Re: Saddam releases thousands of political prisoners
A few ideas, Tom:
1) He is trying to shore up local support.
2) Of course even though the article says "all" prisoners, we can easily presume that is not so. He released enough to make people want more.
3) Maybe he is going to resign in favor of one of his sons and is seeking more goodwill for the transition.
4) He is kidding himself into thinking the praise he gets for gestures like this is sincere.
5) Any mix of the above.
Ed