<Saddam, in his statement, referred to the March 23 downing of a U.S. helicopter, which indicates the tape was made after the war began.

"Perhaps you remember the valiant Iraqi peasant and how he shot down an American Apache with an old weapon," Saddam said. "Hit them with force, resist them, o people of Baghdad, whenever they advance upon your city, and remain true to your principles, your faith and your honor."





I missed the report, but I don't see where Saddam pegged the downing as the March 23 event, merely as a downing. And, while the fact it was shot out of the sky by a farmer does add credit, the fact does not add proof. Staged recordings of Hussein speaches, variously worded, and appearances in different regions, both for postehumas archival use, should not be concidered far-fetched.

This latest release might just be a PR man's attempt to prove to Bush that Iraq's leader is still alive and in control. And even if he is still kicking, so what? He blacked out his city, so very few saw or heard him. And even if his beloved populace eventually do see him, we're still going in -- and he'll still be a prime target.

Dan