Saddam Hussein suddenly put his military on alert in mid-September, sending troops scattering from their bases as if they expected a massive US air strike. The episode produced near panic in US and British intelligence, which could think of no reason why Iraq would conduct such extensive military movements (and still doesn't know why it did). The CIA is reportedly now convinced that Saddam does not have terminal cancer as an analysis of photos from his public appearance show no signs of serious illness.--Stephen V Cole