Saddam Hussein believes the United States will have to seek his help to quell the bloody insurgency in Iraq and open the way for American forces to withdraw, his chief lawyer has indicated.
Khalil al-Dulaimi argued in an interview with The Associated Press that the former president is the key to returning stability to Iraq. "He's their last resort. They're going to knock at his door eventually," the lawyer said. Saddam is "the only person who can stop the resistance against the U.S. troops."
Al-Dulaimi said Saddam brought up the topic during a meeting last week, and indicated he would be willing to help the United States - "for the sake of saving both peoples - the Iraqis and Americans."
He quoted Saddam as saying: "These puppets in the Iraqi government that the Americans brought to power are helpless. They can't protect themselves or the Iraqi people. The Americans will certainly come to me, to Saddam Hussein's legitimate leadership and to the Iraqi Baath Party, to rescue them from their huge quandary."
Al-Dulaimi said he had asked the former leader if he would really be willing to help the country who toppled him from power. Saddam replied that he would, said al-Dulaimi. "We will do that for the sake of preventing more bloodshed, for the liberty of all Iraqis," al-Dulaimi quoted Saddam as saying.
Saddam predicted Iraq would "flourish within five years," saying that was the time that would be needed for reconstruction that would transform the country into the envy of the region, the lawyer said.
