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Source: http://nytimes.com/2003/03/21/international/worldspecial/21INTE.html
A Surprise Start to the War
(New York Times) - Elisabeth Bumiller and David Johnston Intelligence officials had long been frustrated in their attempts to track Saddam Hussein's erratic movements. Then, on Wednesday, according to senior government officials, Iraqi informants produced a lead. Administration officials said Thursday they had been relying on intelligence from Iraqis who had not spoken to them in the past. "People are talking to us now and telling us things now that they would never have dreamed of telling us," one senior official said. "People are sticking their necks out in all kinds of ways in Iraq that they never would do before." Administration officials said that even though they were unsure if they had killed Mr. Hussein, they were sure they had hit a bunker of top Iraqi officials. "It seems to me that if you think you can get the top leadership, and it doesn't happen to fit your plan, it would be irresponsible not to take the chance," one senior official said. "Wouldn't you have backed an effort to get Hitler in 1939?"