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Arabs watch Saddam's demise in disbelief
Reuters | 4/09/03 | Lucy Fielder

Posted on 04/09/2003 10:01:30 AM PDT by kattracks

Arabs watch Saddam's demise in disbelief

By Lucy Fielder

CAIRO, April 9 (Reuters) - Arabs watched in disbelief on Wednesday as Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, described by one Moroccan as the Arab world's "best dictator," lost Baghdad to U.S.-led forces without a fight.

"It's like a movie. I can't believe what I'm seeing," said Adel, a lawyer in Beirut. "Why didn't he just give up to start with if this was all the resistance he could muster? Instead of wasting all those lives for nothing."

In Cairo, people gathered around television sets in shops and coffee houses watching U.S. troops toppling a huge statue of Saddam in the heart of Baghdad and Iraqis dancing on it.

"It seemed that Iraqis were all with Saddam, now it looks like many didn't like him. Maybe those destroying the statue are rebels against Saddam's rule," engineer Magdy Tawfiq said as he watched Saddam's statue being toppled by a U.S. tank.

But security guard Waleed Tawfiq said he still did not believe Saddam was out. "I will be upset if it turns out Saddam has lost power. He tried to defend his land. If he is dead he will be a martyr."

Most Arabs have no love for Saddam. But his defiance towards the United States has been met with approval in a region angry at Washington's support for Israel and perceived interference in Arab affairs, and the presence of U.S. forces in Arab countries.

Three weeks of war in Iraq have sparked anger across the Arab world, and the anger grew as civilian casualties mounted. Protesters at hundreds of rallies have chanted praise for "beloved" Saddam and held his picture aloft.

Rabat perfume shop owner Lahoucine Lanait described Saddam as the Arab world's "best dictator."

But few Arabs had a kind word for him as his 24-year rule collapsed on Wednesday.

"Saddam is not an Arab champion. The war is practically over, did he win? No, and Iraq is destroyed," said Ayman Abdel Rahim, a Cairo butcher.

"Saddam Hussein is proving for the thousandth time that he is stubborn, stupid, idiotic and a terrorist. He is more like the head of a gang and not the president of a respectable state like Iraq," said Sultan Nasser, 49-year-old Saudi bank employee.

STANDING UP TO THE UNITED STATES

Many Arabs liken the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq to Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In Oman, some said Saddam, whose fate is unknown after he was targeted by U.S. planes, symbolised resistance.

"It is irrelevant whether Saddam is dead or not. His memory will live on to inspire many Arabs to stand up against all the injustices committed by the U.S. and its friends in Israel," Belqees Hamood, a university student, said.

"Saddam was not an angel to his own people but he will be missed since many Arabs see him as a leader who was not afraid to challenge the American and Israeli aggressions over Palestinians," said Juma Backer, a businessman.

In Saudi Arabia, Mohsen al-Awajy, a reformist sheikh who has been jailed by the country's pro-Western monarchy, said: "No one wanted to fight under Saddam's banner."

"But resistance to occupation has nothing to do with Saddam and just part of the battle is about to end now."

Adel in Beirut disagreed. "So he was the only Arab leader to stand up to the Americans. Look what happened, no one else will dare try that again."

Some said his death at the hands of U.S.-led invaders would make him a martyr. It was a question of honour.

"My hope is that Saddam falls fighting with his own gun. If he flees or surrenders, as many people believe, then he is like other Arab leaders who do not care about honour, it would be a total shame," said Sellami Hidoussi, a Tunis car garage guard.

Fahd Saleh of Saudi Arabia expressed equal dislike for U.S. President George W. Bush and Saddam.

"Saddam is a terrorist but he's not alone. Bush too is a terrorist but Saddam is weak and Bush is strong. That's why he has won, because no one opposes a strong person," said the 33-year-old Saudi government employee.

"How wonderful the world would be without Saddam and without Bush!"

(Contributions from Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia)

04/09/03 12:52 ET


TOPICS: News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS:
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1 posted on 04/09/2003 10:01:30 AM PDT by kattracks
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To: kattracks
They are so predictable.
2 posted on 04/09/2003 10:02:57 AM PDT by smith288 (Visit my gallery http://www.ejsmithweb.com/fr/hollywood/hollywood.php)
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To: kattracks
"Why didn't he just give up to start with if this was all the resistance he could muster? Instead of wasting all those lives for nothing."

Get a clue, dummy. His people didn't like him very much. < /understatement of the day>

3 posted on 04/09/2003 10:03:27 AM PDT by stboz
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To: kattracks
It's hard to keep trying to help people who look the other way to the murder and torture of their own.
4 posted on 04/09/2003 10:04:42 AM PDT by Hildy
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To: kattracks
He is more like the head of a gang and not the president...

What are all the terrorists going to do now that their cash-daddy is caput?

5 posted on 04/09/2003 10:05:31 AM PDT by Slyfox
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To: kattracks
"Why didn't he just give up . . . instead of wasting all those lives for nothing?"

Because he's a brutal dictator concerned only about preserving his own power.
6 posted on 04/09/2003 10:05:34 AM PDT by Steve_Seattle
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To: kattracks
"How wonderful the world would be without Saddam and without Bush!"

If we waved a magic wand and got rid of both Saddam and Bush, we would wake up tomorrow with a brand new Saddam somewhere in the world. But there would be no Bush, and the world would sorely miss him.

7 posted on 04/09/2003 10:06:06 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy
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To: kattracks
That's why he has won, because no one opposes a strong person,"

Exactly. I could not care less if they love us as long as they fear us.

8 posted on 04/09/2003 10:06:33 AM PDT by denydenydeny
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To: kattracks
Arab Street now closed for renovations, apparently.
9 posted on 04/09/2003 10:06:44 AM PDT by headsonpikes
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10 posted on 04/09/2003 10:07:04 AM PDT by Support Free Republic (Your support keeps Free Republic going strong!)
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To: headsonpikes
Bush !
11 posted on 04/09/2003 10:07:54 AM PDT by f.Christian (( who you gonna call ... 1 800 orc // evo bstr ))
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To: kattracks
Adel in Beirut disagreed. "So he was the only Arab leader to stand up to the Americans. Look what happened, no one else will dare try that again."

Which makes it all worthwhile, IMHO.

12 posted on 04/09/2003 10:09:19 AM PDT by Mr. Thorne (Inter armes, silent leges)
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To: kattracks
What a shock for these people -- another one bites the dust.
13 posted on 04/09/2003 10:09:38 AM PDT by Ciexyz
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Comment #14 Removed by Moderator

To: kattracks
""It seemed that Iraqis were all with Saddam, now it looks like many didn't like him."

That says it all.
15 posted on 04/09/2003 10:10:25 AM PDT by observer5
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To: kattracks
"Saddam is not an Arab champion. The war is practically over, did he win? No, and Iraq is destroyed," said Ayman Abdel Rahim, a Cairo butcher.

And he knows: one butcher always recognizes another.

16 posted on 04/09/2003 10:12:45 AM PDT by TopQuark
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To: kattracks
"It's like a movie. I can't believe what I'm seeing," said Adel, a lawyer in Beirut. "Why didn't he just give up to start with if this was all the resistance he could muster? Instead of wasting all those lives for nothing."

Someone needs to send the above quote to Al Jazeera and all the Arab media. The Arab media are "co-conspirators" in the deaths of the innocents of Iraq, because they have been consistently telling lies, lies and more lies.
17 posted on 04/09/2003 10:13:04 AM PDT by LibertyAndJusticeForAll
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To: kattracks
"Maybe those destroying the statue are rebels against Saddam's rule," engineer Magdy Tawfiq said as he watched Saddam's statue being toppled by a U.S. tank.

Gee. Ya think?

18 posted on 04/09/2003 10:13:33 AM PDT by Maceman
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To: kattracks
"Why didn't he just give up to start with if this was all the resistance he could muster? Instead of wasting all those lives for nothing."

BINGO! The light goes on.

19 posted on 04/09/2003 10:13:57 AM PDT by BunnySlippers
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To: kattracks
Any and all Middle East countries have to be extremely concerned with what is taking place in Iraq. People are free for the first time in their lives. They will have a government more open, a society more affluent for every citizen, an unfettered liberty to speak, act and think which no other Middle Eastern country, except Israel, will have.

Immigrant Middle Easterners that have fled to other countries will still flee from places like Jordan, Iran and Syria, but they will no longer feel the need to flee Iraq. Indeed, Iraq may experience an influx of immigrants.

Regardless of what other countries try to say about Iraq, the word will spread like wildfire that it is the only country other than Israel where freedom is a reality.

Iran, Jordan, Syria, Libya, etc....be afraid. Be very afraid. Civil war may be just ahead in your futures.





20 posted on 04/09/2003 10:15:01 AM PDT by N. Theknow
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