Saddam Feared AIDS During Captivity

Prison diary reveals horror of 'young people's diseases'

By Neal Colgrass, Newser Staff

Posted May 6, 2008 12:47 AM CDT

(Newser) – Saddam Hussein worried about catching AIDS and other venereal diseases during his US captivity, the Daily Mail reports. He even told guards not to dry their clothes on his laundry line. "I explained to them that they are young and they could have young people's diseases," Saddam wrote in prison diaries that were published today by a pan-Arab newspaper.

"My main concern was to not catch a venereal disease, an HIV disease, in this place," he wrote. He also described the challenge of learning English—"our language (Arabic) is more beautiful and deeper"—and the difficulty he had asking for things, even a flower. "It was a serious sacrifice from me to ask for the first time in my life."

A young Palestinian stands next to a portrait of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein during a rally on Dec. 31, 2007. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

Ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein reacts in court in this 2006 file photo in Baghdad, Iraq. (AP Photo)

Captured former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein undergoes medical examinations in Baghdad in this Dec. 14, 2003 file photo,in this image from television. (AP Photo)

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Prison diary reveals horror of 'young people's diseases'

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'Down with the occupiers,' his half-bro shouts as sentence is read

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Shrinks say she's mentally ill, but Army calls it 'psychobabble'

Brit Busted for Hawking the Butt of Saddam Statue

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British soldier's cheeky keepsake is 'cultural property,' Iraq says

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Iraq • Saddam Hussein • AIDS • prison • disease • captivity

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

Top Saddam Aides Get 15 Years for Killings

'Down with the occupiers,' his half-bro shouts as sentence is read

Iraq Vet Faces Life Over Suicide Try

Shrinks say she's mentally ill, but Army calls it 'psychobabble'

Brit Busted for Hawking the Butt of Saddam Statue

Brit firm founder an ex-soldier who removed section of toppled Baghdad statue

Iraq Seeks Return of Saddam's Bronze Butt

British soldier's cheeky keepsake is 'cultural property,' Iraq says

Since 2001, New HIV Infections Plummeted 25%

Still, some 2.6M were infected in 2009

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