COMMENTARY Information chief unshakable as Baghdad falls around him

SF Chronicle ^ | 4-8-03 | Ashraf Khalil, Chronicle Foreign Service

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Doha, Qatar -- Every recent war has created its share of media stars, but the most unlikely star to emerge from this one may be the quixotic Iraqi minister of information, Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf.

With a roguish grin and a twinkle in his eye, al-Sahhaf has remained utterly unruffled in the face of his government's seemingly imminent demise. In the process, he has gained his own cult following among many Arab television viewers.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

I don't deny the humor associated with Baghdad Bob, but his message is designed to stimulate islamist/Arab hatred for America, our allies, and Israel.

[Bluntpoint]

"Iraq did not have war with that nation, the United States of America. This is just another smear campaign by those lying yankee perpetrators of personal destruction."

[sarasota]

Is it possible there are those who are only hearing Baghdad Bob's side of the war story? EEEgads.

[Izzy Dunne]

Is it possible there are those who are only hearing Baghdad Bob's side of the war story?

I suspect the number of Iraqi freepers is rather small...

[Leroy S. Mort]

Here's the latest comedy routine:

Tuesday, April 8, 2003
Iraq Vows to Destroy U.S. Forces, Says No Surrender

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq vowed on Tuesday to defeat U.S. forces advancing in the heart of Baghdad with tanks backed by aircraft and artillery.

"We are going to tackle them and going to destroy them," Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf told reporters.

"They are going to surrender or be burned in their tanks," he said of the U.S. forces, asked if Iraq itself was considering surrender on the 20th day of the war aimed at toppling President Saddam Hussein.

U.S. tanks advanced in the center of the city from an overnight base in a compound of a presidential palace captured by U.S. forces on Monday. Aircraft and artillery pounded government buildings in the center of the city.

"Baghdad is bracing to pummel the invaders," he said.

Sahaf accused U.S. forces of attacking civilian targets in central Baghdad, including the offices of Al-Jazeera television. Jazeera said a cameraman was killed in a U.S. air raid.

"They are in an hysterical state and think that if they kill civilians they are going to win, they're not going to win," he said.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

"Saddam Hussein never told me to lie. Not once. And now Saddam Hussein has to get back to the important work of giving free health care to every citizen, particularly the children."

[codercpc]

Where did the name "Baghdad Bob" come from?

I heard Greg Kelly on FNC this morning say that the troops in Baghdad are now calling him that too.

[grobdriver]

Come to the cities," he roared, promising that they would be met with "bullets and shoes." The shoe reference is a special bit of local flavor. In most Middle Eastern cultures, the sole of the shoe is considered unclean, and to be hit with a shoe is particularly humiliating.

First time I say video of a free Iraqi banging on Saddam's picture/poster with his shoe I wondered "What they hell?"
Now I understand.
LOL!!! Makes it even better!

[mewzilla]

Unshakable? LOL. Drugs will do that for ya.

[Use It Or Lose It]

Is it possible there are those who are only hearing Baghdad Bob's side of the war story?

Just heard on CNN (on the radio - only source of war coverage at work) that SH has been getting "bad info," from their ministers, i.e., that the RepGuard was in control of the airport when it was not. Where did he (and we) hear that? Interesting.

[RayChuang88]

Where did the name "Baghdad Bob" come from?

I have this feeling that the phrase may have been coined here on FreeRepublic at the start of the war.

[TomHarkinIsNotFromIowa]

Sideshow bob from the simpsons.

[Henchman]

BB MUST say what he says or Saddam / Bath Tub Bioys would KILL him. He isn't stupid or he wouldn't have risen to the position - at least alive.

[Use It Or Lose It]

Where did the name "Baghdad Bob" come from? I heard Greg Kelly on FNC this morning say that the troops in Baghdad are now calling him that too.

Colonel David Hunt on Fox News gave him that name.

[codercpc]

Thats what I thought too but I wasnt sure.

I have heard it two other times on Fox and Friends, both this weekend (Mike) and yesterday (Brian I think). And then when I heard it from the troops at Saddams Palace today I just had to ask.

I know the first time I heard it was last week on FreeRepublic.

Whoever thought it up CONGRATS!!!!

[agenda_express]

"surprising resilience of Iraqi fighters in the first weeks of the war"

Are the people writing this story following the same war that I am? The "surprisingly resilient" Iraqi fighters are 90% dead or captured. What a pile of BS from the Chronicle.

[Let's Roll]

The Arab culture does not encourage cause and effect thinking. They actually believe that if they plan on doing something, it is the same as actually doing it. Even their language encourages this. Here is an FR thread from a couple years ago that explains this phenomena in detail.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/579525/posts

[ArcadeQuarters]

I wonder why he grins when he says these things. Maybe he's trying to let everyone know that he doesn't believe what he's saying. Maybe he's confident because he's made a secret deal with the allies.

[MattMa]

This seems like a fitting picture.

[sarasota]

Now I get it. Taught from birth to lie and blame America.
How many generations will it take to transform that cultural adaptation of the real world?