by Robin Moore
It was Sunday in Iraq, and before Saddam’s capture was announced, a suicide bomber drove into a police station in Khaldiya, fifty miles west of Baghdad, killing ten Iraqi policemen and wounding twenty other Iraqis.
On Saturday afternoon in Washington, at about 1515, Rumsfeld called President Bush at Camp David to give him the good news. The President decided the troops in Iraq deserved the credit and deferred the honor of making the announcement to Paul Bremer, the head of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq.
At about 1515 Sunday afternoon Baghdad time, L. Paul Bremer III, the head of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq strode to the podium and declared: “Ladies and gentlemen, we got him.”
In Baghdad and elsewhere, celebratory gunfire broke out as Iraqis took to the streets, many in tears and holding tattered photos of husbands, sons, wives, daughters, and other loved ones lost during The Butcher of Baghdad’s reign of terror.
Eight months after a giant statue of Saddam Hussein was pulled to the ground in Baghdad in a gesture of celebration, Saddam was finally in custody, dragged from a hole in the ground not far from where it all began in his youth. The operation was well commanded, by a man who’d been promoted to colonel in one of Saddam’s old palaces just across the river from where Saddam was found.
In his final days of freedom, The Glorious Leader, Direct Descendant of the Prophet, the Lion of Babylon, was reduced to a poor, disheveled farmer living in a mud hut. The lasting image he left on the Iraqi people is that of a broken, haggard man found living in a hole.
Soon after Saddam’s capture, his daughters, calling from exile, announced the family would appoint an attorney to contact him and defend him at trial.
One Baghdad shopkeeper summarized Saddam’s shame and expressed disdain for his cowardice at being taken alive: “… now he is like a dog. Iraqis hate weakness. He talked only of fighting to the end and of death for Iraq. His wife told us that he slept with a bomb strapped to his chest, so that he would not be taken alive. But he did not fire a single shot—many people might have loved him in death. He needed to die.”
APPENDIX: OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM MEMORIAL FUNDS
An American flag at half-mast will fly,
For the American soldier who has died.
Another lay adorned on the coffin made of wood,
Where will lay a soldier who once proudly stood.
Tears of pride and sadness will be shed,
For the American soldier who now is dead.
Fellow soldiers will stand to honor his death,
And comfort the family that he has left
Somewhere softly taps will play,
For an American Soldier died today.
—“AN AMERICAN SOLDIER DIED TODAY”
BY KATIE MORRIS
MEMORIAL FUNDS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND CHARITIES
Operation Family Fund: The Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM Family Fund is organized to provide funds, both short term and long term, to families whose loved ones were killed or permanently injured as a result of military action as part of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.
Operation Family Fund
United States PO Box 837
Ridgecrest, CA 93556
Phone: 760-793-0541
E-mail: [email protected]
www.oeffamilyfund.org
Fallen Patriot Fund: Established to help families of U.S. military personnel who were killed or seriously injured during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
Fallen Patriot Fund
c/o Bank of America Private Bank
TX1-492-19-09
P.O. Box 832409
Dallas, TX 75283-2409
Phone: 214-748-3900
E-mail: [email protected]
www.fallenpatriotfund.org
Fallen Heroes Last Wish Foundation: Provides funds to help support and educate the children of American servicemen and -women lost during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
Fallen Heroes Last Wish Foundation
30 West Sola Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone: 805-962-7843
Fax: 805-965-6343
Email: [email protected]
www.lastwishfoundation.org
Special Operations Warrior Foundation: The Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF) provides college scholarship grants based on need, along with financial aid and educational counseling to the children of Special Operations personnel who were killed in an operational mission or training accident.
Special Operations Warrior Foundation
P.O. Box 14385
Tampa, FL 33690
Phone: 877-337-7693
Fax: 813-805-0567
E-mail: [email protected]
www.specialops.org
Mercy Corps: Mercy Corps is working throughout Iraq to assist families affected by years of deteriorating conditions and conflict.
www.mercycorps.org/iraq
ALSO OF INTEREST
Partners International Foundation: A nonprofit humanitarian organization working in the United States and throughout the world to provide disaster relief and other support. Focuses on women and children.
Partners International Foundation
41 Cedar Hill Road
Newtown, CT 06470
www.partners-international.org
Special Operations Association Colonel George C. Morton Memorial Scholarship: The Special Operations Association grants scholarships to perpetuate the memory of those personnel who served in a Special Operations Unit during the Vietnam War, and who were Prisoners of War or Missing in Action and who are still unaccounted for in Southeast Asia. The scholarships also honor the late Colonel George C. Morton, an original commander and innovator of Special Operations in Southeast Asia.
Special Operations Association
c/o Alan N. Keller
Chairman, Scholarship Committee
4401 Park Road
Alexandria, VA 22312-1430
www.specialoperations.org
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Please note that some of the links referenced in this work are no longer active.
SADDAM
Garamone, Jim. “Just Who Is Saddam Hussein?” Armed Forces Press Service, January 22, 2003.
Information from Web site entitled: World History: Saddam Hussein, from: www.worldhistory.com/hussein.htm.
Information from The Iraq Foundation’s Web site: Biography of Saddam Hussein: www.iraqfoundation.org/research/bio.html
TASK FORCE VIKING
Author’s 10th SFG interview 1: SGM Strong/MAJ Howard (8SEP03AM).
Author’s 10th SFG interview 2: SGM Strong (30JUN–2 JUL03).
Consolidated Journal of ODA 056 (as given to Author).
Task Force VIKING-Concede Nothing OperationalMap/Chart.
Raid on Ayn Sifni 060300ZAPR03 Operational Map.
Author’s 10th SFG/Rangers interview “A.M./P.M.”
THE SCREAMING EAGLES
Author’s LTC John E. Novalis interview.
Author’s MG Petraeus interview.
Author’s COL Anderson interview.
“Source Report” that led to “the raid” on Uday and Qusay, courtesy of 101st ABN.
The War Diary of Dana Lewis.
101st ABN “Mosul History” PowerPoint presentation.
Information from: brucewillis.com/notes/journal_detail.cfm?j_id=13
Information from: www.fas.org/irp/world/iraq/fedayeen/index.htm
Boyne, Sean. “Inside Iraq’s Security Network,” Jane’s Intelligence Review, Vol. 9, numbers 7 & 8, July and August 1997.
TASK FORCE DAGGER
5th SFG (A) Operational Sketch/map (as drawn for Author).
Author’s LTC Haas interview.
5th SFG (A) and FL ARNG INF “breaching Iraq” video.
PRIVATE CONTRACTORS
Author’s recollection of his conversation with John Jones, December 2003.
Griswold, Terry, and D. M. Giangreco. Delta: America’s Elite Counterterroris
t Force. Osceola, Wisconsin: MBI, 1992.
Krane, Jim. “U.S. Putting Hired Help on Front Lines.” The Associated Press, November 2, 2003.
Author’s John Jones/KBR interview.
Author’s Tipivar Poph/KBR interview.
Information from www.mpri.com
LETTERS FROM TIKRIT
Morris, Katie. “The Widow’s Tears,” Copyright 2003.
Letters from LTC Russell, 1-22 INF, 4th INF Division.
THE ACE IN THE HOLE
Sachs, Susan and Kirk Semple. “Ex-Leader, Found Hiding in Hole, Is Detained Without a Fight.” New York Times, December 14, 2003.
By People’s Daily Online, “Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein Arrested.”
Thomas, Evan, and Babak Dehghanpisheh, “Inside Red Dawn: Saddam Up Close.” Newsweek Online, January 15, 2004.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bryan G. Gray, HHC, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th ID, All Source Intelligence Technician.
Information from: www.smh.com. “The shame—the desert lion was a kitten,” December 16, 2003.
Trice, Calvin R., and Bill McKelway. “A VMI Grad with Eyes Like ‘Two Deep Caves’ Directed Raid that Snared Saddam.” Richmond Times Dispatch, December 16, 2003.
Information from: www.hood.army.mil/4id_1stbde/Raidercsm.htm
Transcript: Major John S. “Stan” Murphy, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division Intelligence Officer [S-2].
1LT Angela Ann Santana, Alpha Company, 104th Military Intelligence Battalion, 4th Infantry Division attached to 1BCT, S2 (BISE), Position: Analysis Control Team and Common Ground Station Platoon Leader/Intelligence Officer. Transcribed by CPT Alan Roper, 13 January 04, Tikrit, Iraq.
Document entitled: “Major Murphy’s Response to Narrative Questions.”
CNN, Rumsfeld: “In the end, Saddam ‘not terribly brave.’” Rumsfeld: “So far Saddam not offering much information.” Copyright 2003 CNN (The Associated Press contributed to this story).
Biographical information, Harold “Hal” Engstrom, Corporal, A Company, 104th MI Battalion (attached to 1st BDE, 4th ID (MI). Position: intelligence analyst. Transcribed by CPT Alan Roper, 13 January 04, Tikrit, Iraq.
Transcript: Colonel James Hickey, Commander, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.
Loeb, Vernon, “Clan, Family Ties Called Key to Army’s Capture of Hussein ‘Link Diagrams’ Showed Everyone Related by Blood or Tribe.” Washington Post, Tuesday, December 16, 2003.
Transcript: SPC “Joe.”
Transcript: Drivers.
E-mail from Alan Roper, Captain, U.S. Army 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Tikrit, Iraq, January 13, 2004.
Sipress, Alan. “Confidant Quickly Became Informant, Pointing the Way.” Washington Post, Washington Post Foreign Service, December 16, 2003.
Smidt, Eric. “How They Caught Saddam.” Hindustan Times, December 21, 2003.
McDonnell, Patrick J. “Saddam tried to negotiate during capture.” Los Angeles Times, 15 January 2004. Accessed online: www.latimes.com.
Thomas, Evan, and Ron Nordland. “How We Got Saddam.” Newsweek, December 22, 2003.
John Wayne, The Searchers (1956).
Transcript: SPC Tom Ribas.
Transcript: SPC Esteban “Bo” Bocanegra.
Los Angeles Times, “Saddam’s Hunters Were Set to Kill Dictator,” accessed online on December 21, 2003.
Daniszewski, John, John Hendren, and David Zucchino, “Neighbors now know why sheik looked so edgy; the key was an edgy sheik.” Houston Chronicle, July 24, 2003. Accessed online: www.latimes.com.
E-mail from Russ Cummings to Author.
Transcript: SPC Euresti.
Transcript: SPC Matthew Drish.
Transcript: SPC Daniel Saffeels.
Pomeroy, Robin, “‘I’m Saddam Hussein,’ He Tells Troops in English.” Yahoo! News, India, December 15, 2003.
APPENDIX
Morris, Katie. “An American Soldier Died Today,” Copyright 2003.
GLOSSARY
1LT: First Lieutenant
2ACR: 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment
3rd SFG (A): 3rd Special Forces Group, Airborne
5th SFG (A): 5th Special Forces Group, Airborne
10th SFG (A): 10th Special Forces Group, Airborne
A: Airborne
A-10 “Warthog”: a slow, low-flying antitank attack aircraft
AA: Air
AAA: Anti-Aircraft Artillery
AASLT: Air Assault
ABN: Airborne
AC-130: “Spectre” gunship, an updated version of the Vietnam-era “Spooky” gunship. The Spectre is armed with chain guns and a 105mm howitzer, and flies at night mainly to provide constant, close air support (CAS) for Special Operations Forces.
ACR: Armored Cavalry Regiment
ADA: Air Defense Artillery
AFB: Air Force Base
AFP: French Media
AIT: Advanced Individual Training
AK-47: the Kalashnikov model 47 assault rifle, probably the most recognizable assault rifle in the world
Al-Jazeera: an Arabic news agency
AN/PRC-126: a lightweight military radio often used in squad operations
AO: Area of Operations
AOB: Area Operating Base
AOR: Area of Responsibility
AP: Associated Press
APC: Armored Personnel Carrier
AR: Armored, can also mean Artillery Radar, or Airborne Recon
ARNG: Army Reserve National Guard
ASP: Ammo Storage Point
A-Team: the twelve-man, basic operating element of the U.S. Army Special Forces
AWACS: Airborne Warning and Control System
B-1B: “Lancer”—a multi-role, long-range, heavy bomber
B-2: “Spirit”—Stealth bomber
B-17: “Flying Fortress” bomber
B-52: “Stratofortress”—high-altitude heavy bomber. Also known as “big ugly fat fellow” (BUFF)
Ba’ath Party: the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party, the dominant political party in Iraq from 1968–2003
Battery: a group of artillery guns
BBC: British Broadcasting Corporation
BDA: Bomb Damage Assessment
BDE: Brigade
BDU: Battle Dress Uniform
BG: Brigadier General
BIO: Biological Threat
BIO/CHEM: Biological/Chemical
BN: Battalion
Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV): a lightly armored fighting vehicle designed to accompany the M1 Abrams tank into battle
B-Team: the company-level command and control unit in the U.S. Army Special Forces
Bubbas: military slang term for “guys” or “men”
BUFF: see B-52
C&C: Command and Control
C-4: Explosive
C-17: Globemaster III—the newest heavy airlift aircraft in the Air Force’s inventory
C-141 Starlifter: a “workhorse” plane used to transport combat forces and equipment over long distances
CA: Civil Affairs
CAS: Close Air Support
CAT: Civil Affairs Team
CDR: Commander
CENTCOM: the U.S. Army’s Central Command
CG: Commanding General
CGSC: Command and General Staff College
CH: Chaplain
CH-47: “Chinook” twin-rotor transport helicopter
CHEM: Chemical Threat
Chief Warrant Officer: a highly skilled technician who fills positions that are too specialized for broadly trained, branch-qualified commissioned officers
CIA: Central Intelligence Agency
CIDG: Civilian Irregular Defense Group, an Asian mercenary group
CJSOTF-N: Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force–North
CJSOTF-W: Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force–West
COL: Colonel
Combat Infantry Streamer: an award given to infantry units when a specified percentage of their personnel have been awarded the Combat Infantry Badge
&nbs
p; Combat Talon: the MC-130 transport plane that normally transports SOF
CPA: Coalition Provisional Authority
CPIC: Coalition Provisional Information Center
CPT: Captain
CRF: Combat Reconnaissance Force
CSM: Command Sergeant Major
CT: counterterrorist, counterterrorism
CW2: Chief Warrant Officer 2
CW4: Chief Warrant Officer 4
Dash 8: a Canadian turboprop airliner with military use in navigation training, coastal surveillance, and passenger transport
Defilade: a fortified position that protects troops against enemy fire coming from multiple directions
Delta Force: U.S. Army Special Forces Operational Detachment unit tasked with counterterrorist operations
Demo: Demolition
De Oppresso Liber: Latin for “To Liberate the Oppressed,” the credo of the U.S. Army Special Forces, the Green Berets
DHSK: “Dishka”—Russian heavy machine gun
DIA: the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency
DOD: the U.S. Department of Defense
Dry hole: a term used to describe the failure of a raid to turn up its intended prey
DZ: Drop Zone
E-3: Private First Class
EC-130: a versatile “Hercules” tactical transport aircraft used for multiple purposes, such as communications and PSYOPS
Embed: embedded reporter
EN: Enemy
EST: Eastern Standard Time
ETD: Estimated Time of Departure
EV: EARLY VICTOR
Exfil: Exfiltration
F/A-18: “Hornet”—a fighter-bomber used by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force
F-14: “Tomcat”—a fighter-bomber used by the U.S. Navy and usually deployed from the decks of aircraft carriers
F-16: “Fighting Falcon”—a fighter/attack aircraft
FA: Field Artillery
Fast-mover: a fixed-wing fighter jet
Fedayeen Saddam: “men of sacrifice,” pro-Saddam militia/insurgent group
Flak: the shrapnel from the explosion of an artillery shell
FLARNG: Florida Army Reserve National Guard
Flex-cuffs: single-use nylon restraints designed for civil unrest or crowd control situations
FOB: Forward Operating Base
FRAGO: fragmentary order
FRL: Former Regime Loyalist
FSB: Forward Support Battalion
FSG: First Sergeant
G-Day: beginning of “shock and awe” military campaign
GEN: General