Saddam capture recalls 'Red Dawn' film

Japan Herald Sunday 14th December, 2003

The capture of Saddam Hussein near his hometown recalled the 1984 cult-favorite film Red Dawn, because of terms used, but not with the same level of violence.

Saddam was captured Saturday in operation Red Dawn involving more than 600 U.S. soldiers near Tikrit and close to two locations the military had dubbed Wolverine 1 and Wolverine 2. Saddam was reportedly hiding in a hole some 6 feet below a structure and was captured without a fight.

In the film Red Dawn, the United States has been invaded by a Soviet-Cuban-Nicaraguan group. Patrick Swayze and Charlie Sheen are among a group of young men who form a resistance group -- calling themselves the Wolverines after their high school mascot.

Unlike the operation in which Saddam was captured, however, the film Red Dawn was noted for its very bloody battle scenes.