Fantastical tales about Tariq Aziz

The quintessential liberal, Tom Hayden, has been given an 'exclusive' in the HuffPo today. The ex-hubby of Hanoi Jane purports to reveal secret peace deals in the works between America and the Iraqi insurgency:

First, James Baker told one of Saddam Hussein's lawyers that Tariq Aziz, former deputy prime minister, would be released from detention by the end of this year, in hope that he will negotiate with the US on behalf of the Baath Party leadership.

I think we can guess which lawyer he got the information from. Hint, he's the American. By the way, it's nice to hear Aziz is feeling better. He's going to need a near Phoenix-like rise to negotiate for the "Ba'ath Party leadership" since Saddam is still the titular head of that entity, pending death penalty appeal.

There certainly seems to be a trend towards realpolitik of late. The Baker/Hamilton group has been leaking to the press about possible talks while actual talks are scheduled all over the place--Bush is flying to Amman to meet with al-Maliki while Cheney will be dining with the Saudi Royals. At the same time Syria, Iran and Iraq are planning a get-together, and Maliki will be holding court with 'insurgents' next week (but nobody on the most-wanted 41 list, mind you). As Thunderclap Newman once said, something's in the air.

As to Hayden's piece, you won't get the obligatory 'read the whole thing' directive here (I figure you'll read what you want). Besides, readers may not care to stomach his name-dropping curtain call of left wing luminaries who he claims made this important moment of dialogue (and Bush embarrassment) possible. But that's the naivete that goes with being a utopian liberal, I guess.

MORE 11-24-06

Speaking of fantastical tales, this was a far cry from Q's MI6 laboratory, huh?

As Scott Shane in the Times points out, US military leaders previously postulated a theory that said Saddam was not concerned about us reaching Baghdad, and was more fearful of his own people rising against him. This video might poke some holes in that theory if indeed it was shown to the masses. Stashing weapons all over the countryside and encouraging the use of molotov cocktails and slingshots would not seem to be the actions of a leader worried about the loyalty of his flock.

Or, perhaps it was yet another part of Saddam's PR campaign to encourage everyone to fight against the common enemy--America, but knowing in reality they would turn against each other leaving the country in chaos.

Now, is everybody ready to start dealing with Tariq Aziz again?