http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1005548,00.htmlHere's the evidence, says US
Despite protests from military, Americans release pictures of Saddam's sons' bodies
Julian Borger in New York
Friday July 25, 2003
The Guardian
The Bush administration yesterday took the extraordinary step of publishing grisly photographs of two corpses in the hope of persuading Iraqis that Uday and Qusay Hussein were dead, despite the misgivings of senior officers who feared the decision set a dangerous precedent.
Release of the pictures, claimed to be of Saddam Hussein's dead heirs, was held up by more than 24 hours by disagreements within the Pentagon over the wisdom making them public.
Another debate is under way in Washington and Baghdad over what to do with the two bodies, currently held at the US military camp at Baghdad airport. The administration is anxious not to create a shrine for diehard supporters of the ousted regime.
The military top brass was reluctant to approve release of the photographs, citing the military tradition of respecting enemy dead, concern over appearing to gloat over the bloody, damaged bodies, and fear of setting a precedent that could easily backfire for families of American soldiers. In the past, Washington has responded angrily to any publication of photographs of American dead.
more