![]() "Now is the time for all Iraqis," Bremer said, "to build a prosperous, democratic Iraq at peace with itself and with its neighbors."įollowing is a transcript of the press briefing, as released by the Department of Defense: Let them now come forward in a spirit of reconciliation and hope, lay down their arms, and join you, their fellow citizens, in the task of building the new Iraq. "With the arrest of Saddam Hussein, there is a new opportunity for the members of the former regime, whether military or civilian, to end their bitter opposition. You have before you the prospect of a sovereign government in a few months. Iraq's future, your future, has never been more full of hope. He said coalition forces would continue to "hunt them down" and would not leave the country until security and stability are established in Iraq.īremer said: "This is a great day in Iraq's history. Sanchez warned that there is "still a lot of work to do" in identifying and capturing other leaders of Saddam Hussein's regime. Pachachi also spoke of establishing a constitution for Iraq and conducting general elections. Saddam Hussein is being held in coalition custody at an undisclosed location for DNA identification, but other Iraqi detainees have positively identified him, Sanchez said.Īdnan Pachachi, acting president of the Iraqi Governing Council, said through a translator at the press conference with Bremer and Sanchez that a special tribunal would be established to determine Saddam Hussein's fate. Sanchez, who was with Saddam Hussein during his subsequent medical exam and questioning, said that Saddam Hussein was cooperative and appeared to be in good health, but described him as a man who was "tired" and "resigned to his fate." Video footage of a heavily bearded Saddam Hussein undergoing a medical examination was shown at the press conference. The former Iraqi leader was found hiding in what Sanchez described as a "spider hole" about 8 feet underground. Little resistance was encountered, Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, commander of coalition ground forces in Iraq, reported at the press conference with Bremer. local time by about 600 coalition forces in a small town some 15 kilometers south of his hometown of Tikrit. Saddam Hussein was captured uninjured, along with two unidentified companions, December 13 about 8:30 p.m. Paul Bremer to a cheering crowd of reporters December 14 at a press briefing in Baghdad announcing that former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein had been captured. Those were the first words from Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Administrator L. "Ladies and gentlemen, we got him!" Bremer says “The Moment Saddam Was Dragged from His Hole.14 December 2003 Coalition Forces Capture Saddam Hussein We’re leaving this one as “undetermined” for now in hopes of gleaning more information about the identities of the photographer(s) and the persons pictured. Update: An unblurred version of this photo has since surfaced, as has a series of photographs depicting Saddam Hussein’s capture: The appearance of Saddam in this picture matches how he looked when he was taken into custody, the photograph shows no obvious signs of manipulation (other than the deliberate blurring of the pictured soldier’s face), and even Pentagon officials have admitted that “soldiers may have had a camera with them.” We haven’t come across any strong reasons to doubt the authenticity of this photograph. invasion of Iraq in March 2003, was captured on the outskirts of his home town, Tikrit, on 13 December 2003. Hussein, who went into hiding after the U.S. ![]() forces, surfaced on the Internet on 7 January 2004. Origins: The above photograph, purportedly showing former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein being dragged from his “spider hole” by U.S. Claim: Photograph shows the capture of Saddam Hussein.Įxample:
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