Saddam's moment of truth

Sunday Times ^ | June 23 2002

[knighthawk]

BAGHDAD: Iraq will hold a popular referendum on October 15 to decide whether to renew President Saddam Hussein's mandate for a further seven years, an official newspaper reported.

"The previous referendum on October 15, 1995, and the upcoming referendum on October 15, 2002, show the close relationship between the faithful Iraqi people and the great leader Saddam Hussein," Al-Qadissiya said. "What was achieved in the previous referendum and what will be achieved in the upcoming one will signal the failure of the aggressive and terrorist policy of the US administration," the paper said.

The United States has repeatedly threatened to take military action against Iraq, including toppling Saddam's regime, for allegedly developing weapons of mass destruction.

Saddam, who has in his 60s and has been in power since 1979, won a 99.96 per cent "yes" vote in the unprecedented referendum held in 1995, according to official results.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[traditionalist]

Why does Saddam even bother? Does he actually believe anyone is fooled by this charade? I don't get it.

I can understand why the Soviets held fake elections: there were plenty of communist sympathizers in the West who wanted to believe, and hence did believe, they were real. But Saddam? I mean, come on. Who's he fooling?

[bandleader]

The idea that they hold free and fair elections in Iraq is a joke!After we "cleaned their clock" Saddam told his people that he had won!!After all those poor slobs that didn't come home(Iraqui soldiers/Republican Guard),how can anyone in their right mind think that that spelled VICTORY???

[jwh_Denver]

Iraq and right mind in the same sentence? LOL!

[neutrino]

And I'm sure that the presence of a secret policeman or three didn't affect voters at all. They were just present to answer questions and assist voters. Really. Truly. You can trust Saddam. You betcha. (Grin)

[FreedomPoster]

How many "starving babies" could he have prevented from starving by not spending any money on this ridiculous charade?

[knighthawk]

Well, his 65th birthday costs 5,5 million UK Pounds, just imagine what that money could have done for the country.

[knighthawk]

That one man who voted against Saddam was Saddam. Only he could survive voting against himself, and he is also stupid enough to do it. If you don't believe me he appeared in Hot Shots part deux. Really, it wasn't an actor, it was Saddam himself pretending to be an actor. Or something.