<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">THIS appears to be the moment Saddam Hussein was dragged from his hole and exposed to the world – but it is a snapshot the US military did not want the world to see.


The photograph, apparently taken in the seconds after Saddam's capture near Tikrit last month, appeared for the first time yesterday on a military-related website.

The image shows a US soldier posing for the camera as he pins the bearded dictator's body and face to the dirt.


A clearly-distressed Saddam lies on his stomach as members of the US 4th Infantry Division surround him.


US military officials refused to confirm if the photograph was genuine.


The photo was published on the US website Military.com after it was supplied to one of the site's contributors, former journalist John Weisman.


"This photograph of Saddam Hussein in the moment of his capture was e-mailed to me by a friend in special forces who was damn proud of what his former colleagues in Iraq had accomplished when they pulled the dictator out of his hole," Mr Weisman said. "I thought the photo deserved wide dissemination."


Mr Weisman said he had refused military requests to remove the photograph from the site. The officials had claimed it was a security risk.


"While the soldiers in the field may have loved the idea of showing Saddam au naturel, not everyone felt that way," Mr Weisman wrote on the website.


"In fact, Military.com received a call from an official asking them to remove the photo for national security reasons.


"To me, this official was being myopic and his perception has not been echoed by the guys in the trenches, who obviously know a great picture when they see one.


"I'd like to see this photograph posted in every public building in the US so Americans can be reminded to thank the American soldiers who put their lives on the line every day to keep this nation safe and free."


Military.com spokesperson Anne Dwane insisted the picture was genuine.


"Much of our material comes in anonymously and, given our military membership, we have no reason to doubt it,' Ms Dwane said. "It certainly looks like Saddam."


If the authenticity of the picture is proved, it would have been taken by a member of the 600-strong force that captured Saddam at a farmhouse near Tikrit.


Although official army photographers were on hand to record the moment, the picture may have been snapped by a soldier, many of whom were known to carry small cameras while on patrol.</font>

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">The image shows a US soldier posing for the camera as he pins the bearded dictator's body and face to the dirt.</font>

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Correction:
I heard he actually spit on one of the soldiers bringing him out, and the soldier promptly turned and nailed him with the butt of his rifle. Don't know how true that is, though.

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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Dylan:
Remember when the film of Saddam being examined after capture was all over the news, and some people complained the US was violating the Geneva convention by making him a public spectacle?</font>

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Nytro:
I think in this case its way better for us to release footage of him or no one would believe that we had him. Seriously:

US:We got Saddam but we aren't going to show you any pictures.. Um.. because.. of.. Oh yeah! The Geneva convention!

Rest of the world: What the heck?</font>

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Also, I see nothing wrong with footage of prisoner being shown to report the facts.</font>

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">With all these people crying about the Geneva Convention: where were these people when our forces were publicly humiliated and tortured in Vietnam and Korea, ever heard of the Hanoi Hilton? What about Somalia, where US Soldiers' bodies were dragged through the streets?</font>

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Arrg. That's what keeps angering me. I'm almost sure it's in clear violation of the Geneva Convention, the whole showing prisoners of war bit. But does anyone care? Noooooo.</font>

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by happydud:
The white splotches could bee dirt and dust or something.

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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Ictus:
Looks real. Is that blood in his mouth?

Wookie: Filmed beheading of American soldiers. Might want to prove it, since I can't find a single reference to any such event. Anywhere.</font>

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Ictus:
Looks real. Is that blood in his mouth?

Wookie: Filmed beheading of American soldiers. Might want to prove it, since I can't find a single reference to any such event. Anywhere.</font>

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by MBeggar:
No, we have him. I know for a fact that we do.

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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by clan ruthervain:
you captured an old man with a pistol.
The US army ROCKS!!!!</font>