Saddam - The Sacrificial Lion

Re: # 6

I do not know how much of this is true. Before the war started USA might have been willing to allow Saddam and his family to leave Iraq for a neutral country like Libya.

Re: # 8

There are several Shite groups in Iraq - supporters of Sadr are not to be confused with Badr party which is ironically one of the Shite groups with out a militia.

Re: # 6 Bizarre . . . trying to justify . . . Sadam cannot be a hero no mater what so please stop trying .

HP, `no matter what` means your mind is made up, which is great, but based on the information we have so far, he was no better or no worse than the many brutal dictators out there. In addition, his rule was good for his country. The Shia-Sunni divide is artificial and newly created - he just put down rebellions ruthlessly, much like Musharraf put down in Baluchistan or Abraham Lincoln put down in the US, or Putin in Chechnya. I did not use the word `hero` for that is very subjective. He was a great mans, and `great` may also be subjective to some, but his place in history cannot be denied.


Re: #7 Why is it that we (muslims) cannot have a Nelson Mandela or Mahatmma Gandhi? Why do we continue to honor dictators, mass murderers, tyrants? Something is wrong in paradise.

rf786, I have pondered over this question often, and a quote comes to mind: ``Everyone`s a pacifist between wars. It`s like being a vegetarian between meals.`` (Colman McCarthy). Pacifism needs a certain political climate, as it works on the conscience of the oppressor. Sadly, the Europe-Islam see-saw history goes back a long way and conscience plays very little part in it. Had Gandhi been part of the 1857 uprising, he would have been hanged in Delhi, and had Martin Luther King started his movement in the 1840s instead of 1960s, he would have been promptly lynched. Only when conditions are right does non-violent resistance work.

#15 by ballukhan: Saddam Hussein`s regime has carried out frequent summary executions

ballukhan, I do not deny that Saddam was a brutal dictator, but everything was documented and within the rule of law (what we have soon so far), however flawed the laws were. If Iraq had become a paradise after he went away, you would have a point. But with militias carrying out torture and extra-judicial murders that are way more numerous than Saddam ever did, one has no option but to conclude that he had put a strong lid on the various religious and ethnic forces in Iraq and had fashioned a modern prosperous secular Arab state, that may have become democratic over time.

Thank you all for your interaction. I will be back later.

Every reason that Western governments and their propaganda machinery had churned out to justify their invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan has turned out to be a blatant lie. Every main stream propaganda outlet like Times, BBC, ABC, CNN, and many more have publically apologized to their readership and viewership for feeding lies about this war, in order to remain credible. And this means that every accusation that they must have made against Saddam, must also have been a blatant lie.

The truth finally comes out, if you trust Lord and do the right thing. They had so much pride in their technology and power of media and propaganda but what is the net result? Take for example, Americans; the number of Americans who now believe that US government is complacent in 9/11 attacks or even perpetrator of it, is almost equal to those Americans who have acute hatered for Muslims and Islam. Britain has stopped using the crass terminology ``war on terror`` through an official decree. Only gukking losers and hindus use this terminology still. All the pride that they had in their war machine (most fearsome war machine ever in the history of mankind) has been tarnished by helpless and unarmed citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan.

God does work in mysterious ways. Everything that they intended to use against helpless people of the world has turned aginst themselves.

#9 by parthaab on January 2, 2007 2:07am PT
.......

Had he done that, thousands of innocents that the bood hungry neo-cons were determined to kill would have been saved.

As they say it is better to die the death of a warrior than live the life of a coward. Just because we Subcontinentals have mastered the art of bending over and made servility seem like a virtue does not mean that we should expect everyone else to do the same. For almost two centuries Indians (includes Pakistanis and Bangladeshis) were like obedient servants to the British and what did we get in return. From a nation that along with China accounted for almost one-half of the world`s output in 1757 was a poster child for poverty in 1947.

We all have to die one day. Yes, four million Vietnamese died in the US bombings in the 1960s and 70s. Yes, most of its infrastructure was destroyed. But at the end of the day, 58000 Americans also died and hundreds of thousands battered physically and psychologically. The war changed the entire psyche of America and the Vietnam syndrome came in. The generation gap became a big rift in the American society. Despite easy victories over Grenada, Panama, Iraq (Gulf War I) and Serbia, the defeat of Vietnam was never erased from its memories. Even today with things getting out of hand in Iraq, Vietnam comparisons have started propping up.

The Vietnam of today is no better or worse off than the Indian subcontinent or many other Third World countries. Yes, it is hard to erase the memories of the dead ones but time is a big healer. Most importantly, the Vietnamese can walk with their heads held high unlike us Subcontinentals who were ``Jewel in the Crown``. If you ever want the enemy to feel your pain then give him a nice kick in the chins. It is not how many Iraqis who are dying that is making the Americans (and the poodles like Britain and Australia) rethink that war is bad; hundreds of thousands died during GW1 and another 2 million due to sanctions under the Clinton regime. It is the thousands of Americans who have died or the tens of thousands who are maimed forever that is making them rethink their strategy. The likes of Cindy Sheehan had no problems in her son joining the military and had it been an easy victory then we would never have heard from her. With her son dead, we are hearing from the likes of her.

HP writes <<< Are you sure Musharaf surrendered in one letter? Perhaps, perhaps he only played his part… >>>

That was no political analysis on my part, I agree with what you say that he played his part, as did Saddam until he refused to play it anymore (that was what the comparison of the appearances was about), neither Musharraf nor Saddam did anything for the sake of their people in these decisons. In the case of Saddam, his decision was that of a gangster that becomes too independant and big for his boots because the master has cut him some slack in the past, he totally miscalculated, and so the `top dogs` eliminated him in their usual manner with a farce trial. Musharraf can only pee in his pants at the thought of going against his masters...

#7 by rf786 on January 2, 2007 1:52am PT
Dear Writer,
Irrespective of what Bush and his cohorts have done in Iraq, Saddam was a tyrant unworthy of any sympathy or respect. One can disagree with the Cnn`s and Bbc`s of this world, but listening to Iraqi expatriates who have chiling stories to tell one could only pray for this man`s death.

Rf786, as the author has correctly pointed out that in that part of the world a danda only works. As to the Dujaal killings for which he was convicted and hanged; the people of that village had tried to kill him. Killing or attempting to kill the head of a state is a treasonable offense under the laws of many nations including the US. Treason carries the death penalty in many nations including the US. Yes, his methods might have been crude but it is a different region with a different set of laws, conditions, beliefs.

As to Iraqi expatriates, I take that with a grain of salt. The BBCs and CNNs are nothing more than sophisticated instruments of deception in promoting the Western interests. They package their shit so nicely that in the end they promote and project those viewpoints that they want. A real life example. India conducted its second round of nuclear tests on May 13, 1998. Whether you agree or disagree with the tests one fact was certain that most Indians supported the tests and nuclearization just as most Pakistanis supported their country`s decision. On May 14, 1998, the local ABC affiliate of San Francisco, KGO-ABC TV had a virulently anti-India report in its 11 `o` clock news. They had one ex-serviceman from India who was anti-tests and based on that they apparently decided that he represented most of the Indians and supported any sanctions against India. Of course, how many Indians did they interview before they found one that matched their opinion is anyone`s guess. The same night on Nightline they had three Americans discussing the tests but not a single Indian was invited to give the Indian version.

Pakistanis, with blood of 3 million Bengalis on their hands, praising Saddam is like Hitler praising King Leopold as a righteous and moral man.

{``Saddam Hussein will be remembered as the lion that rose from Tikrit, the land of Salahuddin. Yes, the same Saladin, the Crusaders` nightmare. And that land will produce more like them.``}

Akber Sahib,
While I cannot, with a straight face, agree with your lavish and extremely generous eulogy to Sadman Houston, I can honestly understand what motivated you to write this. I have always despised this tyrant who is obviously guilty of so much. No single individual, with the possible exceptions of Genghis Khan, Hulagu Khan, and Mohammad Ali Jinnah, is responsible for more Muslim deaths than Sadman Houston. All of his victims were Muslim. All the countries that he voluntarily fought were Muslim. All of his ``victories`` were against Muslims. The deaths of half a million Shiite Eye Ranians, hundreds of thousands of Eye Racki Arab Shiites, thousands of Eye Racki Sunni Kurds, and numerous Kuwaiti Sunni Arabs make him a truly equal opportunity murderer of Muslims. This man squandered billions of dollars of Eye Rack wealth for the destruction of Eye Ran, Eye Rack, and Kuwait. This man set back the cause of Arab freedom by at least two generations. This man, who mocked God by putting ``Allahu Akbar`` on the Eye Racki flag as a cheap means to gather favor, was about as sincere and pious as the lice in his hair when he was discovered in his hellhole by American forces.

Having said that, the manner in which he was ``tried,`` and worse, lynched, reaffirms my faith that given the opportunity, Muslims and especially Arabs, will always do the wrong thing. There was no need to ``execute`` Sadman Houston. He was already weak, already humiliated, and already refuted. The spectacle caught by someone`s cell phone camera depicts a brave man - calm, resolute, defiant, and respectably taking his ``punishment`` with dignity, grace, and patience. Conversely, his hooded tormentors appeared to be acting like cowards - hyena-like in their stupid sounds of ``Muqtada, Muqtada, Muqtada.`` What this tragedy of errors betrayed was that maybe, just maybe, Sadman Houston was slightly justified in liquidating these vengeful, violent, and venomous Eye Racki Shiite militiamen. This was not a good day for Eye Rack, for Shiaism, for Islam, for Arabs, or for the future.
Good article.

Saddam might have been a tyrant, but he wasn`t a fundoo. And that means a lot.

I cursed him the day when he allowed himself to be captured alive. Here was this mofo, posing everywhere with guns and swords, who allowed millions of his countrymen die for his tomfoolery, his empty bravado; and when the crunch came, he didn`t even fire two shots in air. The least he owed to all those dead Iraqis, whoever they were, combatants or non-combatants, the least he owed to them was a shot through his own skull. But he gave himself up to them like a bloody rat, the b@stard. I cursed him when I saw those pics, may he rot in hell forever.

But now that he is dead and gone, I hope his soul rests in peace. May Allah or whichever god they swear by, may he give Iraqis the fortitude and sagacity to put him behind them. His hanging episode is an example of utter stupidity by the present govt. Such idiots will do more harm to Iraqis than ten Saddams could do together.

And for some grave-dancing gleeful Chowkies I would say only this : Respect death. You don`t know when it will come looking for you.

Re: # 25

Salim Bhaijan, as much as I agree with you, I hope you are not looking for any similarities between Saddam and Houston. While Saddam was joyful to see the blood, Sam Houston refused an offer to put down the insurgence and he retired before the civil war. There is simply no comparison between the two. Unless, you mean to imply some oil connection of Saddam the son of a bytch and Houston, TX. Do you see how mind boggling it is to see the Paki Muslims talking about injustice in lands far away? Why can’t Pakis concentrate on Paki issues for a change? Inconsequential morons like Masadi and the author of this article is oh so brave to tell us all how bad the west is, while they will never have the balls to say anything about the butchery of 3 million Bengalis, and the injustices vetted to the religious minorities in their own countries. They are class-A certified wankers with their heads shoved in their own behinds.

#27, Kullee Payee,
I always use the name ``Sadman Houston`` for this tyrant because, as a believing Shiite, I do not want to refer to him by the name of the martyred grandson of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). ``Sadman`` describes him much better than ``Saddam`` which only means confrontational.

As for Pakis cheering or lamenting the execution, the preceding butchery, or the treatment of minorities, I totally agree with you. The way Pakistanis have treated their minorities, their majorities, and everyone in between should land every leader from that God awful Jinnah to Mushy Mushy Mush Mush and every pilfering, murdering, lying SOB in between in hell. There is nothing ``Pak`` about this country and nothing will cure it of its ills other than reunification with India.

there is no big lesson to be learnt, no legacy whatsoever. did bhutto`s hanging leave any ``legacy``? its naked tribalism begetting more tribalism. sure amricans will leanr a lesson from all this, but will the ummah?

paki hearts beat for saddam...

color me shocked...

Kulharee writes <<< Pakistanis, with blood of 3 million Bengalis on their hands, praising Saddam is like Hitler praising King Leopold as a righteous and moral man >>>

``Pakistanis`` are just as much guilty of the blood of 3 million Bengalis (the numbers that you throw out are still contested), as ``Americans`` are of killing tens of millions in their bloody history. Let us see you use the hitler analogy for them.

The people cannot be blamed for the decisions and doings of their elite especially when they have little or no control or representation, consciousness or organization, which is true both of Americans and Pakistanis but moreso for Pakistanis. But your perverted morality and propaganda spewing is incapable of understanding that...

#31 Masadi, why should the people and the society not be blamed? the leaders do not come from a vaccum. pakistani leadership in not un-representative, it represents the will of many of its people. its only fair for pakistani people to take credit and blame for its leadership including the military. the leadership more or less is an outcome of overall social ethos.