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July 23, 2003, 10:20 a.m. Arms of Terror Con Coughlin on Uday and Qusay Hussein. A Q&A by Kathryn Jean Lopez

on Coughlin is author of Saddam: King of Terror and executive editor for London's Sunday Telegraph. An internationally recognized expert on the Middle East and the Saddam Hussein regime, Coughlin spoke to NRO Wednesday about the elimination of Saddam Hussein's sons, Uday and Qusay.

Kathryn Jean Lopez: How important is it that the world is rid of Uday and Qusay Hussein?

Con Coughlin: This is a highly significant breakthrough, in my opinion the most important development in Iraq since the capture of Baghdad on April 9. Uday and Qusay were key members of Saddam's regime, and by taking them out U.S. forces have demonstrated to the Iraqi people that they are serious about eradicating the remnants of Saddam's regime. This should give the Iraqis renewed confidence in the Coalition, and lead to better cooperation. Previously Iraqis were afraid of helping the Coalition for fear that they might be the target of revenge attacks. Now they know that the Coalition is not going to let Saddam regain power.

Lopez: Uday, as head of the Olympic Committee, did some horrible things. How would you like to best remember him and the terror he imparted on Iraqis?

Coughlin: As a psychopath. Unlike his father, who used violence as a mean to an end, Uday was a sadist who used to enjoy watching his victims suffer. He turned the basement of the Iraqi Olympic Committee in Baghdad into his personal torture headquarters.

Lopez: Qusay is often portrayed as more moderate than his brother and father. But that is only in comparison, isn't it? Any examples that come to mind of his terror?

Coughlin: Qusay was certainly quieter and more conscientious, but he was also more feared. He was the heir apparent to Saddam, and basically ran the regime for his father. He was also in charge of the highly sophisticated weapons-concealment program the Iraqis developed to hide Saddam's weapons of mass destruction.

Lopez: Since the liberation of Iraq, how much more has been learned about the extent of the sons' power and crimes?

Coughlin: Nothing new. All that has happened since the liberation is that we have had confirmation of their excesses.

Lopez: Are you surprised that it took as long as it did to eliminate the Hussein sons? Are you surprised Saddam Hussein has not been captured or killed yet?

Coughlin: No, I am not surprised. Saddam and his family spent their lives in hiding. They had hundreds of hideouts littered around Iraq, and Saddam paid out billions of dollars to influential tribal leaders to ensure they looked after him.

Lopez: Does the killing of Uday and Qusay help Tony Blair's position any? George Bush's?

Coughlin: It will help them, although the killing of Qusay has deprived them of the opportunity of finding out where the weapons of mass destruction are hidden.

Lopez: You've noted recently that you believe Saddam Hussein has been behind some of the recent attacks. Do the deaths of his sons help break down whatever network Saddam is working through?

Coughlin: It should help to break up the network, but there is also the possibility that Saddam will try to launch a revenge attack against American troops to avenge the deaths of his sons.