Posted on 07/01/2004 8:37:20 AM PDT by 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
BUMP
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.
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.
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. :)
There are plenty here who want Clinton back, too.
geeesh!
He and his advisors, decided that what they did, was in the best interest of Iraq...who can fault a leader for that?
"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.
Can I be on the Jury? PLEASE!
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
That says it all.
Yeah, my thoughts also.
She gets my vote for "Miss Compassion 2004".
...and they're called the lunatic fringe.
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.
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.
Would you believe, it has a rating of 3.57!!!
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.
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.
FRY HIS ASS!
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