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Some Iraqis Want Saddam Freed, Back as President
Reuters ^ | 7/1/04 | Lin Noueihed

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: amazing; fools; fryhisass; iraq; iraqijustice; saddam; saddamites
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To: TexKat

I wouldn't be surprised if a rather large percentage of Iraqis felt this way. The culture of the mideast is rooted in an abject hatred of Israel and the USA, a hatred far more important to them than any dislike or even fear of someone like Saddam.

MM


61 posted on 07/01/2004 9:14:47 AM PDT by MississippiMan
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To: TexKat
We should buy a small country for all those who want Saddam as their leader, plus all America haters.


BUMP

62 posted on 07/01/2004 9:16:36 AM PDT by tm22721 (May the UN rest in peace)
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To: TexKat
"All those people in mass graves were just rabble who deserved everything they got."

What do you expect to hear when you go around interviewing Sunnis? Killing and suppressing the majority ethnic blocs allowed the Sunnis to stay on top for decades. Having your enemies crushed and tortured daily must be more cathartic than having to debate and compete against them in the realm of ideas.

"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.

Yes, I'm sure you're just sitting at home watching TV, and minding your own business.

So many of the Iraqi insurgets are what we called 'FRE's, or Former Regime Elements, in retrospect I think it was a bad idea to not have policed all these guys up as soon as we took over. The FREs had the insurgency all planned out, and are always key players in the facilitating of attacks, support, and communications. The FFs - Foriegn Fighters - often come in and bulk up the manpower, but for actual organization, FREs have been running the show.

AND

These guys are on TV all the time, because they know our ROE, and they know that we're too soft to do anything to them. I'm sure they make a bee line to every media crew that comes by. I'm also sure Reuters checks for ID, Baath Party ID, before they put anyone on air.

63 posted on 07/01/2004 9:16:38 AM PDT by Steel Wolf (Iran almost has nuclear weapons. They will get them unless we stop them.)
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To: reagan_fanatic

I had a neighbor who immigrated from Germany after the war. Whenever the subject of Hitler came up, he was very defensive and talked about how Germans could safely walk the streets at night after Hitler came to power.

"Under Saddam, I used to work in the government. Now I am sitting at home," said Abdallah.

Some things never change. How easy it must be to turn a blind eye to evil.


64 posted on 07/01/2004 9:20:43 AM PDT by B.Bumbleberry
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To: TexKat

I think they ought to put Saddam's name on the ballot! It would be the easiest way to disenfranchise his supporters.

Note: I am NOT suggesting that the votes for Saddam be counted. :)


65 posted on 07/01/2004 9:26:38 AM PDT by the_Watchman
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To: TexKat

There are plenty here who want Clinton back, too.


66 posted on 07/01/2004 9:33:50 AM PDT by Gorzaloon (Kerry, who refuses to go to work, "Knows how to put America back to work"!)
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To: KB4W

geeesh!


67 posted on 07/01/2004 9:43:52 AM PDT by arbee4bush ( I expressed myself forcefully and felt better after I did it-VP Cheney)
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To: TexKat

He and his advisors, decided that what they did, was in the best interest of Iraq...who can fault a leader for that?


68 posted on 07/01/2004 9:53:46 AM PDT by stuartcr
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To: TexKat

"All those people in mass graves were just rabble who deserved everything they got."

I've heard this before, where was it? Oh yes, now I recall, it is almost the exact wording used by German villagers living outside the concentration camps.

Saddam is just like any other member of the "Cult of Personality" and just like Stalin, he will always have those who blindly support him.


69 posted on 07/01/2004 9:55:02 AM PDT by brothers4thID (We are going to take from you to provide for the common good)
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Comment #70 Removed by Moderator

To: Joseph_CutlerUSA

Can I be on the Jury? PLEASE!


71 posted on 07/01/2004 10:48:57 AM PDT by crusty codger (Arrogance often covers a minimum of intelligence)
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Iraq's deposed dictator Saddam Hussein appears before an Iraqi tribunal in Baghdad, July 1, 2004. Hussein appeared before an Iraqi judge on Thursday, questioning his authority and saying the 'real criminal' was U.S. President George W. Bush. Saddam, taken to the U.S.-guarded courtroom in handcuffs and chains, was read seven charges that may lead to formal indictment for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. REUTERS/Handout

72 posted on 07/01/2004 10:52:52 AM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)
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To: Rokke
"All those people in mass graves were just rabble who deserved everything they got."

That says it all.

Yeah, my thoughts also.
She gets my vote for "Miss Compassion 2004".

73 posted on 07/01/2004 10:54:41 AM PDT by Oatka
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To: TexKat

...and they're called the lunatic fringe.


74 posted on 07/01/2004 10:55:32 AM PDT by Destructor
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To: OpusatFR
You just have to wonder about the Arabic mindset.

I don't have to wonder about it. I've long ago concluded and am most grateful that I was blessed not to have that type of mindset or is it mindless set.

75 posted on 07/01/2004 10:56:03 AM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)
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To: OpusatFR
You just have to wonder about the Arabic mindset.

I don't have to wonder about it. I've long ago concluded and am most grateful that I was blessed not to have that type of mindset or is it mindless set.

76 posted on 07/01/2004 10:56:07 AM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)
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To: TexKat
You can give this article a 1-5 rating, 1 the lowest here (bottom of page).

Would you believe, it has a rating of 3.57!!!

77 posted on 07/01/2004 11:02:08 AM PDT by Oatka
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To: TexKat

These are ex-Baathists, people from the Sunni Arab minority favored under his rule who see it as a time of Iraqi greatness and Arab nostalgia. The majority of Iraq's population repressed by the dictator sees it very differently. Of course, there is no chance he will be freed and reinstated as its president.


78 posted on 07/01/2004 11:03:57 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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Victims of the regime of ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein demonstrate in support of Iraq's caretaker government outside the so-called 'Green Zone,' the headquarters of the new Iraqi government and several foreign embassies.(AFP/Saeed Khan)

Iraqis unsure whether new government wants justice or revenge

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Saddam Hussein was hauled in front of an Iraqi court just three days after the end of the US-led occupation, but Iraqis were split over whether the aim was a fair trial or revenge.

The first major move of the interim government, which was handed power on Monday, was to launch judicial proceedings against the former dictator and 11 of his chief lieutenants.

"It was necessary not only because we had to turn the page on the old regime as soon as possible but also to cut the ground beneath the feet of supporters who are still active in the country," said political commentator Faik Ikabi.

Saddam appeared to justify this fear by rejecting the court's jurisdiction and refusing to sign a document acknowledging he had understood his rights.

"Bush is a villain, all of this is theatre. It is for his re-election," he said, referring to US President George W. Bush whose forces led the invasion of Iraq last year.

He also defended his 1990 invasion of Kuwait, one of seven preliminary charges which were read out on Thursday.

"Kuwait is an Iraqi territory. It was not an invasion," he thundered.

In a rapid turn of events, Saddam went from being a US captive to Iraqi legal custody on Wednesday, heard his arrest warrant the same day and found himself in front of the Iraqi Special Tribunal on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the new government announced it would re-instate the death penalty and made several statements that it was ready to use it.

But not all Iraqis agree with the interim government's priorities.

"Putting Saddam Hussein behind bars will not lead the people from the prison of occupation," said one Iraqi nostalgic for the old regime.

He said he would have liked to see the interim government concentrate on "the urgent problems of insecurity, unemployment and to demand the departure of foreign troops".

"We would have preferred a national reconciliation congress instead of measures that will divide us further," said another Iraqi who occupied positions of responsibility under the old regime.

The unease of many Iraqis is fed by the fact the country's new masters, sponsored by the occupying forces, were opponents of Saddam who fought the regime from the abroad.

But the start of the trial proceedings were not marked by any large-scale demonstrations either for or against the former dictator.

Even the Sunni Muslim areas which supported Saddam no longer dispute that human rights violations took place under his rule.

However, neither did the majority Shiite Muslims, who suffered the most repression under Saddam, hold any rallies despite making several earlier statements calling for the death penalty to be imposed against him.

Although Saddam and his 11 colleagues were quickly brought before the judge, the entire legal process will take months if not years.

Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has urged people to be patient.

"We will likely not see the trial of Saddam ... for some months. I urge the Iraqi people to be patient," he said.

Deputy Foreign Minister Hamid al-Bayati was hopeful the trial would help calm the insurgency which has killed hundreds of people this month.

"I think this trial will slow down the attacks and the insurgency because Saddam loyalists will lose hope. They were hoping until now that Saddam might come back," he said.

79 posted on 07/01/2004 12:23:04 PM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)
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To: TexKat

FRY HIS ASS!


80 posted on 07/02/2004 12:55:08 AM PDT by SF South Park Republican
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