And for those lurkers looking for reasons to lambaste and despise us as we seem to celebrate the death of this despot allow me a little story:
1996 - Mid Winter - Dubai, UAE
I was on liberty and decided to seek out some of the local fare - Dubai like any significant city has a significant tourist trade, and I liked to get off the beaten path. I stopped in to a local shop - pastries, breads, coffee, and meats were on display behind the counter. I met the shop owner and he asked in broken English if I was an American. Affirming my nationality, but now somewhat cautious, I was pleasantly surprised when he then asked if I would mind speaking with his children a moment to let them practice their language skills. Of course, I obliged. After about an hour and a free refill (or two) of some of the finest coffee it has been my pleasure to enjoy the children were summoned to the back by their mother. Dinner time it seems is a somewhat universal obligation for 10 year olds.
As I thanked the man and turned to leave he asked about Saddam. I told him that at this particular time we were not actively engaged in conflict. "What are you doing about him?" he asked further. In a failed effort at diplomacy I said that it was our hope to contain his aggression and to support a more peaceful region.
He then looked me in the eye, and it is a look I will never forget. The words that followed were his best English of the evening - "I hope you kill him, you must, no one else will, so it is up to you, the Americans."
I must have looked as shocked as I felt, because he did not hesitate to explain further. Rolling up a sleeve he showed me scars - burn marks, cuts, and other assorted marks from his elbow to his shoulder. He pointed to another man who had sat silently in the corner the entire evening, smoking and drinking coffee, somber and serious. He introduced his brother - his brother it seems was not so lucky - he held up his left arm - and for the first time I noticed he lacked a hand. All the work of one Saddam Hussein.
He went into what further details he could muster - a missing sister-in-law, a boat ride worthy of our free Cuban friends, a fresh start, hard work, and finally - his own business on a little side street in a foreign land.
I regret that I have forgotten his name, but I hope that he is still alive, and that he is awake - watching Dubai TV, and that he will lift a cup of that fine fine coffee with me as we toast Good Riddance to a devil and proclaim an earnest 'May God Be With You' to all those who seek freedom and opportunity.
My 2 cents...
Question is, will Satan stay with Chris? Will he succumb to Saddam's charms? Stay tuned.....
Of all ironies,
For those with satelite TV and a screen capture.
The show that is supposed to play now is entitled "Happiness"
So when you hit the info button, it shows happiness over the crawls.
Thank you so much for posting your #4,000 here tonight. Of all nights. It's so appropriate.
And no matter what the media and Democrats say, I'll go to my grave proud of my stepson and all our military who risked their lives to save a nation and free them from this genocidal murderer.
Arturo Fuente Opus X..lit
Absolut Raspberri vodka..poured..
Saddam..smoking a turd in hell.
Thank you for sharing that. Somewhere, some coffee shop keeper is feeling jubilation.
Your post certainly made this thread.
That's better than two cents. Ditto to that toast.
Saddam was executed on the day my wife retired.
She is looking forward to the next phase, he looks no more.
Saddam was executed on the day my wife retired.
She is looking forward to the next phase, he looks no more.
Your post says it all.
The world is a better place tonight because Saddam is dead. He can never harm another innocent human being.
BUMP!
BUMP!
Great post. Thanks.
Thank you. People like you make FR the outstanding place that it is.
WOW....what a story!!!
Thanks for adding your story to this thread. I tried to respond last night and got a screen that said "this thread is locked". Perhaps so many people were trying to comment in the moments immediately after the news at 10pm, that it was temporarily suspended.