Posted on 07/01/2004 8:37:20 AM PDT by TexKat
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Saddam Hussein stands accused of gassing Iraq's Kurds, crushing its Shi'ites and condemning thousands to death in his dreaded torture chambers, but some Iraqis still want him back as president.
"I don't know why they are trying Saddam. He is guilty of nothing," said Ahmed Abdallah, a student from Baghdad's Sunni Muslim Adhamiya district, once favored by Saddam.
"If it were up to me, I would bring him back as president today, not tomorrow."
Downcast but defiant, a thinner Saddam arrived at a courthouse in handcuffs and chains on Thursday to hear the charges against him.
The images, the first since U.S. forces found him hiding in a hole near his home town of Tikrit in December, stung the pride of some Iraqis who saw his public disgrace as a slap in the face for all Arabs.
"He was a president, an Arab leader. I feel all Arabs are humiliated when I see him as a prisoner like this, no matter what he did," said Faleh Jasem, a driver who was watching the first footage of Saddam facing an Iraqi judge.
"I would feel so hurt if they executed him, because he took a heroic position. He stood up to America and that makes him a real man in my eyes."
"HE WILL ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS"
Many Iraqis want Saddam to be executed, some say they would rather he suffer a more protracted punishment for 35 years of Baathist brutality that saw Sunni Muslim Arabs favored at the expense of the Shi'ite majority and the minority Kurds.
Iraq's interim government is considering restoring the death penalty, suspended during the U.S.-led occupation, but those who benefited from his rule hailed him as a strongman who only crushed bad apples.
"Saddam was our president and we were happy with him so who are these infidels to take him away?" said Hana Majid, whose eldest son lost his job as a senior officer when the United States dissolved the army after last year's war.
"All those people in mass graves were just rabble who deserved everything they got."
In the first step toward a trial that may not start for months, Saddam was accused of suppressing Kurdish and Shi'ite revolts after the 1991 Gulf War, massacring Kurds, killing religious leaders and political figures over three decades.
"The Americans are punishing Saddam for standing up to them," said Mohammed al-Sammaraei, who runs a music shop in Adhamiya, where pictures of the former ruler still take pride of place in some living rooms.
"Under Saddam, I used to work in the government. Now I am sitting at home," said Abdallah, another Adhimiya resident who declined to give his full name.
"Saddam was a part of us for 35 years. He will always be in our hearts," he said touching his chest.
Hitler had his supporters too.
I was wondering when Reuters would start running pro saddam pieces.
There are people in Russia who worship Lenin and Stalin, stories like thsi is nothing new.
Oh, SHUT UP REUTERS
Leave it to Reuters. We are witnessing an incredibly wonderful and hopeful time in history. And what does the Press choose to report? This crap.
That says it all.
This is a distant relative to John Kerry, Hillary Clintax, and Al Bore
sure. and I bet they're both Democrats too!
Didn't take Reuters long did it? What a worthless news outlet!
Reuters is lower than snail sh5T.
"Some Iraqis Want Saddam Freed, Back as President"
Some Americans want Hitlary as President.
I guess that explains why so many still like Klinton - the insanity gene is alive and well.
Saddam's Backers Back Saddam. Film at 11.
"All those people in mass graves were just rabble who deserved everything they got."
And I'm sure they still voted for Saddams return! LOL
There are still Democrats in the USA that worship Uncle Joe Stalin!
Oh, Shut the F*** up Reuters.
MSNBC ran this as well. Showing people on the street in Iraq calling our President the criminal and that Saddam should not be incarcerated.
I switched back to Fox.
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