Isn't that what the neocons were saying last week?

Yeah, and now others are saying it... your point is...?

there is always that possibility as hard as it may be to rationalize at this point from what we are seeing...and reading...im sure when they see our troops there will be some upriseing...i hope anyway...for our guys sake.

ignore the trolliver

Hey Ollie, maybe it's the same thing all jizz-ear-a says too...

Of course, that wouldn't make it false. Especially if reported by one of your prefered outlets. The important thing is that they present an alternative, conflicting report, right?

Which way is up? Pictures at 11.

I think that the "Senior Pentagon Official" is having a "Senior Moment". If it sounds too good too be true, it's too good to be true...! Unless, of course, you happen to be Madelyn Toogood..

M conservative estimate is that once it becomes clear that Saddam is falling (and possibly once we have sdone some real military damage to the Feyadeen), there is going to be severe internal pressure. Not necessarily every farmer with a pitchfork demanding Saddam's head and storming the palace, but resistance that does indeed hasten the regime's downfall.

But like I said, that's my conservative estimate.

Psycho games with Saddam, anyone? It doesn't take much to make a paranoid megalomaniac start murdering his subordinates, who then have to take him out in self defense. We can always hope. Spreading such an idea to Saddam via open news sources costs us nothing.

This guy is way out on the limb. I hope he's right, but if he isn't it will more ridicule from the media againsat the administration.

I heard this and I cringed....

Looks like another "set us up for failure" comment by the same people who brought us "Iraqis will welcome us with flowers."

I sure hope this "Senior Official" knows what he's talking about, because if this turns into the bloddy battle we're all fearing, that's one less credibility point for the DoD (and by extension GW).

If the "Senior Official" was from the CIA, I'd be more inclined to believe it, but for now I'm thinking this comment was poisonous to the cause.

There are 3 million Shiites in Baghdad. The spiritual leader of the Shiites is itching to enter Iraq and get revenge.

"The al-Hakim family for generations has been Shiite Muslim clerics, opposed to Hussein, a Sunni Muslim, and his regime. To avenge this opposition, the Iraqi dictator has killed 27 members of al-Hakim's family. Hussein has also tried to assassinate Ayatollah al-Hakim eight times."

Once the Shiites are convinced the US means it this time and won't abandon them (not a foregone conclusion with all the doom and gloomers trying to get the US to pull out) the Shiites will revolt and it will be payback time.

Soon. And it will be ugly.

The associated rumors on this one are flying.

Tonight I've seen or heard references to Kurds marching on Baghdad (no way), CIA (certainly) and SOF (maybe) elements inside Baghdad organizing resistance cells, extremely high-level Saddamites ready to pull a Rommel (why now?)...

Anybody else want to throw up some more rumors for Iraqi intelligence to get flustered over?

(Oh, yeah. You just know Iraqi intelligence reads Command Post—they'd be stupid not to.)

Set up a provisional government NOW.

Provide Iraqis with a concrete, *IRAQI* alternative to Saddam Hussein. This sure as heck beats vague promises.

Bill Plant is going to be really upset.

Who's the Senior official? Rumsfeld or Wolfowitz?

Earlier today Fox put up a photograph of an Iraqi government press conference with Saddam's personal bodyguard standing behind the officers doing the speaking. They said that this guy hasn't been seen without Saddam or vice versa for 15 years. So, is Saddam death or too sick or shot up to appear in person, or has he sent this guy to keep the others in line? Or has he split the country next to appear on the Riviera in a speedo? (shudder)