Palestinians stunned at Iraqi gratitude toward U.S. presence in Baghdad

National Post ^ | April 9 » 2003 | Stewart Bell

[Ooh-Ah]

'This is a sad day for all the Arabs and Muslims, particularly the Palestinians'

TEL AVIV -- Israel remained on high alert yesterday despite the fall of Baghdad, while in Palestinian areas news of the defeat of Saddam Hussein was met with disappointment and disbelief.

Palestinians, who had been among the Iraqi leader's most strident supporters, watched their television sets in stunned silence as stations showed liberated Iraqis rejoicing alongside U.S. troops in Baghdad's central square.

It was hardly the clash they had expected would send the Americans retreating back home in defeat, thus redeeming long-suffering Arab pride. Instead, they saw the statue of their hero toppled by fellow Arabs.

"This is a sad day for all the Arabs and Muslims, particularly the Palestinians," Nael al-Am, a Ramallah grocer who keeps a poster of Saddam Hussein in his shop, told the Jerusalem Post.

"I invested a lot of money in buying a satellite dish and a new TV set because I wanted to watch the day the battle for Baghdad begins. I was sure this was going to be one of the great battles of the century, where an Arab army would inflict heavy losses on the invading crusaders. I feel as if a dagger has been stuck in my heart when I see American soldiers strolling in the heart of Baghdad."

Since the war started, Palestinians have held almost daily demonstrations in the West Bank and Gaza. They burned the U.S. and British flags, waved the Iraqi flag and carried portraits of Saddam, whom they urged to bomb Tel Aviv.

The terrorist groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad vowed to conduct suicide bombings against Israel in support of Saddam and claimed to have sent members to Iraq to kill coalition troops. Islamic Jihad carried out one suicide bombing in Netanya on March 30.

The Iraqi leader had nurtured support among Palestinians by joining his cause to theirs and donating about US$30-million to the families of Palestinians killed in attacks against Israelis.

The U.S.-led victory was all the more shocking because Palestinians get their news from Arab media outlets that have repeated far-fetched Iraqi claims that U.S. troops were nowhere near Baghdad and would be slaughtered if they approached the city.

There was no official response to yesterday's news from Israel or the Palestinians. Israel has been on a state of alert since a few hours before the first coalition air strike on Baghdad three weeks ago.

Israeli officials feared Saddam would launch Scud missiles at Israel, as he did during the 1991 Gulf War. But this did not happen, possibly because U.S. Special Forces secured western Iraq early in the campaign.

Civil defence authorities were expected to meet today to discuss whether to lower the alert, which requires Israelis to carry their gas masks at all times and keep a sealed safe room in their homes.

Israeli officials said this week they had not lifted the alert because they felt the Iraqi leader would become more unpredictable as he was cornered and might resort to a chemical or biological weapons attack.

The Palestinian Authority condemned the United States yesterday for what it claimed was a deliberate attack on its offices in Baghdad. The building was struck by an air-launched missiles at 4 p.m. Monday, it said.

"The U.S. aggression on the embassy was premeditated," an official said.

"No other embassies were targeted by bombing, which proves that the targeting of the Palestinian embassy was premeditated and not an accident."

Near Jenin, an explosive device injured 29 students at a Palestinian school. Messages sent to the press claimed a Jewish group called Revenge of the Infants was responsible.

But Israeli police cast doubt on that claim, saying it appeared a student had brought a bomb or grenade to school and accidentally detonated it.

sbell@nationalpost.com

[Slings and Arrows]

What's Arabic for "Walk it off, *bleep*!"

[Grampa Dave]

"This is a sad day for all the Arabs and Muslims, particularly the Palestinians," Nael al-Am, a Ramallah grocer who keeps a poster of Saddam Hussein in his shop, told the Jerusalem Post.

"I invested a lot of money in buying a satellite dish and a new TV set because I wanted to watch the day the battle for Baghdad begins. I was sure this was going to be one of the great battles of the century, where an Arab army would inflict heavy losses on the invading crusaders. I feel as if a dagger has been stuck in my heart when I see American soldiers strolling in the heart of Baghdad."

Nael al-Am is a loser in life's lottery. He has/had more freedom than the Iraqis did under the mass murderer and torturer. Yet his hatred of American and Jews has warped his mind. Maybe we can send Nael al-Am and others like him to Baghdad to talk to Iraqi Arabs about the realities of the mass murderer he admired and has a poster of in his store.

[timestax]

When are the Arabs and Palestinians going to realize that their backward societies and militaries cannot win against the 21st century American military?

Especially with NO airforce. They were just plain stupid to even think of fighting with no airforce. I still don't get it. They knew that we rule the sky.

[Lurker]

Now take the next logical step in your thinking...

Regards,

L

[timestax]

. "I invested a lot of money in buying a satellite dish and a new TV set because I wanted to watch the day the battle for Baghdad begins. I was sure this was going to be one of the great battles of the century, where an Arab army would inflict heavy losses on the invading crusaders. I feel as if a dagger has been stuck in my heart when I see American soldiers strolling in the heart of Baghdad."

Well he can always use that new dish, and T.V. to watch ole SIENFELD shows. There are a couple of episodes that feature a Pakistani restaurant owner, that finds out the hard way not to get into SINFELDS little world, HA HAH A!

[Grampa Dave]

Or he could watch Fox News to find out what is really happening in the world. That and watching SIENFELD could really cause him to have problems.

[stripes1776]

The U.S.-led victory was all the more shocking because Palestinians get their news from Arab media outlets that have repeated far-fetched Iraqi claims that U.S. troops were nowhere near Baghdad and would be slaughtered if they approached the city.

The Palestinians are idiots, along with most Arabs. Although I think some Arabs are beginning to get it.

[zeaal]

You bet they are di$appointed ... no more premium$ from $addam for offering their children for $acrifice.

[tictoc]

		"I wonder what the folks on Free Republic are going to talk about now?" Priceless! Now I know the answer to the question What Would Mr. Roberts Say, LOL
Carl Roberts Engineer

[Claire Voyant]

....their God ain't GOD".

Truer words were NEVER spoken!!!

[7thson]

Another picture that will be historic in the years to come.

[metesky]

The People of The Lie will not be easily disuaded.

[7thson]

This is funny as all get out and probably true in some cases. Concerning your tag line - I do not drink wine but I hear that Virginia has some pretty good wines.

[SarahW]

The next logical step is what, in your opinion. I might have a different conclusion from yours.

[Mark17]

Palestinians stunned at Iraqi gratitude toward U.S. presence in Baghdad

Yes, I think I have this all figured out. Maybe they just don't feel like being murdered today, by a bunch of Saddam's henchmen.

[Lurker]

What do you do with a people who have basically been raised to be 'depraved'?

You can't reeducate them. They won't listen and they'll kill anyone who tries.

Therefore, the only logical thing to do is to exterminate them.

L

[SarahW]

I *DO* have a different conclusion from yours. THe devil has them by the throat, but no people is completely beyond redemption.


I believe the futility of the path they have chosen must become apparent to them. They can lift themselves out of their self-imposed misery only when that happens.

THe frist thinkg I want America to do is to stop feeding the beast, the corrupt brutes the Palestinians (a term that really needs scare quotes) call leaders. No more money for Arafat or his ilk.

They must give up hatred. They MUST learn self-government. THey must learn tolerance. They can never have freedom or prosperity without it.

Otherwise, they will need no extermination. They will exterminate themselves.

[Lurker]

I hope you're right. I really do.

But, I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for it to happen.

Regards,

L

[Thinkin' Gal]

Palestinians stunned Astonished at Iraqi gratitude toward U.S. presence in Baghdad

"All $25,000 checks are in the mail."

[Bommer]

Just the kind of quote AntiFreepers are looking for, good work.

Didn't know you cared about what a Liberal thinks? Sorry. Its a ficgroup of people that would kill your family without batting an eye! Better wake up to the reality that wiping the "Palestinians" off the face of the earth is no loss, only a gain...for peace!