MGoH:

"Of course of the discussion here is based on the assumption that the US authorities would sooner that Saddam and his immediate entourage were captured alive for trial."

That's right Kevin, they have actually stated that - Deputy Secretary of State was reported as declaring that in a BBC report yesterday - he did, however, state that the capture of Saddam Hussein alive was not worth the loss of a single member of the coalition forces.

"However this might not be the case. A public trial with Saddam telling all the murky secrets about how the US, including people currently involved in the administration such as Rumsfeld, were involved up to the hilt in all kinds of stuff they have managed to conceal - well that could be embarrassing."

That holds true if it can be believed that Saddam and his immediate entourage were the only persons in Iraq party to the "murky secrets" referred to. That they personally and exclusively handled all matters relating to those "murky secrets". All the paper work, all the negotiations, all the physical work involved - without anybody else either knowing, or guessing, what they were up to - without there being any physical, or material, evidence resulting from the activities surrounding those "murky secrets" - Totally laughable.

Oh Yeah, GregF - he's put his finger on it alright!!!