Saddam in custody: What next?

Its now apparently official, Saddam Hussein, 66, is in custody of US forces since last night. Evidence of people rejoycing in the streets are being highlighted by the media, and its obvious that the Iraqi population has a lot of reasons to be relieved.

In the US, these news may turn out to have catastrophic consequences, since it could guarantee Georges W Bush’s reelection as "the guy who got Saddam".

But will this arrest improve the current situation in Iraq? This public arrest might turn out to be a political mistake for the US occupation. Up till now the US could reduce the Iraqi resistance groups to a bunch of Saddam loyalists, but how will they dismiss the "insurgents" now that the leader is a prisoner of war and his helpless face shown all over the world? Inevitably by directly associating fighting groups in Iraq with international terrorism.

Saddam was described as talkative and cooperative, and the photos exhibited of him show a tired by seemingly calm man. Was he relieved? Or does the guy understand better than us the poisonous gift his arrest represents for Iraq and the US?