Overblowing Saddam

(This letter to the editor was published in the Minneapolis StarTribune on December 20, 2003, at http://www.startribune.com/stories/563/4278496.html)

Whew! Are the Star Tribune editors through hyperventilating yet? Probably not, but let's try for a little reason anyway.

The capture of Saddam Hussein is of very little significance. Repeat: very little significance.

His importance ended immediately when U.S. and British troops invaded Iraq and he went into hiding. It seems clear that he was not directing the insurgence against our occupying forces, and that the insurgents feel they have ample reason to hate the occupiers without any push from Saddam. Many, if not most, of them probably hate him, too.

And contrary to the big lie spewing daily from the White House, all evidence demonstrates that Saddam was not a factor in international terrorism, however evil he was at home.