Posted on 04/28/2008 2:14:07 PM PDT by forkinsocket
AWJA, Iraq (Reuters) - Hundreds of Iraqi schoolchildren were brought to the modest mausoleum of Saddam Hussein on Monday to celebrate the birthday of the executed dictator in the village where he was born.
Saddam, who was hanged in late 2006 for crimes against humanity, is hated in much of Iraq. But in parts of his native Salahuddin Province, especially among his fellow Sunni Arabs, he is still revered.
"Bush, Bush you low-life! Saddam's blood is not cheap!" a crowd of pupils in white uniforms from a nearby girls' school chanted while standing around Saddam's grave in the mausoleum where he is buried among displays and photos of his reign.
"There are two things we will never give up: Saddam and Iraq!" the girls chanted. Several of them wept.
They entered the building carrying a banner which read: "We will not forget you, Papa Saddam," and kissed the dictator's grave.
"There is no martyr like Saddam. We are here to celebrate his birthday. Happy birthday, and God willing he will go to paradise," a girl named Tiba, 11, told Reuters.
Faten Abdel Qader, one of the organizers, said Saddam's legacy was the memory of a time of peace.
"The children who lived during the age of this man had security. They didn't know anything about murder, violence or sectarianism," she said. "An Iraqi woman could hold her head high."
Saddam, who was born in Awja on April 28, 1937, was executed for his role in the deaths of Shi'ite villagers slain after an assassination attempt on him.
At the time of his execution he was also standing trial for genocide for the killing of hundreds of thousands of Kurds.
Iraq's government says he was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of others buried in mass graves during decades of oppression.
His supporters say his harsh rule prevented the sectarian killing that has been rampant since he was ousted in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Wow ... who knew Code Pink had a youth chapter in Iraq.
Either Code Pink, the NEA or the Young Democrats.
Reverend Jeremiah Wright, presiding. LOL
“While we don’t agree with everything he did, we can’t disown him any more than we could disown our own grandmothers.” /sarc
Nancy Pelosi sent a birthday card.
And leave it to Reuters to root them out and write a story about them, complete with the text of the anti-Bush slogans they chanted.
And I’m sure the protestations were spontaneous, and the children were NOT coached.....
Fortunately, because of Bush, they won't have to find out the hard way.
After seeing the headline, my guess was Wellesley College.
Precisely what I thought. You can practically see the anti-U.S. scumbags cheering them on as they come out of the nearest mosque, freshly invigorated to go kill some Americans.
Because they weren't Kurdish children.
This is why the remains of people like Saddam need to be cremated and scattered.
How stupid are we?!? What bonehead thought letting Saddam rest in a mausoleum was a good idea?
But let them cry. The Hussein's are still taking dirt naps and the world is a better place.
excuse me while I wipe a tear from my eyes.(not)
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