Defeats dismay Arab media

The Daily Telegraph ^ | April 7, 2003 | Gerald Butt

[MadIvan]

Arab satellite news channels, broadcasting footage of advances by coalition forces on Baghdad, are beginning to question whether Saddam Hussein has put up a proper fight against the allied advances.

Throughout the Arab world there is a mood of disappointment. The initial resistance by Saddam's forces raised expectations that he would put up a tougher fight around the capital.

"Why is he letting the Arabs down now," a Lebanese caller asked a phone-in programme, "when his forces fought so bravely in the south of the country?"

A presenter on the Dubai-based al-Arabiya television network said the Iraqi leader had promised "surprises" that would inflict huge losses. "Why have we not seen the surprises?"

A military expert later wondered why the Iraqi army had not concentrated on attacking the allies' supply lines, rather than moving forces back to try to defend Baghdad. "Saddam's fedayeen should be attacking the trucks carrying food, water and fuel," he added.

"Why didn't Saddam order all the bridges to be blown up along the route to the capital?" another studio guest wondered.

Several Arab newspapers highlight the discrepancy between Iraq's assessment of the war and that of the coalition forces. "The information war is intensifying," said al-Sharq in Qatar. In Jordan, al-Rai asked "where the real truth lies amid the confusion and contradiction of the news reports?" Nevertheless, on its front page the paper's main headline read: "Iraq retakes Saddam airport."

The Lebanese daily al-Nahar went one better, saying that "Saddam led the attack to retake the airport", while Akhbar al-Khaleej in Bahrain said: "We have wiped out the invading forces at the airport."

But other Arab papers adopt a more realistic line, with al-Watan in Saudi Arabia declaring that "the Americans have taken the airport and the Iraqis have retreated into Baghdad".

Kuwait's Rai al-Am assessed the situation in three words: "Baghdad's last stand."

[SkyPilot]

Great find Ivan.

[Jerry W. Howard]

Defeats dismay Arab media?

I must say I am saddened, SADDENED!!!

(Just thought I would try to beat terrible Tommie to the punch --smirk, smirk)

[XBob]

40- why blow up bridges when you are winning?

[dennisw]

Obviously, the evil of this fascist regime is immaterial. All that matters is that this monster is an Arab. Why do our intellectuals give this attitude a free ride?

It's all about the 3rd world. These hollow men atheists will always support the 3rd worlder no matter how evil. They are infected with neo-Marxism.

[Aquinasfan]

"Why have we not seen the surprises?"

Note to self: don't trust sadistic dictators in future.

[MadIvan]

The Arab complaint about surprises reminds me of this:

"Where's the kaboom? The earth shattering kaboom?"

Regards, Ivan

[Aquinasfan]

"I'm going to blast you with my intergallactic space modulator." Marvin the Martian or the Iraqi Information Minister?

[snankive]

I take it atheist is a perjorative term in this context. You may be surprised to know that atheists such as myself can be conservatives and do not always support the 3rd world. No infection here. Rational thought is what is missing from most of those we lambast and the principle that life and soveriegnty is a prize not a curse.