Saddam ID'd in Lineup by Aziz, Mahmoud

Trapped in his dirt hole and surrounded by U.S. forces, the brutal dictator announced in English: "I am Saddam Hussein, president of Iraq. And I am willing to negotiate."

The soldier to whom Saddam was speaking responded, "President Bush sends his regards."

The account was relayed to reporters Monday morning by Col. James Hickey, commander of the 1st Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division, whose men made the capture based on a tip from a local family.

Hickey told MSNBC that after the initial greeting, Saddam was dealt with "smartly" thereafter.

Diplomatic sources in New York City tell NewsMax's Stew Stogel that Hussein, when captured on Saturday night and taken to Baghdad airport, was put in an old-fashioned police lineup to be positively ID'd.

Those who "fingered" Saddam turned out to be his former deputy prime minister, Tariq Aziz, and his former personal secretary and "right-hand man," Hamid Mahmoud.

Early on Sunday, Saddam is believed to have been flown to U.S. Central Command headquarters in Doha, Qatar, where he is expected to meet commander of U.S. Gulf forces Gen. John Abizaid. CIA director George Tenet is said to be considering a trip to the Gulf by week's end. Sources claim that Tenet could "see" Saddam during such a visit.

Reports from Baghdad claim that Saddam wants to "negotiate" with the U.S. government.

It is unclear just what Saddam may have in mind.

While U.S. forces confirm that approximately $750,000 (U.S.) was found on the former Iraqi strongman, U.N. sources tell NewsMax that Saddam could have as much as $1 billion more stashed in foreign bank accounts.

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