Pataki: Melt Down Saddam Statue for Ground Zero

NewsMax.com ^ | 4/11/03 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

New York Gov. George Pataki told a support-the-troops rally at Manhattan's Ground Zero Thursday that the massive statue of Saddam Hussein that was toppled by liberated Iraqis in Baghdad the day before should be melted down and included in the steel used to rebuild the World Trade Center.

"Let's melt it down. Let's bring it to New York and put it in one of the girders that's going to rise over here as a symbol of the rebuilding of New York, of the rebuilding of America," Pataki said as the crowd erupted in cheers.

The videotaped image of Iraqis hauling down Hussein's statue was broadcast around the world Wednesday morning, signaling the fall of Baghdad.

The rally was organized by the Building and Construction Trade Council of Greater New York, which represents more than 100,000 union workers. An estimated 15,000 New Yorkers turned out to hear Pataki, former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole and an array of local officials cheer the U.S. victory.

"Look at the Iraqis dancing in the streets of Baghdad, embracing our troops and cheering our president," Dole told the crowd, according to NY1.com. "The gulag that Saddam and his henchmen took three decades to create, Tommy Franks and his coalition forces took only three weeks to dismantle."

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, who was appointed to a coveted post on the Senate Armed Services Committee in January and who has made 9/11 constituent services her cause celebre, did not attend the support-the-troops rally.

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Saddam Hussein/Iraq
War on Terrorism

[sarasota]

Can't buy into this one. Who want's even his statue's remains as part of our memorial?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

To hell with the statue - let's melt down Saddam Hussein!

[goldstategop]

hehehe.... I recall the U.S Flag on Saddam's head was that 9-11 Flag raised by those firemen in that famous photo. I think there would be some poetic justice in seeing Saddam's monument strike big stake through Mohammed Atta's grave.

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[alisasny]

I find this bizarre too.

[CalvaryJohn]

Apparently, Mr. Pataki doesn't know the difference between bronze and steel. Also, the citizenry of Baghdad seems to have already reduced said statue to pocket sized souveniers. Another asinine comment from a totally flaccid RINO.