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| U.S. Forces Seize Hussein's 2nd Cousin's Former Gardener |
| April 17, 2003 |
| BAGHDAD - Continuing a relentless search, coalition forces on Wednesday nabbed a man whom they claimed could be vital toward finding Saddam Hussein. Mohamad Al-Salhabi, the former gardener of Saddam Hussein's second cousin once removed, was taken into custody after a broad-daylight extraction by a U.S. special operations group. The troops successfully thwarted Mohamad Al-Hassan as he charged them with a sharp set of garden shears. "We want to be absolutely clear to the world that any connection with Saddam Hussein, past or present, indicates a relationship we must investigate," Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said. Rumsfeld said a sustained and consistent military effort is necessary for ridding the world of terrorist groups. The capture of Al-Salhabi marked only the beginning of what Rumsfeld defined as a "necessary terrorist witch-hunt." Anti-war groups in the U.S. fear a new military campaign in Syria, where many of Hussein's family have allegedly flocked. But every nation on earth might be at risk, since Hussein's 23-year reign resulted in connections with politicians, military leaders, and some entire nations. "We're now attempting to trace every conversation he's ever had," National Security Analyst Jack Petersen said. "We've dug up a conversation he had with his clothing tailor back in 1983. It might have been some kind of verbally-encrypted code. In any case, we'll have to find that guy and bring him in for questioning." President Bush reiterated Rumsfeld's remarks this morning in his morning address, saying that the smallest detail with Hussein could yield large breakthroughs. "Any degree of separation with Saddam Hussein might be enough to wreak havoc on the world's peace-loving nations," he said. In other news, actor Kevin Bacon has reportedly refused to speak with officials, who suspect him to have involvement with the former Iraqi leader. |
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| RUMSFELD VOWS TO INVESTIGATE ALL HUSSEIN CONNECTIONS |