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I was a naive fool to be a human shield for Saddam (MUST, MUST READ!)
The Sunday Telegraph ^ | March 23, 2003 | Daniel Pepper

Posted on 03/22/2003 7:02:58 PM PST by MadIvan

I wanted to join the human shields in Baghdad because it was direct action which had a chance of bringing the anti-war movement to the forefront of world attention. It was inspiring: the human shield volunteers were making a sacrifice for their political views - much more of a personal investment than going to a demonstration in Washington or London. It was simple - you get on the bus and you represent yourself.

So that is exactly what I did on the morning of Saturday, January 25. I am a 23-year-old Jewish-American photographer living in Islington, north London. I had travelled in the Middle East before: as a student, I went to the Palestinian West Bank during the intifada. I also went to Afghanistan as a photographer for Newsweek.

The human shields appealed to my anti-war stance, but by the time I had left Baghdad five weeks later my views had changed drastically. I wouldn't say that I was exactly pro-war - no, I am ambivalent - but I have a strong desire to see Saddam removed.

We on the bus felt that we were sympathetic to the views of the Iraqi civilians, even though we didn't actually know any. The group was less interested in standing up for their rights than protesting against the US and UK governments.

I was shocked when I first met a pro-war Iraqi in Baghdad - a taxi driver taking me back to my hotel late at night. I explained that I was American and said, as we shields always did, "Bush bad, war bad, Iraq good". He looked at me with an expression of incredulity.

As he realised I was serious, he slowed down and started to speak in broken English about the evils of Saddam's regime. Until then I had only heard the President spoken of with respect, but now this guy was telling me how all of Iraq's oil money went into Saddam's pocket and that if you opposed him politically he would kill your whole family.

It scared the hell out of me. First I was thinking that maybe it was the secret police trying to trick me but later I got the impression that he wanted me to help him escape. I felt so bad. I told him: "Listen, I am just a schmuck from the United States, I am not with the UN, I'm not with the CIA - I just can't help you."

Of course I had read reports that Iraqis hated Saddam Hussein, but this was the real thing. Someone had explained it to me face to face. I told a few journalists who I knew. They said that this sort of thing often happened - spontaneous, emotional, and secretive outbursts imploring visitors to free them from Saddam's tyrannical Iraq.

I became increasingly concerned about the way the Iraqi regime was restricting the movement of the shields, so a few days later I left Baghdad for Jordan by taxi with five others. Once over the border we felt comfortable enough to ask our driver what he felt about the regime and the threat of an aerial bombardment.

"Don't you listen to Powell on Voice of America radio?" he said. "Of course the Americans don't want to bomb civilians. They want to bomb government and Saddam's palaces. We want America to bomb Saddam."

We just sat, listening, our mouths open wide. Jake, one of the others, just kept saying, "Oh my God" as the driver described the horrors of the regime. Jake was so shocked at how naive he had been. We all were. It hadn't occurred to anyone that the Iraqis might actually be pro-war.

The driver's most emphatic statement was: "All Iraqi people want this war." He seemed convinced that civilian casualties would be small; he had such enormous faith in the American war machine to follow through on its promises. Certainly more faith than any of us had.

Perhaps the most crushing thing we learned was that most ordinary Iraqis thought Saddam Hussein had paid us to come to protest in Iraq. Although we explained that this was categorically not the case, I don't think he believed us. Later he asked me: "Really, how much did Saddam pay you to come?"

It hit me on visceral and emotional levels: this was a real portrayal of Iraq life. After the first conversation, I completely rethought my view of the Iraqi situation. My understanding changed on intellectual, emotional, psychological levels. I remembered the experience of seeing Saddam's egomaniacal portraits everywhere for the past two weeks and tried to place myself in the shoes of someone who had been subjected to seeing them every day for the last 20 or so years.

Last Thursday night I went to photograph the anti-war rally in Parliament Square. Thousands of people were shouting "No war" but without thinking about the implications for Iraqis. Some of them were drinking, dancing to Samba music and sparring with the police. It was as if the protesters were talking about a different country where the ruling government is perfectly acceptable. It really upset me.

Anyone with half a brain must see that Saddam has to be taken out. It is extraordinarily ironic that the anti-war protesters are marching to defend a government which stops its people exercising that freedom.


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: blair; bush; epiphany; humanshields; iraq; iraqidissidents; saddam; uk; us; war; warlist
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To: Happygal
Thanks so very much...

Ms.B
121 posted on 03/22/2003 10:50:42 PM PST by MS.BEHAVIN
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To: firebrand; StarFan; Dutchy; stanz; RaceBannon; Cacique; Clemenza; rmlew; NYC GOP Chick; ...
ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent ping list.

122 posted on 03/22/2003 10:51:22 PM PST by nutmeg (Liberate Iraq - Support Our Troops!)
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To: MS.BEHAVIN
Is this the one you wanted?


123 posted on 03/22/2003 10:51:55 PM PST by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet ("Hey Dad...speaking of driving...")
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To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
Thanks so much for your help..

It is an honor to meet you!

Ms.B
124 posted on 03/22/2003 10:52:01 PM PST by MS.BEHAVIN
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To: MS.BEHAVIN
And here's the link to the post where I first saw it, btw.
125 posted on 03/22/2003 10:53:17 PM PST by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet ("Hey Dad...speaking of driving...")
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To: MS.BEHAVIN
You're very welcome. That one jumped out at me, too.

(Nice to meet you, as well!)
126 posted on 03/22/2003 10:53:51 PM PST by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet ("Hey Dad...speaking of driving...")
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To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
It is indeed!

Thanks so very much!

God Bless...

Ms.B
127 posted on 03/22/2003 10:55:12 PM PST by MS.BEHAVIN
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To: TheLurkerX
They do not have a firm grip on reality...they know very well they will never have to face being sent to war, or ever fight for anything that matters, thus it fires up their bravado, it is up to us to take care of our country, fight for what is right, and try to make them see..

that the very thing they protest, is what gives them the right to do so..I am up praying and worrying over the live fighting I am watching on Fox in Umm Qasar..they, are sleepng in their beds..

And therein lies the difference..

Ms.B
128 posted on 03/22/2003 11:05:49 PM PST by MS.BEHAVIN
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To: MadIvan
What's scary is that this guy had to go all the way to Iraq to realize this!
129 posted on 03/22/2003 11:12:11 PM PST by beaversmom (After the Axis of Evil on to the Axis of Weasels)
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To: MadIvan
The best depiction of the light dawning on naive fools I've ever read. Unfortunately there are millions of these fools in the U.S. and elsewhere. Patriotic Americans now live in a strange country where millions of their fellow citizens would rather believe avowed leftists and support a deranged dictator than their own president.
130 posted on 03/22/2003 11:21:51 PM PST by driftless ( For life-long happiness, learn how to play the accordion.)
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To: nutmeg
Well, if I must... I must!

And here is a Big Red, White and Blue Bump to the Top!!!

131 posted on 03/22/2003 11:30:37 PM PST by Nitro
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To: MadIvan
Great find!
132 posted on 03/22/2003 11:33:29 PM PST by Dajjal
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To: feinswinesuksass
He says he is ambivalent after witnessing that???? He is still a fool.

I wouldn't say that, so much, as an unwillingness to admit to himself that he was totally wrong. It's just human nature. Sometimes the change from touchy-feely liberal into a thinking person can take years (if it is to happen at all). He's made a good start, we can only hope he continues to grow and learn.

133 posted on 03/23/2003 12:06:10 AM PST by exDemMom (US Navy, 1980-1984 & W in '04)
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Comment #134 Removed by Moderator

To: I still care
Great idea--I'm going to a rally today and will hand it out for you!

135 posted on 03/23/2003 3:00:46 AM PST by fightinJAG ("Do not play poker with George W. Bush.")
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To: Aria

I agree with you....how could anyone not want to stop Saddam after seeing these poor children.....IMHO, that makes Ritter as bad as Saddam.

136 posted on 03/23/2003 3:27:31 AM PST by nicmarlo
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To: MadIvan
I became increasingly concerned about the way the Iraqi regime was restricting the movement of the shields, so a few days later I left Baghdad for Jordan by taxi with five others. Once over the border we felt comfortable enough to ask our driver what he felt about the regime and the threat of an aerial bombardment.

"Don't you listen to Powell on Voice of America radio?" he said. "Of course the Americans don't want to bomb civilians. They want to bomb government and Saddam's palaces. We want America to bomb Saddam.

Incredible... What a great story... thanks, MadIvan.

137 posted on 03/23/2003 3:38:30 AM PST by AFPhys (((PRAYING for: President Bush & advisors, troops & families, Americans)))
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To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet; Route66; Peach; Bella; Pete; areafiftyone; brigette; harpseal; ...
Ping. Please look at the picture in #123 - sounds like this is what happened yesterday in Kuwait.
138 posted on 03/23/2003 4:02:41 AM PST by Peach
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To: tscislaw
ABC and Jennings are BY FAR the worst. I started hating Jennings back in 1994 when, after the Republican landslide elections, Jennings said that the American people had "thrown a tantrum".

I know! I can't stand to even watch him for a minute. He is the MOST biased I have ever witnessed.

I respect Rather because he is one of the few liberals who are just misguided, but absolutely loves this nation. Remember him breaking down and crying on Dave Letterman right after 9-11?

139 posted on 03/23/2003 4:22:09 AM PST by rodeocowboy
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To: RANGERAIRBORNE; MadIvan; VOA; Squantos; Lion Den Dan; Travis McGee; logos; Jeff Head; Fred Mertz; ..
We talked to our daughter at Oxford last night. She has talked to several students that were for the action in Iraq and several against. Her opinion is those against it do not really know why. They felt the people of Iraq would not want anyone invading their country. Now they see the way the coalition forces are being met with celebration and are puzzled. Naive sums it up best.
140 posted on 03/23/2003 4:24:15 AM PST by SLB
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