Arabs Blame Saddam, Military for Looting

Newsday ^ | April 12, 2003 | PAUL GARWOOD

[FairOpinion]

CAIRO, Egypt -- Arabs across the Middle East blamed Saddam Hussein's repressive rule and the lack of intervention by U.S. forces for the looting and vandalism sprees that plagued Baghdad and other Iraqi cities.

"This a response to 30 years of deprivation, destruction and instability under Saddam Hussein's rule," said Khaled al-Maaena, editor of a Saudi daily, the Arab News.

"There is also an element of revenge against the regime, and also the general human sentiment to run wild after being cooped up for so long," he said.

[FairOpinion]

When Arabs starting to show more understanding and sense, than liberals, well, that really points out that liberals are irrelevant whiners, who are totally out of touch.

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[Brad’s Gramma]

Nancy Pelosi! Come over here and read this!

[The Mayor]

Bump!

[stop_fascism]

I thought Saddam was a hero to the Arabs. When did they realize his regime was repressive?

[FairOpinion]

"When did they realize his regime was repressive? "

----

As a matter of fact, only recently. I read some articles that they were surprised to find out, how much the Iraqi people hated Saddam and how happy they were to be rid of him.

[steve-b]

I thought Saddam was a hero to the Arabs. When did they realize his regime was repressive?

When the Arabs finally admitted that Saddam was the loser.

[Homer1]

My question is:
What did CNN know and when did they know it?

[Caesar Soze]

So it's Saddam's fault for repressing them too much. And it's our fault for not oppressing them enough. But it's not the looters' faults, because they were oppressed. Although it's not stated at the head of the article, it's probably also Israel's fault, for oppressing other Arabs hundreds of miles away. And it might be Shaytan's fault; Muslim fundamentalists tend to blame him for a lot of the bad things they do, or at least, those bad things they don't attribute to the Koran, the Hadiths, and fatwas.

[agincourt1415]

To CNN "Lucy you got some splanin to do"

[Paleo Conservative]

I thought the Arabs didn't want US troops to occupy Iraq. Then they complain when we are too busy continuing to fight the war rather than send in occupation troops.

[McGavin999]

Most of the looting that the world has been so horrified about consists of taking office chairs, tv sets, refrigerators etc. from government buildings. From the looks of it, most people didn't really care what they got as long as they got something. I expect this will all come under control in the next few days and that most of the things of value (not the plastic lawn chairs and garish sofas) will be returned.

I expect the thiefs who stole the priceless objects from the museum will be caught and the goods returned.

[FairOpinion]

I think there are two types of looters: one group,who are just ordinary Iraqis, who peacefully are taking something home for themselves, like a few pieces of furniture, and another set, who is more criminal element breaking into places like hospitals and museums.

Someone in another thread mentioned, what if these "other" types of "looters" are actually Saddam's feddayins, trying to sabotage things. And it would make sense, because why else would they attack hospitals and water plants, except for sabotage.

[McGavin999]

That's pretty much what I've been thinking myself. I seriously doubt if it's the regular Iraqi people. That may be why the police chief came forward today.

[Arpege92]

I can't even imagine the out cry from Arab nations if the troops had tried to intervene the very first day of freedom. Those Americans can't tell me what to do....who the hell do they think they are....you can't please these people. They are always going to hate us and find fault in us.

[brydic1]

Saddam sent huge sums of money to Arab Press reporters in order to buy favorable coverage. Now the money flow is cut off and these reporters will begin to SEE things differently.

[brydic1]

Many of the wealthy and merchant class in Baghdad are (Sunni) Baath Party members. As in many state run economies, the government gives permits for businesses to political favorites. I would venture to guess that the Shiites (the outcast) are simply taking out their revenge on Saddam favorites when they raid homes of the wealthy and businesses in Baghdad.

[Stopislamnow]

god forbid someone actually blame the real people responsible.

The looters.

[brydic1]

Just read in the Washington Post the following quote "The fact that the vaults were opened suggests that employees of the museum may have been involved," said the employee, who declined to be identified. "To ordinarily people, these are just stones. Only the educated know the value of these pieces."

Just as I suspected.

[laz17]

I thought Saddam was a hero to the Arabs. When did they realize his regime was repressive?

When they realized that Al Jazeera lies. Now, I wonder if Americans will realize that CNN lies, even after CNN themselves admitted it?