Instead, analysts needed to focus on Hussein's personal connections. Army Intelligence personnel realized that political leaders were not the best path to finding Hussein. However, while US forces were netting high value targets, they were no closer to catching Hussein because his political power base scattered when the Iraqi regime fell. Initially, the search for Hussein focused on the aggressive pursuit of High Value Targets, those government leaders whose names were on the "Black List," or on the Most Wanted "Deck of Cards." Early success came with the capture of several Iraqi leaders, including Hussein's presidential secretary in mid-June 2003. The daily interactions of these teams with local Iraqi citizens generated a vast amount of information about Hussein's family network. Several Tactical HUMINT Teams consisting of US Army interrogators, counterintelligence agents, and interpreters, also deployed throughout the area in the summer of 2003. The trail to Hussein would be carefully developed by intelligence professionals using solid Human Intelligence or HUMINT tradecraft and detailed analysis techniques.įollowing the collapse of Hussein's regime, the 4th Infantry Division occupied the area in and around Tikrit, Hussein's family home. A nine-month hunt for the deposed president followed. Within three weeks, US forces secured Baghdad, but Hussein had escaped the capital city. On March 20th, 2003 Coalition troops invaded Iraq to oust dictator Saddam Hussein from power and free the Iraqi people. The script of that video is excerpted here. In an effort to highlight the intelligence aspects of this milestone event, the Intelligence Center of Excellence History Office has developed a five-minute video case study entitled: "The Capture of Saddam Hussein: Human Intelligence Out Front." The video can be accessed from the History Office located inside the MI Library on Fort Huachuca. The story of how he was located and captured is an intelligence success story. Saddam’s presidency was marked by numerous human rights abuse accusations, including an estimated 250,000 murders.Ten years ago this week, the US Army captured Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein alive. He had this presence about him that was very unnerving,” Holland said. 13, 2003, from an underground hole on a farm. Saddam after his capture by US troops on Dec. The highly honored veteran said he could sense Saddam was evil from just his presence. “We’re like, ‘That time’s passed, brother.'” “He just said he was the president of Iraq and he’s ready to negotiate,” Holland said. Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s presidency involved human rights abuse accusations, including an estimated 250,000 murders. The dictator then tried to plead with the American team. Saddam was armed with a Glock 18, so another Delta Force member - whom Holland described only as “a big Texan” - “nails him in the mouth” to get the gun away, he said. Holland recalled one of his fellow squad members who helped pull out the deposed Iraqi president saying, “Holy cow, it’s him” in shock. ![]() ![]() Holland (circled) said his elite team received “human intel” that led them to a hole in the ground where Hussein was found. He added that despite having gotten the tip about the hiding place, the moment was surreal. “Then hands come out of the hole and a big bushy head of hair and then we grab him and jerk him out - and it like, ‘Well, that’s him,'” Holland said. They threw a grenade into it and then heard a voice speaking Arabic that gradually grew louder. He and his squadron uncovered and unplugged the hole and saw it was lined with bricks like someone was hiding in it. 7 episode of a podcast hosted by a Navy SEAL veteran called “Danger Close.” Youtube/ JackCarrUSA Holland (left) described the mission on a Dec. It had a small pipe sticking up to allow air to flow, Holland said. The hole was covered with a layer of leaves and sand, and plugged with Styrofoam to obscure its location. ![]() He said his elite team received “human intel” that led them to a hole in the ground in a small agricultural town in Iraq. 7 episode of a podcast hosted by a Navy SEAL veteran called “Danger Close.” Retired Army Master General Sergeant Kevin Holland said his Delta Force team told the former Iraqi president and dictator that “President Bush sends his regards” when they pulled him out of a hole where he’d been hiding underground in 2003. The three most unstable zodiac signs in astrologyĪ special operations veteran shared new details about his elite team’s capture of Saddam Hussein in an interview nearly two decades after the secret mission. How likely are you to commit murder, according to your zodiac signĢ0 years on, it’s clear our collective memory of the Iraq War is simply wrong
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