Scrapbook: Bring back Saddam

The Australian, Australia's prodest daily newspaper ^ | 08 April 2004 | HealingIraq, a pro-US Iraqi blogger

[Asclepius]

A pro-US liberal Iraqi blogger, HealingIraq, longs for the days of the dictator.

A COUP d'etat is taking place in Iraq. Al-Shula, Al-Hurria, Thawra (Sadr City) and Kadhimiya (all Shi'ite neighbourhoods in Baghdad) have been declared liberated from occupation. Looting has started at some places downtown. News from other cities in the south indicates that [Shi'ite radical Moqtada al-Sadr's] followers have taken over [police] stations and [government] buildings in Kufa, Nasiriyah, Ammara, Kut and Basra.

No one knows what is happening in the capital right now. Power has been cut off in my neighbourhood since the afternoon, and I can only hear helicopters, massive explosions and continuous shooting nearby. The streets are empty, someone told us a half-hour ago that al-Mahdi [al-Sadr's militia] are trying to take over our neighbourhood and are being met by resistance from Sunni hardliners. Doors are locked and AK47s are being loaded and put close by in case they are needed. The phone keeps ringing. Baghdadis are horrified and everyone seems to have made up their mind to stay home tomorrow until the situation is clear.

I have to admit that until now I have never longed for the days of Saddam, but now I'm not so sure. If we need a person like Saddam to keep those rabid dogs [Shi'ite militias] at bay, then so be it. Put Saddam back in power and after he fills a couple of hundred more mass graves with those criminals they can start wailing and crying again for liberation.

What a laugh we will have then. Then they can shove their filthy Hawza [al-Hawza newspaper] and marji'iya [religious authority] up somewhere else. I am so disappointed in Iraqis and I hate myself for thinking this way. We are not worth your [America's] trouble. Take back your billions of dollars and give us Saddam again. We truly "deserve" leaders like Saddam.

[Asclepius]

What these people "deserve" is freedom. What they are "worth" is any sacrifice.

We cannot allow ourselves to fail.

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[Gerasimov]

We are not worth your [America's] trouble.

I disagree, my Iraqi friend. Most of you are worth the trouble of saving. The rest, it is well worth our trouble to kill.

[glorgau]

What they are "worth" is any sacrifice.

Yeah, but they should be kicking in a little more on the sacrificing part.

[68skylark]

I am so disappointed in Iraqis and I hate myself for thinking this way. We are not worth your [America's] trouble.

When I saw the headline, I didn't expect to read this. It's hard to know what to say in reply.

All people have value, including Iraqis like this writer who want to live a decent life in freedom and peace. I hope that when the crisis passes and emotions can cool, the writer will feel better about his country.

[68skylark]

Yeah, but they should be kicking in a little more on the sacrificing part.

Yeah, that's a good point.

I don't know if there's an Iraqi George Washington, or an Iraqi John Adams, or an Iraqi Thomas Paine, etc. If there are any such people, this would be a good time for them to stand up.

[dead]

Hey HealingIraq, get off your computer, pick up a gun, and start taking charge of your life.

[eyespysomething]

I don't know if there's an Iraqi George Washington, or an Iraqi John Adams, or an Iraqi Thomas Paine, etc. If there are any such people, this would be a good time for them to stand up.

BUMP

[xusafflyer]

That probably would be a bad idea. Marines have enough trouble and a friendly with a rifle can't always be identified as such.

I would tell him to keep low, listen to the Marines, and pray for God's help.

[68skylark]

Here's a little flashback from a dark period in history. Maybe it has a message for good people in Iraq.

"THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated."

Thomas Paine, "The Crisis," December 23, 1776.

http://www.ushistory.org/paine/crisis/c-01.htm

[dennisw]

Saddam Hussein knew how to make the torture chambers and plastic shredders arrive on time.

[dennisw]

Saddam knew how to supply a bloody drama for the bloody minded Iraqis. The USA is too nice and humanitarian. The Iraqis cannot handle this as a people. They need more infighting, tribalism and spilling of blood for their national drama.

[boothead]

The Australian, Australia's prodest daily newspaper

What's a "prodest"??

[Asclepius]

What's a "prodest"??

It's a typo. I meant to type "proudest".

[GraniteStateConservative]

I don't know if there's an Iraqi George Washington, or an Iraqi John Adams, or an Iraqi Thomas Paine, etc. If there are any such people, this would be a good time for them to stand up.

I'd bet they'd be Kurdish if they exist at all.