Hussein frees tens of thousands of prisoners - 100,000 + released in last-ditch reach for popularity

The New York Times ^ | October 21, 2002 | The New York Times Staff

[MeekOneGOP]

Hussein frees tens of thousands of prisoners

'American spies' are not among those granted amnesty

10/21/2002

The New York Times

ABU GHRAIB, Iraq - Tens of thousands of Iraqi prisoners stormed out of their cells to freedom Sunday after President Saddam Hussein declared an amnesty that appeared to have all but emptied a sprawling, nationwide network of prisons that have served as the grim charnel houses of one of the world's harshest police states.

At the Abu Ghraib prison 20 miles west of Baghdad, a sprawling compound on the desert floor that has become a notorious symbol of fear among Iraqis for its history of mass executions and allegations of torture, the heavy steel entrance gates gave way under the crush of a huge crowd of relatives who rushed to the jail within an hour of the amnesty broadcast. All semblance of order vanished as a cheering mob surged through the sprawling prison compound, in some cases joining prison guards in smashing cellblock walls to free weeping inmates still held behind locked doors. Some inmates were killed in the chaos.

The scene was repeated at other prisons across the country, including the Khadimiya prison for women in Baghdad.

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Mr. Hussein's decree specified that committees of judges would have 48 hours to rule on individual releases, excepting only "Zionist and American spies," murderers who have not settled the "blood money" owed to victims' families under Islamic legal precepts, and debtors who have not satisfied their creditors.

Mr. Hussein's reasons for emptying the prisons were shrouded in the blanket of secrecy that envelops much in Iraq. A statement issued in the name of the Iraqi leader described the move as a gesture of gratitude to Iraq's 22 million people for re-electing him president last week in a one-candidate, "yes" or "no" ballot that yielded an official return of 100 percent of the 11.4 million votes for Mr. Hussein.

But much else suggested that the real spur may not have been a sudden turn toward magnanimity so much as a maneuver forced by the growing threat of war with the United States.

Among Iraqi exiles, the common view was that President Bush, in demanding "regime change" in Baghdad, has already struck at the foundations of the Iraqi ruler's power by serving notice that the days of the 65-year-old Mr. Hussein, an absolute ruler since he seized power in 1979, may be numbered by America's military might.

In this view, opening the prisons was a dramatic, last-ditch reach for popularity.

Other Iraqis suggested privately that there might be more hard-headed reasons: The need to bolster loyalty in the army and state security forces, which have seen much of their own leadership decimated over the years in purges; possibly, too, the need to stiffen resolve in the military ranks by boosting recruitment and stanching desertions.

The government gave no figures on the numbers of those eligible for release. But a reading of the amnesty terms, coupled with estimates of the Iraqi prison population made in recent years by Western human-rights groups such as Amnesty International, suggested that figures of 100,000, possibly as many as 150,000, might not be exaggerated. The rights groups have said that Iraq's prison population has been swollen by "tens of thousands" of political detainees as well as by tens of thousands of others convicted of ordinary criminal offenses in a system that can give an offender a 15-year prison term for stealing $2 worth of groceries.

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/latestnews/stories/102102dnintgesture.15e33.html

[MeekOneGOP]

This is so transparently political. I bet Daschle and the 'RATS are taking notes here.....
< /sarcasm >

[MeekOneGOP]

Hussein frees tens of thousands of prisoners
100,000 + released in last-ditch reach for popularity

Excerpt:

Mr. Hussein's decree specified that committees of judges would have 48 hours to rule on individual releases, excepting only "Zionist and American spies," murderers who have not settled the "blood money" owed to victims' families under Islamic legal precepts, and debtors who have not satisfied their creditors.

Mr. Hussein's reasons for emptying the prisons were shrouded in the blanket of secrecy that envelops much in Iraq. A statement issued in the name of the Iraqi leader described the move as a gesture of gratitude to Iraq's 22 million people for re-electing him president last week in a one-candidate, "yes" or "no" ballot that yielded an official return of 100 percent of the 11.4 million votes for Mr. Hussein.

But much else suggested that the real spur may not have been a sudden turn toward magnanimity so much as a maneuver forced by the growing threat of war with the United States.

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[Brad C.]

Can you imagine what would happen if an American president set loose everyone in our prisons in order to gain popularity? We all know there are a lot of people in prison that are not a threat to society, but there are quite a few that would reak havoc the moment they stepped outside the gates. I don't think he would stay as president very long.

[Centurion2000]

and debtors who have not satisfied their creditors.

You know the credit card companies have got to be wishing he was running things here.

[Kaisersrsic]

Political, but also practical in making Iraq less inviting to an occupying army. Even in a country like Iraq, a large percentage of these people probably belong in prison. Think Mariel boat lift. In addition to the american and zionist spies that were not freed, political prisoners likely included islamists and other enemies of secular government.

Many of these folks will need to be rounded up and put back in jail in the next two years or so.

[Jack Wilson]

Can you imagine what would happen if an American president set loose everyone in our prisons in order to gain popularity?

In Illinois, we have something along these lines; a corrupt Republican governor, apparently succumbing to blackmail, is holding clemency hearings for everyone on death row.

[tracer]

You may well have it backwards....

[Seeking the truth]

All this is not going to help him avoid his destiny!

Saddam Countdown 0cents Stamp

[blackdog]

Careful, the DNC was planning on such programs to finally make good on that 100,000 new cops program that Bubba had to go and shoot his mouth about.

[KneelBeforeZod]

I wonder if he is letting them out to be in the front line bullet stopper corps.

[tracer]

Sodman may have shot himself in the foot. I doubt that these 100,000+ "citizens" will feel much gratitude for the son-of- a-camel-turd who throw them in the hoosegow in the first place.

Indeed, they represent a recruiting field ripe for the picking for US military and civilian intelligence operatives bent on forming an indigenous opposition army in Iraq...

[Rome2000]

He should shoot himself in the head next, that will make him popular over here as well.

[tet68]

I think we will look back on this as the beginning
of the end of Saddam H.

Another in a long string of bad decisions by S.

[WaterDragon]

According to this morning's news, no one in prison for spying for America or Britain will be released.

Well, the Clintons pardoned terrorists and violent drug dealers; Saddam hoping to emulate a Great Satan president?

[Diogenesis]

In Abu Ghraib, Iraq, death row prisoners first in cells, then free,
reminiscent of a la Castro.

[Vidalia]

This is a bad remake of a scene in "The Brain That Wouldn't Die" isn't it?

[F.J. Mitchell]

President George W. Bush has yet to make the speech that says: "Saddam Hussein-tear down these prison walls!" -Saddam knowing it is coming though, did the next best thing and flung the gates open for as many as 150,000 political prisoners, who owe their freedom to President Bush, just as much as the former slaves of east Germany owe their freedom to President Reagan.

Sadam, the very demon who made their lives hell, is arrogant enough to believe his belated freeing them from their undeserved torture chambers, will flood their hearts with love and loyalty for their tormentor. Under present conditions in Iraq, they will prudently praise that sonovabitching dictator, but all but the damndest of fools among them, will grab the first opportunity to serve the liberating army of G.W. Bush.

SAdam's days are as limited as the size of his conscience, and the number of living cells in his brain.

[Wil H]

So Saddam has learned something from Hillary.

To get 99% of the vote you just have to agree to let out the prisoners..

Hillary did it in New Square NY.

Saddam just copied her...

Birds of a feather...

[RightWhale]

He does this when he needs to free up some prison guards for possible military use.

[MeekOneGOP]

Most of those people are political prisoners. A LOT are, anyway. SADdam better get some more body guards now, imho...hmm? Or maybe not, heh heh !

Many of these folks will need to be rounded up and put back in jail in the next two years or so.

In two years, they will (hopefully) have a Western style govt. in which there is a true judicial system set up with some semblance of justice.....