The Badmouther of Baghdad
Of course, by now, everyone knows Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahaf, Iraqi Minister of Information. You see him on the major networks claiming that Saddam is alive, quiescent sections of Iraq are resisting the Anglo-Saxon colonialist oppressors, and that our bombs are duds that explode for show. In other words, it is often hard to believe a word he says. If Saddam is dead, he is the public face of the interim regime. If Saddam is alive, he is the public face of the actual regime. Hence, I thought that I should dig up whatever biographical data I could find about him. [Sources are in parentheses]
As you can see, there isn't much information about Iraq's Information Minister.
Born: Have no idea.
Family: Have no idea.
Education: Good. He was Foreign Minister. He certainly has a facility for a variety of languages. Otherwise unknown.
Positions Held in Iraqi Government:
Reported to be Special Envoy of Saddam Hussein to the Prime Minister of India in January of 1991 (Xinhua News Agency, 5 January 1991).
First mention in European newspapers comes in July of 1991, when he was Iraqi Foreign Minister. It appears that he succeeded Tariq Aziz in that position after the First Gulf War. (The Independent (London) 30 July 1991). There is some controversy about his exact office from 1991-1992. My best guess is that he was Minister of State for Foreign Affairs during 1991-1992 and was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs (the senior foreign affairs brief) in July of 1992.
First Iraqi official to tour Gulf States after First Gulf War. Visited Oman, Qatar, and Turkey. (Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 11 March 1995; UPI, 11 February 1995).
Fired as Foreign Minister and appointed Information Minister in April of 2001. Allegedly fired after the Iraqi delegation at the Arab League Summit in March did not focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in discussions but instead brought up UN sanctions in disobedience to Saddam Hussein's instructions. (EMAP Business International, Middle East Economic Digest, 26 April 2001).
ESA(20030403.2)
Of course, by now, everyone knows Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahaf, Iraqi Minister of Information. You see him on the major networks claiming that Saddam is alive, quiescent sections of Iraq are resisting the Anglo-Saxon colonialist oppressors, and that our bombs are duds that explode for show. In other words, it is often hard to believe a word he says. If Saddam is dead, he is the public face of the interim regime. If Saddam is alive, he is the public face of the actual regime. Hence, I thought that I should dig up whatever biographical data I could find about him. [Sources are in parentheses]
As you can see, there isn't much information about Iraq's Information Minister.
Born: Have no idea.
Family: Have no idea.
Education: Good. He was Foreign Minister. He certainly has a facility for a variety of languages. Otherwise unknown.
Positions Held in Iraqi Government:
Reported to be Special Envoy of Saddam Hussein to the Prime Minister of India in January of 1991 (Xinhua News Agency, 5 January 1991).
First mention in European newspapers comes in July of 1991, when he was Iraqi Foreign Minister. It appears that he succeeded Tariq Aziz in that position after the First Gulf War. (The Independent (London) 30 July 1991). There is some controversy about his exact office from 1991-1992. My best guess is that he was Minister of State for Foreign Affairs during 1991-1992 and was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs (the senior foreign affairs brief) in July of 1992.
First Iraqi official to tour Gulf States after First Gulf War. Visited Oman, Qatar, and Turkey. (Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 11 March 1995; UPI, 11 February 1995).
Fired as Foreign Minister and appointed Information Minister in April of 2001. Allegedly fired after the Iraqi delegation at the Arab League Summit in March did not focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in discussions but instead brought up UN sanctions in disobedience to Saddam Hussein's instructions. (EMAP Business International, Middle East Economic Digest, 26 April 2001).
ESA(20030403.2)
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