit for failing to secure a joint Arab stand against UN sanctions.

His appointment as information minister gave him an opportunity to exploit his journalistic credentials, something he has been doing with apparently increasing relish since the start of hostilities.

There have been suggestions his regular appearances show he is an outsider, considered more expendable than other senior regime officials.

Whatever the truth, the eyes of the world focus daily on Mr Sahhaf, often finding his assertions increasingly at odds with the apparent reality around him.

[Gryphius]

@apiru

Geh doch einfach früher ins Bett und steh später
auf. Dann haben alle was davon.

[Blumberg]

Habe gerade in Frontal den Bericht über diese angeblichen amerikanischen Beweise für den irakischen Urankauf in Niger gesehen. Also dagegen ist Al Sahaf ja ein kleines Licht gewesen. Bush hat diese Geschichte vor dem amerikanischen Kongress zitiert, obwohl sogar sein eigener Geheimdienst die Quellen für nicht verlässlich hielt...sogar amerikanische Senatoren fühlen sich schlicht verarscht und forden Aufklärung, ebenso wie etliche Staaten in der UNO..........die ganze Weltöffentlichkeit dermassen schamlos anzulügen ist eine bodenlose Frechheit.

Falls SAhaf wirklich tot ist: R.I. P.

[konns]

ich fand den Schluss von Frontal 21 gut, als Sahaf Pressesprecher der SPD werden sollte

[wolaufensie]

...jau Frontal hat mal wieder keine Gefangenen gemacht...habs auch gesehen...Interessant diese Mischung aus extremem Sowohl-Als-Auch... ...da wurde journalistisch schwer Dafür, sowie genauso schwer Dagegen
gehalten....
Geneigte Einaugen picken sich dann die ihnen genehme Sachen raus und lassen den Rest untern Tisch fallen...

[apiru]

@Grufticus: immer noch am blödeln