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
If he is shot, it will be in the head by a Marine sniper as he tries to use a child as a shield. It would be so great if something like that could be caught on tape; probably even a Pulitzer prize.
because no one opposes a strong person,
The rest of the world will not quickly forget this.
"These people were silent for 35 years when Saddam used to kill hundreds of thousands of Iraqis so now we are hearing these statements for jihad because they are like retarded people living in the medieval times."
I don't recall the context, as all I did was copy the quote for posterity, but I believe it came from a Dearborn, Michigan Iraqi refugee commenting on the pro-Saddam/anti-American bent of the Arab "street". Someone here will correct me if I am mistaken :)
I think it's important that the left in this country learns to understand this sort of mentality and stops believing that rolling over and playing nice doggy with these people is going to get us anywhere.
Absolutely right Fahd, and don't you forget it. Tell it to your children and write it on your walls:
DON'T MESS AROUND WITH THE U.S.A. BECAUSE CLINTON ISN'T RUNNING THINGS HERE ANYMORE. YOU ATTACK AMERICA, YOU TAKE A DIRT NAP, GOT IT?
Raw power is the only thing those people understand or respect. They just have to see some of it displayed every now and then.
From your lips to Allah's ears, Muhammad.
Well, you ragheads are pretty stupid, so there are no guarantees, but yeah, it sounds like you're starting to understand what this is all about...
The barbarians in filthy nightshirts just got taught a big ol' lesson.
"Oh! This will inflame the Arab world!" the leftist scum shrieks.
Yeah, after this? I'm real worried about the "Arab world" being "inflamed".
Be "inflamed". We'll topple another country or two in your filthy medieval world.
We just sent a big ol' message to the sand maggots. They better learn.
They'll probably still try to take out another airline or two, maybe try another big terrorist attack or two here, and in the end, we'll end up having to conquer and destroy their entire world - their entire region will be crushed by us.
Maybe by that point the barbarians in filthy nightshirts will have learned!
They did, it's called Jordon. The Jordanians lost the "west bank" to the Israelies in the 1967 war, but an earlier, well before WW-II, "treaty" had determined that was to belong to the Jews too.
They think we want to occupy Iraq, but they're wrong, just like they were wrong to believe Saddams lies about how strong he was, and the lies about the people of Iraq happily living under tyranny.
We have freed the Iraqi people but they can only stay free if they reject lies and look at the cold hard truth. That's the only way free people can exist. Those who believe lies are slaves.
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