Son's fears for fate of information minister

The Scotsman ^ | April 19, 2003 | JIM MCBETH

[Anomaly in Illinois]

nicknamed "Surgical Ali"

OMG Ivan, too funny!

[ConservativeLawyer]

"Everyone felt sorry for him, but it didn’t stop people calling him Surgical Ali."

That quote gave me a chuckle.

[Fred Mertz]

"Everyone felt sorry for him, but it didn’t stop people calling him Surgical Ali."

I do feel sorry for his son, Surgical Ali, really.

[buickmackane]

We love this guy, come on admit it, we all do. He had timing, lying is easy, comedy is hard. I really hope he didn't kill himself, I hope he is not dead. I think the possibility for his rehabilitation is great and would be one of the best things to come out of this war. I hope he realizes he could have a big show-biz career here in America. I hope for his redemption, in this world, or the next. He's a star, a media star, got the 15 minutes in that's for sure. Don't be too hard on the son, tough situation, don't jump down his throat over a few ill-chosen words.

I agree with you. I really don't want the suicide story to be true.

[AFPhys]

I agree that "only following orders" doesn't cut it. I must say, though, that I hope BaghdadBob hasn't killed himself. I would like to see him captured, and IF his culpability in the Saadumb regime's activities went no further than his "Info Minister" schtick, I'd love to see him make the US media rounds.

[Southack]

"The Iraqi doctor has been working in Dublin for over two years. The joint Belfast visit by President Bush and Tony Blair was surprising to everyone. To suggest that this Iraqi doctor is working in Ireland to coincide with a surprise visit by President Bush is rather tenuous, don't you think?"

The visit surprised only the press and a few political neophytes. Moreover, my comments had nothing to do with the visit per se, but more to do with the fact that an as yet unnamed sponsor was caught operating a group of snipers in Iraq.

Bush is going to wage various forms of war against every group that is caught shooting at the U.S., so it shouldn't surprise anyone to consider that it might just be feasible that some IRA mercenaries were hired by Iraq, and that GWB is going to aid in the eradication of any such threats.

That the son of a high-level Iraqi government official has been confirmed to have been in a position to facilitate such hiring of mercenaries should certainly not detract from such a posibility.

[Happygal]

Southack...a doctor (if he's working in Beaumount hospital) would require an IMMENSE amount of time and energy (after he's done his doctorly duties in the busiest hospital in Ireland) to recruit people to facilitate Saddam Hussein. And you must also remember, Beaumount is in the Republic of Ireland, it's not like Belfast. (Hell, even Belfast is not rampant with terrorists like you think it is!!)

I believe you are engaging in a theory with no factual basis. (If you are right, I will buy you pints of Guinness until your liver gives out!!). But I sincerely suggest you are wrong.

Don't get me wrong, I have NO TIME at all for the IRA, nor the terrorist thug element they have produced. But Ireland breeds a better class of citizen than the blanket label you have just levelled at her country.

[Southack]

Ireland is a great country. I mean no disrespect, but even great countries have their few undesireables within. It is those undesireables to whom I am referring.

During the combat in Iraq, an embedded reporter noted that some snipers "from a country that I can *not* yet name" were captured fighting against us.

There are really just two sponsors who are *well* known for turning out top-notch snipers for hire, Serbia and the IRA.

In Serbia, we have seen a recent sniping assasination, so they are still suspect.

And in Ireland, we have had Bush and Blair recently meet to give a "surprise" in-country discussion about fighting terrorism, so the IRA is still a suspect.

Added to the IRA's column is that one of Hussein's top officials has a son living in-country.

Thus, I'd give a slight edge in probability to the "unnamed sponsor" of the snipers in Iraq being IRA rather than Serbian.

But it is by no means a concluded fact, nor should it detract from Ireland being a great nation. After all, we have home-grown terrorists even here in the U.S., so I feel your pain, so to speak.

[Happygal]

I still doubt it Southack.

Seriously...the IRA have three pricks in jail in Columbia. (I'm glad they are in jail in Columbia..let them DIE in jails in Columbia).

But, they are inept. (You really think the American secret service would allow Dubya into NI if terrorist snipers had a chance?)

Nah.

Little Baghdad Bob's son was/is just doing his job as a doctor.

I don't believe, not for one instant, he was here in Ireland recruiting anyone.

(If I'm wrong, as I said, I will feed you Guiness free gratis until your liver cries for mercy!! *S*)

[SBprone]

"lying is easy, comedy is hard"

I believe the expression is "Dying is easy, comedy is hard" uttered by some famous American comic on his deathbed.

But I agree with you.

Did you see the movie Funny Bones? The scene where the Jerry Lewis character says to the Oliver Platt character "Some people tell funny and some people ARE funny, but you aren't either!"

Baghdad Bob told funny and he WAS funny. It's not something that can be learned.

[Southack]

My liver now fears you.

[Happygal]

Live in fear!!! I'm the liver repositeur...with a nice Chianti of course!!! ;-)

[jocon307]

'I believe the expression is "Dying is easy, comedy is hard" '

SB, I believe you may be right, but I was closer than I thought, I thought the original was "drama is easy, comedy is hard."

LOL, yours has the ring of truth and humor to it. You see, comedy IS hard!