Operation Red Dawn, Dec 13, 2003 - How do you perceive Saddam's capture?

2014-12-02T14:16:39-05:00

We’re approaching the anniversary of the capture of Saddam Hussein. Many of us have experienced Iraq firsthand, both before and after this event. Looking back now, how do you perceive Saddam’s capture? Cast your vote and explain why in the thread.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2014 2:22 PM

2014-12-02T14:22:44-05:00

I am not sure exactly if I agree with any of the choices, either from skepticism or just a different way of thinking.

Response by SSG John Erny made Dec 2 at 2014 2:36 PM

2014-12-02T14:36:45-05:00

There is a reason most muslim countries are ruled by tyrants.

Response by SGT Robert Wilson made Dec 2 at 2014 2:46 PM

2014-12-02T14:46:41-05:00

we could have killed him in the first war then we would have not had the second one.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Dec 2 at 2014 2:59 PM

2014-12-02T14:59:41-05:00

It is my opinion that having left Saddam in power would have been the optimal situation. We assisted placing him in power and educated him, additionally he kept Iran in check almost all the time and stabilized the region. The issue to of him getting out of control and threatening Nuclear and long range weapons was an ego of his to deter Iran and everyone else that he had something already that they did not. What I am surprised about was the fact that the Soldier did not kill (shoot) Saddam while entering the hole and being surprised that there was a man in there. The fact Saddam was able to be apprehended speaks to the fact he was not a martyr and more of a coward than anything else. He did not wish to die. Fanatical folks usually die by the very sword they wield to others. His capture did give a slight boost to morale for a slight period of time, however the fact that Osama took so much longer only took away from it. The trick I think we failed at, was just taking Saddam for who he was and dismissing him as a national policy as long as he stayed within the borders of his dictatorship.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Dec 2 at 2014 3:03 PM

2014-12-02T15:03:45-05:00

I don't think the problem was solved by killing/capturing/eliminating Saddam. The problem is the beliefs of Saddam. Those beliefs/practices/political views are still ever present in Iraq's culture today. There are MANY Saddam's in Iraq. They are just at lower levels. There was a report yesterday that stated 50% of the Iraqi Soldier's on payroll don't even exist. Their Commanders were just collecting their pay and putting it in their pockets. This is the problem with Iraq. Corruption that has become culture and the 2nd and 3rd order affects of that culture.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2014 3:05 PM

2014-12-02T15:05:39-05:00

At the time it was important to many in America to take down Saddam. Especially to the minds of those in the military. We where still very deeply hurting from 9/11 and needed revenge on some front. Someone had to pay for the brutality on American soil. But with clearer minds and time to think maybe it would have been best to leave him in power. Maybe we would have a better handle on events in that area. If we really will have any control of events their. Not sure we will ever conquer the hate of the Muslum world toward the U.S. But you could also look at it as if we didn't do what we did. Maybe we would have had much more bloodshed and brutality in our cities. Damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Dec 2 at 2014 3:08 PM

2014-12-02T15:08:45-05:00

I remember one of my troops tugging on the end of my sleeping bag and saying "WE GOT SADDAM!" I looked out of my bag and said "You woke me up for that S!#$%!" I swear he thought we were going to get on a plane and go home the next day. Saddam was no different than any other tyrant who kept his power by coersion, corruption, fear, torture, and control of the media. I swear that American policy makers have an attention span that only goes back 10 years. When a nation is invaded by someone like that (Kuwait in the Gulf War) You remove them....violently. When you go to their turf and think that removing the top dog will turn the country into "Democracy East" you have to undo decades of deviant behavior and corrupt though processing. Their entire society is structured around coping with a madman in charge. With every major change that was injected into their society, other symbiont structures continued to deteriorate. You don't continue to pull off the layers of an onion hoping to get to that sweet caramel center. It isn't there.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Dec 2 at 2014 3:18 PM

2014-12-02T15:18:29-05:00

It was important for 2003, but the problem with Iraq was that it was really 2-3 different wars all rolled into one. His capture may have disuaded the hold-out Ba'ath regimists from continuing, but it did nothing about the Shia insurgency in the south nor the AQI backed insrugents in Anbar. Each one of those mini-wars was against a different insurgent group with different demographics, tactics and goals.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Dec 2 at 2014 3:17 PM

2014-12-02T15:17:48-05:00

It was good to have captured him, and allow him to be tried and sentenced by his country's legal system and then executed by them for his crimes. In the long run as with a lot of things implemented by the Coalition Authority immediately following us taking the country, it set in motion some of the issues we are dealing with today from ISIS....but at the same time, he had to go.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2014 4:08 PM

2014-12-02T16:08:35-05:00

I believe that it was more than symbolic. There was definitely a morale boost among the troops who were on the ground and getting ready to deploy.

However, long term, completely dismissing him and the rest of his government caused serious problems moving forward. The power vacuum and those that fought to fill the vacant space was in part what tore the country apart. Essential services all but ended. The military and police were disbanded. Many Iraqis were NOT better off after Saddam was captured as was the hope.

Hope is not a course of action. But, we sure do use it a lot.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Dec 2 at 2014 8:13 PM

2014-12-02T20:13:34-05:00

IMHO, it was mostly symbolic but it started the wave that kept us going in country, even when we were running out of steam. We haven't set up a good puppet regime since the end of WWII. Iraq was another in a string of failed attempts. Islamic countries that are split along the lines of Islamic believes generally don't make good candidates for "western" democracy.