An iconic photo from December 13th, 2003, shows Iraqi-American soldier Samir pinning Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to the ground. The photo was taken after Hussein was found hiding in a small underground hole near his hometown of Tikrit. The capture of Hussein was a significant moment in the Iraq War, as he was one of the most wanted men in the world at the time.
According to a article by HISTORY, the capture of Hussein was the result of months of meticulous intelligence gathering and canny questioning. Eric Maddox, the Army interrogator connected to the Delta force pursuing Hussein, played a pivotal role in the operation—considered the biggest triumph of the Iraq War—with no trigger pulling, no drone strikes, no enhanced interrogation methods. His secret weapon for helping pinpoint Hussein’s exact location was much sneakier: He used empathy.
The photo of Samir pinning Hussein to the ground is a powerful image that has come to symbolize the end of an era in Iraq. It is a testament to the bravery and dedication of the soldiers who risked their lives to bring Hussein to justice.
