Iranian Conspiracy Theories
David sent me a wonderful Iranian conspiracy theory that the US allowed Saddam to quit Iraq for Russia so that he can be maintained as a bogeyman image suitable for continual military involvement… much as the elusive Osama is still used as a pretext for continued US bombardment of Afghan villages and anti-Afghan government forces.
This possibility was confirmed by the Al-Jazeera network, which quoted a Russian intelligence official as saying that the Iraqi forces and the invaders had made a deal. The Russian official told Al-Jazeera that the Iraqi leaders had agreed to show no serious resistance against the U.S.-British troops in return for a guarantee that Saddam and his close relatives could leave Iraq unharmed.
Confirmed by al-jazeera. Well that speaks volumes.