Alt tag: The stage is all set for a face off between George Bush and Saddam Hussein 'It is now Bush versus Saddam' Washington: It's now Saddam versus Bush and the Iraqi President would be the prime target of the American forces, as the war planners believe the sooner he is eliminated, the earlier war can end.

The war being personalized, it is President George W Bush versus Saddam, with this difference: The majority of the American people support war, though the majority of the people in other countries, including major ally Britain don't, according to a report in 'The Washington Times' daily on March 19.

The US believes that when its troops go into Baghdad, they will be hailed as liberators who will install Democracy, free speech, an independent judiciary and other blessings of Democracy for the first time in the Arab world, it said.

Saddam Hussein will move to underground Baghdad, once any bombing starts, "beginning a manhunt that could end with one precision-guided munition or the betrayal of his palace guard", it said quoting American official, who wished to remain anonymous. "I think he has probably already gone underground," he said.

A number of suspected Saddam hiding places are on the list of allied targets, the paper said.

"I think we have a reasonable chance to put a bomb where he is and kill him or at least one of his clones," the official said. Saddam, he said, is known to use look- alikes.

As war begins, the paper said, US would focus satellites, eaves-dropping posts and human spies on finding Saddam, the leader of the ruling Ba'ath Party. He said Saddam uses a network of tunnels and bunkers to make his escapes.

In the 1991 Gulf war, he moved daily, staying hours ahead of allied air strikes. However, US war planners in this war will make it more difficult for Saddam on the run.

PTI