I WAS A NAIVE FOOL TO BE A HUMAN SHIELD FOR SADDAM!

The Iconoclast ^ | March 23, 2004 | Murray Soupcoff (The Iconoclast)

[Apolitical]

DAILY NOTEBOOK....

I WAS A NAIVE FOOL TO BE A HUMAN SHIELD FOR SADDAM! .......



March 23, 2003: Today's recommended reading, especially for anti-war activists and Hollywood's fifth column, is a first-person essay by former American human shield Daniel Pepper in The Telegraph (U.K.). In a rambling, revelatory self-confession, a mortified Mr. Pepper lets it all hang out, telling just how deceived and deluded he was about Saddam and Iraq.

The opinion piece is entitled, I WAS A NAIVE FOOL TO BE A HUMAN SHIELD FOR SADDAM, and is well worth reading.

Here's some of what ex-human shield Daniel Pepper has to say:

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.............

[MeekOneGOP]

bumpity bumpity bumpity . . .

[ODDITHER]

Those who believe in containment as the way to peace, instead of war are naive at best.

The best analogy I have been able to come up with is the game we used to play when we were kids. You know the one where you take turns putting your hands palm down on your play mates hands palm side up. The person who has the hands palm side up trys to hit the back of the playmates hands before they can move them out of the way.

If you remember the game, you also remember when it was your turn to be the aggressor, how important it was not to look down at your hands but to look at your opponents eyes, and patiently wait until you catch him off guard. Especially if you weren't as fast as your opponent.

If you remember the game, you also remember that it was much easier to be the one attacking than it was to be the one defending.

That is exactly how containment would work. We would have to be willing to accept that we would be the one defending not attacking and also to have the knowledge that our opponent would never catch us off guard or be quicker than us.

[MadIvan]

Already posted:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-new s/872685/posts

Regards, Ivan

[Tunehead54]

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.

---

Hard to argue with that statement.

[Mears]

Let's see how many American newspapers cover this story.

[rageaholic]

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.

Thats the crux of the "peace movement", its not about the right thing to do, its just a superficial feel-good activity all about "me me me"

[NautiNurse]

First I was thinking that maybe it was the secret police trying to trick me

another maroon finally sees the light of day...

[Tax Government]

I WAS A NAIVE FOOL TO BE A HUMAN SHIELD FOR SADDAM!

Have to give the guy credit for being aware of his own motives, and wanting to do the right thing.

[hoosiermama]

What do you think the chances are of getting this guy on a few major talk shows?

[Marine Inspector]

Bump and ping

[CheneyChick]

Its really good to know that these ignorant loonies can "wake up and smell the coffee". I was beginning to have doubts.

CC

[stands2reason]

Today's recommended reading, especially for anti-war activists and Hollywood's fifth column

Yeah, right....They are already calling this a lie. "Propaganda" by Rupert Murdoch.

[rocky88]

Is anyone here able to post this on DU? THAT would be interesting!!

[weegee]

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.

Wonder when he'll get around to hearing/believing the tales that Saddam was a fan of Joseph Stalin.

The left in America has tried to silence opinion in the streets of America too (who wants to confront their "democratic" violent mob?).

[Carry_Okie]

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.

So let me guess... This person, who had the "courage" to go to Iraq and betray his countrymen, immediately went to the platform in front of that demonstration to give the protestors his the benefit of his eyewitness account?

So much for new-found conviction. These people are all cowards.

[IncPen]

Bartman, you have to read this, and the comments in the other linked thread...

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the ping. Great read.

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the ping. Great read.

[GOPJ]

bump

[powderhorn]

Let's see how many American newspapers cover this story.

Actually, I think this will get LOTS of press attention.