Arabs Have Mixed Emotions About Saddam Capture

news.myway.com ^ | Dec 14, 9:10 AM (ET) | By Edmund Blair

[ovrtaxt]

CAIRO (Reuters) - Arabs greeted the capture of Saddam Hussein with divided emotions Sunday, welcoming the arrest of a dictator yet tinged with regret that a symbol of Arab defiance against the United States was behind bars.

Some feared Saddam's capture would boost President Bush, who many Arabs believe has waged a campaign against them and other Muslims after the September 11 attacks. But others said the fight against U.S. occupation would go on.

"It is happy news but we wish it were the Iraqi people who had captured him, not U.S. troops, because this will give Bush a boost in the upcoming election," said Bahraini salesman Hussein Jafar as news of Saddam's capture swept through Arab capitals.

U.S. troops captured Saddam, grubby and bearded, when he was dug out by troops from a narrow hiding hole during a raid on a farm near his hometown of Tikrit.

"I only wish it was not the Americans who got him. I don't like Saddam but as an Arab I wouldn't like to see them (Americans) dragging him around Baghdad," said Syrian student Abdul-Nasser.

For others, the capture was disappointing news. Saddam may have been seen as a dictator who oppressed his people, but many also saw him as the only Arab leader who stood up to the United States, which they said rode roughshod through the region.

"Of course it's bad news. To us, Saddam was a symbol of defiance to the U.S. plans in the region. And we support any person who stands in the face of the American dominance," said Azzam Hneidi, an Islamist member of Jordan's parliament.

KEEPING UP THE FIGHT

Others said the U.S. success might prove fleeting, saying Iraqis were not fighting for Saddam but for an end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

"The situation in Iraq will not change much. I don't think the resistance was linked to Saddam and it will increase as was the case after the death of Uday and Qusay," said Yemeni political analyst Saeed Shabet, referring to Saddam's two sons.

In Gaza and the West Bank, where Palestinians are fighting against an Israeli occupation, some were in somber mood that the United States, perceived as providing unswerving support for Israel, could claim victory.

"It's a black day in history. I am saying so not because Saddam is an Arab but because he is the only man who said 'no' to American injustice in the Middle East," said Fadiq Husam, a 33-year-old taxi driver in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

But in Kuwait, occupied by Iraq in 1990-1991, the reaction was one of joy. Some cars honked horns along a seaside road that during the occupation had been lined with Iraqi army positions. Others sent mobile phone messages to spread the news.

"We are so happy they got him...The people of Iraq have been brainwashed by the Saddam regime. They need another 20 years to realize that the Kuwaitis are not to blame for the Iraqis' plight," said Kuwaiti Mohammad al-Hudieb, cruising the Arabian Gulf seafront in his jeep.

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Religion of Peace Alert...

[Eala]

Sheesh! Reading that headline I thought it was something from Edward Said... but he's dead.

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"It is happy news but we wish it were the Iraqi people who had captured him, not U.S. troops, because this will give Bush a boost in the upcoming election," said Bahraini salesman Hussein Jafar as news of Saddam's capture swept through Arab capitals.

Seems there's a solid Democrat base in Bahrain.

"It's a black day in history. I am saying so not because Saddam is an Arab but because he is the only man who said 'no' to American injustice in the Middle East," said Fadiq Husam, a 33-year-old taxi driver in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Oh, this guy's a real peach.

[diotima]

THIS is pricelss...ya' can't make this stuff up.

[demkicker]

"It's a black day in history. I am saying so not because Saddam is an Arab but because he is the only man who said 'no' to American injustice in the Middle East," said Fadiq Husam, a 33-year-old taxi driver in the West Bank city of Ramallah."

I sure hope this guy's reaction isn't typical. Geesh, we've still got a long way to go in reasoning with these people who sometimes defy logic.

[BenLurkin]

I'd be P.O.'d about how Arabs have any sympathy for this b_st_rd, but then I turn on CBS and CNN and see the mixed emotions showing there.

Did Biden really say this is "a big, big , day for George W. Bush"? Slimeball . . .

[Green Knight]

Yeah, right? Nevermind the copious amounts of injustice Saddam regularly spread around on his own. Yet the perceived American injustices are somehow worse than being the reason why there're so many mass graves in Iraq. But because he's an arab, mass murders committed by him are a-ok. Right.

[xm177e2]

Maybe these Arab nationalists should stop moping and think about picking a better symbol for Arab nationalism and anti-American defiance. Like, you know, a journalist or something. Not a tyrant mass-murderer dictator who used to run a terror state and now opens his mouth for tongue depressors.

[CWOJackson]

"...regret that a symbol of Arab defiance against the United States was behind bars."

Regret over finally understanding what President Bush meant what he said.

[BenLurkin]

If born out this pretty much establishes beyond doubt that the fight in Iraq is a fight against terrorists and not against the Iraqi people.

[eyespysomething]

These people should have to go tell this crap to the Iraqi people.

Yeah, the Iraqis are sorry America captured Hussein also, because he stood up to America. < /sarcasm>

[Cultural Jihad]

Saddam, wandering the streets of Baghdad

[Salvation]

**yet tinged with regret that a symbol of Arab defiance against the United States was behind bars.**

Yeah, they are losing a source of money!

[Young Rhino]

Journalists are deeply saddened by his capture. They join Tom Daschle in mourning.

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Perhaps, one day, Arabs freed by the US will stand up to the scum among them and deal with these problems themselves. The Turks are a fair model to emulate.

And watch Iran. The tide is turning, as Gandalf says...

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Hey, Aqualung.... :^p

[KC_Conspirator]

I sure hope this guy's reaction isn't typical.

I am pretty sure its typical of many leftists/democrats who are hearing the news this morning.

[Alouette]

I only wish it was not the Americans who got him.

Yeah. Coulda been the Kurds...

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I jumped over to DU earlier. As of 9:30 or so, they had a total of about 115 posts on the entire subject. They started about 5:30 AM. They are twisting in the wind....HAHAHA

[Diddle E. Squat]

On NBC, being interviewed about his reaction to Saddam's capture, John F-word Kerry popped up on my TV screen, talking about the administration 'hubris'. I immediately began beating my shoe against his face on the TV....