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by
Linda Mottram
AM Archive -
Friday, 7 March , 2003 00:00:00
Reporter:
LINDA MOTTRAM: So
is it possible that Saddam Hussein has already left Iraq? Given his use
of body doubles as a security measure, it is likely, according to German
forensic scientist, Doctor Dieter Buhmann, the man who knows as much
about the Iraqi president's stand-ins as anyone.
At the request of
German television ZDF a while back, he applied his skills to a detailed
examination of photos and videos of Saddam Hussein and determined which
were the real Saddam and which were the doubles.
Dr Buhmann believes
that he's got the issue pegged, unlike the far right Austrian
politician, Joerg Haider, who famously went to Baghdad only to meet,
it's thought, with a double.
I called Dr Buhmann
by phone at his home earlier.
We've recently seen
two interviews done by Saddam Hussein with Western questioners. Were
they both the real Saddam Hussein?
DIETER BUHMANN: The
last one I saw, both was the real Saddam Hussein.
LINDA MOTTRAM: So
how have you gone about being able to pick which is the real one from
the double?
DIETER BUHMANN: Um,
normally I prove this material using old pictures I know that was the
right one and look is the other one the same face in all details. For
example the kind of lobe of the ear, the distance between the angle of
the eyes and the lips, kind of the top of the nose, and they are very
much details and you must prove them.
LINDA MOTTRAM: But
you can pinpoint them sufficiently closely to be able to be certain
about which is the real man and which is the fake man?
DIETER BUHMANN: He
had a great speak to the Arabian leader in the year 1990 and we all
believe that was the real one, it was time before the last war and the
new pictures, I always match them with this old one.
LINDA MOTTRAM: How
many doubles do you think Saddam Hussein has? Have you any way of
knowing?
DIETER BUHMANN: I
found out that he used three doubles. I can find out them from video
clips in the year 1995 to 2002.
LINDA MOTTRAM: So
at least three stand-ins and there could easily be more, presumably?
DIETER BUHMANN: It
can be but I'm not sure.
LINDA MOTTRAM: Do
you know whether this issue of the doubles will make it difficult for an
invading force to find Saddam Hussein if they go about looking for him?
DIETER BUHMANN:
Normally if you see him in the television in interview and you see him
from a short distance then you can have a look and say ok, that must be
the right one or not.
If you have Saddam
Hussein from a great distance, then you have much problem to find out if
this is double or the real one.
LINDA MOTTRAM:
So it could be difficult if, for example, American soldiers go looking,
it could be difficult for them to decide if they've got the right man?
DIETER BUHMANN:
It can be very difficult, because one of the doubles he used is a very
good one.
LINDA MOTTRAM:
Do you think it's possible that Saddam Hussein could have already left
Iraq and left a double in his place permanently?
DIETER BUHMANN:
Yes, I believe it's possible because he used this doubles for his own
safety. All video clips I saw showing Saddam Hussein in Muthenna for
example, in his army, it's always the double, not the real one.
LINDA MOTTRAM:
German Forensic Scientist, Dr Dieter Buhmann
Linda Mottram
presents AM on ABC Local Radio, Monday to Friday from 8am. Join Hamish
Robertson at 8am for the Saturday edition.
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