Goebles had a good reason not to carry old baggage to the after-world. But then to avoid giving offence to a life-long master both agreed to settle down to events that escaped attention of probing lances.

In late November Goebles reported that never in history a mighty Commander-in-Chief undertook a Transatlantic journey just to share 'Turkey' on Thanksgiving Day with his beleaguered troops in the desert. Skeptics doubted some forty hour's journey back and forth to share turkey with servicemen seemed to be too much for the busiest Head. There was something more than meet the eyes. Goebbles advised Fuehrer to wait until he discovered the truth behind the story from his disciples in BBC, CNN and FOX.

Good luck for Goebles! He 'got it' sooner than he had expected. His very able informers worked overtime to dig out the fact that had happened in the following sequence:

The Air Force One flew in for the Commander-in ­Chief to view in person soon after his troops brought the most wanted 'Rat' out of a hole in a farm house. Overwhelmed with joy Chief enjoyed a hearty meal with his troops over 'Turkey'. It was a real Thanksgiving Day for him after so many months of lost appetite and insomnia. Once the great feast and the Executive view of the catch was over, White House-on-board left for its destination across the Atlantic. Later a 'stale event' was dished out as a 'breaking news' on home-screens just like a magician brings 'a rat ­out-of hat!'

Western viewers were tuned to swallowing every inch of the TV footage. In Arab streets the 'catch' was doubted. Some of the unsuspecting Arabs thought it was a doppelganger. Saddam was reputed to having several of his likes to dupe would be assassins. Other Arabs saw it as a cowardice act of a fallen dictator. His dreaded Republican Army was to perpetuate his dynasty and to brutalise Iraqis. They were not to fight a holy war which he promised to the last ditch.

The dictator disdainfully refused to leave -- probably to Russia -- to save his dynasty, spare widespread killing of Iraqis and destruction of the country at the hands of invaders. He thought that it would be dishonorable act. Now what is left of him and the country which he so ruthlessly ruled?

The verdict has already been pronounced on his life. Now it is just a matter of time for the Neo-cons to draw new lines on the Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish divide leaving the Iraqis to be at each other's throat. That may provide excuse and an escaping route to the 'flower children' to return home at the time of their choosing.

Fuehrer heard in rapt attention of the world that he had to leave in defeat but escaped personal disgrace, wanted to know what had happened to 25 million dollar Texas styled reward poster. Who got it? Would it be divided among the troops? The curious master was answered that troops were on duty while the drama was in motion and as such they disqualify for the reward. Besides, their number was so vast in the desert, it would be too paltry a sum for each soldier to share. Since there was no further announcement jubilant Americans at the 'catch' might have forgotten about the poster. A likely scenario would be to give commission to certain 'lobby house' and to grab the sum for re-elections campaign. In the midst of excitement, WMD which was the casus belli put on the back burner. That question was likely to emerge in the presidential elections in November 2004. But with "the bird in the cage", surely a mountain of caches would be 'discovered' before long from other holes.

But all said and done, the message was not surely lost on yet another Arab "Revolutionary King" in south shore of the Mediterranean. Col Muammar Gaddafi, who claimed to be the "Massager of Revolution" and has been raising a dynasty for 34 years in the mirror image of Saddam, unconditionally gave way to Bush-Blair wish.

An amazed 'Boss' congratulated Goebles for spectacular success in leaving behind his rich legacy despite retirement in 1945. But at the end Fuehrer regretted not having created a few doppelgangers for him so that he could have had a last laugh at his victors.

Former Ambassador M.Shafiullah served Arab countries both at the Foreign Office in Dhaka and Bangladesh Missions in that region for several years.