Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

How to Deal With Irritatingly Good News
The Telegraph ^ | December 17, 2003 | Janet Daley

Posted on 12/16/2003 6:20:55 PM PST by quidnunc

I am stunned with admiration at the mental agility of the anti-war lobby. Having spent months taunting George W Bush and Tony Blair for their failure to capture Saddam Hussein, and thus accomplish one of the most fundamental aims of the "illegal war" in Iraq, it was able to recover its composure almost instantaneously when the worst happened.

Within minutes of Paul Bremer pronouncing the words "We got him" to ecstatic cheers from Iraqi journalists, there were solemn-faced experts crowding on to my television screen to proclaim that the capture was largely irrelevant, or positively counter-productive, to the present difficulties in Iraq.

The very same interviewers who had once invited their interviewees to prophesy endless anarchy as a consequence of America's inability to locate this man were now asking more or less the same people if his arrest was not pretty useless after all. Or (better yet) if it might not "inflame" the situation even further.

After a further 24 hours, the media had really got their act together. The important issue was not the triumph of having taken alive, without a twitch of resistance, one of the most infamous homicidal tyrants in modern history. No, the matter over which we were to obsess was whether and how this monster could be guaranteed his civil rights. Yesterday, I heard somebody on the Today programme say something like: "Now that the euphoria is ending about the capture of Saddam, attention is turning to the question of whether he can receive a fair trial."

Oh really? Whose attention is that exactly? Just treatment under law is not an inconsequential issue, but, under present circumstances, you will forgive me if I put the establishment of stability and justice for the people of Iraq a bit higher on my list of priorities than the problems of providing the Butcher of Baghdad with a fair trial. And, I must say, if the BBC conveyed any sense of euphoria about Saddam's capture, I must have missed it. The coverage I saw on the day went straight from disconcerted disarray to cynicism, without passing through jubilation.

So, being as resourceful as it clearly is, the anti-war (which is to say, the anti-American) party may not need any help at all. But, in the seasonal spirit of good will, I offer a guide to Guardian comment writers, BBC interviewers and Labour backbenchers on how to deal with any foreseeable circumstance that may arise from the current state of emergency.

What To Say If:

Saddam refuses to co-operate with his interrogators.

The arrest of this man is a sideshow. He clearly knows nothing about the current state of resistance and has played no role in the planning of insurgency. His trial will simply be an exercise in vengeance with no constructive outcome for Iraq.

-snip-

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iraq; iraqijustice; janetdaley; saddam; saddamfreude

1 posted on 12/16/2003 6:20:55 PM PST by quidnunc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: quidnunc
Good find! But you left out the best part. ;)

Here is the rest of the article -- BTW, we don't need to excerpt articles from The Telegraph and the way to keep it for posterity is to post them in their entirety. Too many times you go back a few months later, and the article has been taken off the server of the news site.

Anyway, here is the excellent second half of the article:



What To Say If:

Saddam refuses to co-operate with his interrogators.
The arrest of this man is a sideshow. He clearly knows nothing about the current state of resistance and has played no role in the planning of insurgency. His trial will simply be an exercise in vengeance with no constructive outcome for Iraq.

Saddam sings like a canary, identifying the perpetrators of insurgency.
Saddam is obviously being tortured by his American captors. Or else, they are lying about his testimony and justifying their own persecution of innocent Iraqis on the basis of his alleged "confession". (Note to broadcasters: these hypotheses need not be stated baldly. They can simply be hinted at or implied by leading questions and incredulous facial expressions.)

Saddam admits to having had weapons of mass destruction all along and gives a detailed account of a) where they can be found, b) how and when he destroyed them.
If a) then switch the focus immediately to the role that America (with particular reference to Donald Rumsfeld personally) played in the past in allowing Saddam to develop these arms. Avoid if possible any tactless references to the much more recent contributions of our European partners in building Saddam's armoury. If b), float the idea that Saddam is lying - simply telling his captors what it would suit their political purposes to hear, in the hopes of cutting a deal for himself.

If Saddam's trial is conducted by Iraq without outside interference.
This is nothing more than a kangaroo court: a lynch mob bent on tribal vendetta, licensed and abetted by America, which has, typically, waged an irresponsible war and then walked away, washing its hands of the consequences.

If Saddam's trial is conducted under American and British supervision.
This makes a mockery of the hope that Iraq is becoming a self-determining democracy. It is now nothing more than a neo-colonial satellite of American imperialism. The United States has, typically, set up a puppet government in Iraq in order to establish control over the region.

If Saddam's trial, by whatever agency, produces previously unknown evidence of crimes against his own people that is so horrific that it shames those who resisted his forcible removal.
No one (certainly not you) ever said they thought Saddam was a hero, or that they wanted him restored to power. They just wanted international law to be permitted to take its own good time to decide how and when he should be stopped.

If the arrest, trial and possible execution of Saddam results in a free and democratic Iraq.
This is irrelevant to the War on Terror. Iraq had no links with al-Qa'eda. Bush and Blair will never defeat terrorism until they catch Osama bin Laden.


2 posted on 12/16/2003 6:28:08 PM PST by FairOpinion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: quidnunc
It really is shocking to see just how biased and anti-American the mainstream news really is. It is really hard to get your mind around the fact that these people who owe their existence and livelihood to this great Country can so consistently, and vehemently hate it and do their best to make us look bad every day they can.
3 posted on 12/16/2003 6:35:29 PM PST by vpintheak (Our Liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion
Thanks for posting the rest of the article.

This columnist has the Left figured out. They are as predictable as the sun coming up tomorrow morning.

4 posted on 12/16/2003 6:37:40 PM PST by Gritty ("It depends on me and you, the United States will become a Muslim country"-Abdurahman Alamoudi {AMC})
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: quidnunc
Imagine the "If they find Osama" memos that are floating around DNC:

1) Is it REALLY Osama?

2) They had him all along!

3) Terrorists don't really answer to Osama, it won't make a difference.

4) This will inflame the Arab street and result in more terrorism! (Note: need strategy session to ensure 3 and 4 aren't too contradictory)

5) Osama never really admitted he pulled off 9/11.

6) Obviously merely a "bogey man" to take our attention from Halliburton.

7) We must turn him over the UN immediately.

8) We never should have been in Afghanistan in the first place

9) But since we were, why'd it take so LONG?

10) They'll never get any information out of him

11) He never said that!

12) They tortured him.

5 posted on 12/16/2003 7:00:51 PM PST by wizardoz ("Let's roll!" ........................................................ "We got him!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: quidnunc
Good post. I have been thinking about this a lot lately as I listen to Democrat radio when I go to sleep here in the Bay Area at night. If Art Bell is talking about ghosts, shadow people, rods, and orbs, I am forced to listen to Berny and some even bigger whacko when he leaves the air. These guys are so ridiculous, I actually enjoy listening to them. It is so comical how no matter what Bush does or what happens in the news, it is wrong, and of course it doesn't matter what they were saying two days ago.
6 posted on 12/16/2003 7:07:39 PM PST by sixmil
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

To: quidnunc
Very well said.
8 posted on 12/16/2003 7:15:06 PM PST by OldFriend ( BLESS OUR PRESIDENT)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wizardoz
Oh boo hoo......now Osama won't be able to keep building those schools and nurseries........Osama Mama will be soo sad.
9 posted on 12/16/2003 7:16:11 PM PST by OldFriend ( BLESS OUR PRESIDENT)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: quidnunc
Great post. The liberals are at their wits end trying to bash Bush and now be Saddam's lawyer.
10 posted on 12/16/2003 7:34:52 PM PST by elhombrelibre (Liberalism corrupts. Absolute Liberalism corrupts absolutely.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: quidnunc
bump
11 posted on 12/16/2003 7:48:42 PM PST by Chi-townChief
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wizardoz
V

Bttt.

5.56mm

12 posted on 12/16/2003 7:57:27 PM PST by M Kehoe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: quidnunc
This is irrelevant to the War on Terror. Iraq had no links with al-Qa'eda. Bush and Blair will never defeat terrorism until they catch Osama bin Laden.

And when they do catch Osama, rinse and repeat the Saddam talking points.

Great article.

13 posted on 12/17/2003 6:30:48 AM PST by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: quidnunc
Takes a good Brit to put 'em in their place now and again. LOL. I love how he calls them the "anti-american" party. I bet that has the democrat mams in a right twist at the moment. Shall we now hear the caterwalling of little Daschle presuming to defend his patriotism with words while he betrays himself in action a bit further. Listen to my words as it were. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.. or on the box..
14 posted on 12/17/2003 7:04:36 AM PST by Havoc (If you can't be frank all the time are you lying the rest of the time?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: quidnunc
The best part, it's soooooo dead on:

What To Say If:

Saddam refuses to co-operate with his interrogators.
The arrest of this man is a sideshow. He clearly knows nothing about the current state of resistance and has played no role in the planning of insurgency. His trial will simply be an exercise in vengeance with no constructive outcome for Iraq.

Saddam sings like a canary, identifying the perpetrators of insurgency.
Saddam is obviously being tortured by his American captors. Or else, they are lying about his testimony and justifying their own persecution of innocent Iraqis on the basis of his alleged "confession". (Note to broadcasters: these hypotheses need not be stated baldly. They can simply be hinted at or implied by leading questions and incredulous facial expressions.)

Saddam admits to having had weapons of mass destruction all along and gives a detailed account of a) where they can be found, b) how and when he destroyed them.
If a) then switch the focus immediately to the role that America (with particular reference to Donald Rumsfeld personally) played in the past in allowing Saddam to develop these arms. Avoid if possible any tactless references to the much more recent contributions of our European partners in building Saddam's armoury. If b), float the idea that Saddam is lying - simply telling his captors what it would suit their political purposes to hear, in the hopes of cutting a deal for himself.

If Saddam's trial is conducted by Iraq without outside interference.
This is nothing more than a kangaroo court: a lynch mob bent on tribal vendetta, licensed and abetted by America, which has, typically, waged an irresponsible war and then walked away, washing its hands of the consequences.

If Saddam's trial is conducted under American and British supervision.
This makes a mockery of the hope that Iraq is becoming a self-determining democracy. It is now nothing more than a neo-colonial satellite of American imperialism. The United States has, typically, set up a puppet government in Iraq in order to establish control over the region.

If Saddam's trial, by whatever agency, produces previously unknown evidence of crimes against his own people that is so horrific that it shames those who resisted his forcible removal.
No one (certainly not you) ever said they thought Saddam was a hero, or that they wanted him restored to power. They just wanted international law to be permitted to take its own good time to decide how and when he should be stopped.

If the arrest, trial and possible execution of Saddam results in a free and democratic Iraq.
This is irrelevant to the War on Terror. Iraq had no links with al-Qa'eda. Bush and Blair will never defeat terrorism until they catch Osama bin Laden. Saddam sings like a canary, identifying the perpetrators of insurgency. Saddam is obviously being tortured by his American captors. Or else, they are lying about his testimony and justifying their own persecution of innocent Iraqis on the basis of his alleged "confession". (Note to broadcasters: these hypotheses need not be stated baldly. They can simply be hinted at or implied by leading questions and incredulous facial expressions.) Saddam admits to having had weapons of mass destruction all along and gives a detailed account of a) where they can be found, b) how and when he destroyed them. If a) then switch the focus immediately to the role that America (with particular reference to Donald Rumsfeld personally) played in the past in allowing Saddam to develop these arms. Avoid if possible any tactless references to the much more recent contributions of our European partners in building Saddam's armoury. If b), float the idea that Saddam is lying - simply telling his captors what it would suit their political purposes to hear, in the hopes of cutting a deal for himself. If Saddam's trial is conducted by Iraq without outside interference. This is nothing more than a kangaroo court: a lynch mob bent on tribal vendetta, licensed and abetted by America, which has, typically, waged an irresponsible war and then walked away, washing its hands of the consequences. If Saddam's trial is conducted under American and British supervision. This makes a mockery of the hope that Iraq is becoming a self-determining democracy. It is now nothing more than a neo-colonial satellite of American imperialism. The United States has, typically, set up a puppet government in Iraq in order to establish control over the region. If Saddam's trial, by whatever agency, produces previously unknown evidence of crimes against his own people that is so horrific that it shames those who resisted his forcible removal. No one (certainly not you) ever said they thought Saddam was a hero, or that they wanted him restored to power. They just wanted international law to be permitted to take its own good time to decide how and when he should be stopped. If the arrest, trial and possible execution of Saddam results in a free and democratic Iraq. This is irrelevant to the War on Terror. Iraq had no links with al-Qa'eda. Bush and Blair will never defeat terrorism until they catch Osama bin Laden.

15 posted on 12/17/2003 10:10:25 AM PST by finnman69 (cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestus globus, inflammare animos)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wizardoz
You left out Number 13:

"We got him, the war is over, time to move on and elect a Democrat to address the serious domestic issues Bush has neglected."
16 posted on 12/17/2003 3:23:57 PM PST by Argus ((Ninety-nine and forty-four one-hundredths percent Pure Reactionary))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion
BTTT
17 posted on 12/17/2003 5:34:37 PM PST by StriperSniper (Sending the Ba'thist to the showers! ;-)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson