Saddam Capture 'Painful' for Arabs [I love him so much, I can’t stand watching it]

Scotsman ^ | 12-13-03

[SJackson]

................................

Saddam Capture 'Painful' for Arabs

For many ordinary Palestinians, the TV footage of a dishevelled Saddam obediently submitting to a medical exam by his US captors was painful to watch: it sealed the defeat of the one Arab leader they felt always stood by them.

Saddam should have put up a fight or committed suicide, they said, and his surrender is a stain on Arab honour.

“It is a big defeat for all Arabs and Muslims,” said Raji Hassan, 29, watching TV with friends in a Gaza City coffee shop.

The Palestinian Authority declined official comment.

While Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat had supported Saddam in the 1991 Gulf War, his government had been careful to stay on the sidelines during the US-led invasion of Iraq this year.

Mohammed Horani, a legislator from Arafat’s ruling Fatah movement, said he expected many Palestinians and Arabs to have mixed feelings.

“Saddam is a dictator and the Iraqi people suffered under him, but on the other hand, it was the (American) occupation that caught him,” he said. “There will be a sense of confusion in the public.”

Horani said he had expected Saddam to be more courageous. ”I had expected him to have fought back, or at least end his life,” he said. “But then again, all dictators are cowards.”

During the past three years of Israeli-Palestinian fighting, Saddam sent millions of dollars to the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In the 1991 Gulf War, Saddam attacked Israel with 39 Scud missiles, in the failed hope of breaking up an Arab coalition against him.

When the Iraqi missiles flew over the West Bank, en route to targets in Israel, Palestinians would often cheer.

Today, about a dozen men were playing pool in Gaza City hall while the news was being broadcast on a television in the corner. No one even turned to look at the television.

“I love him so much, I can’t stand watching it while he’s in custody,” Raafat Logman, 23, said as he was shooting pool. “We are surprised. We are so sad,” said Sameh Aloul, 22

[jellybean]

This interview actually took place in a downtown Washington D.C. pool hall. Jayson Blair changed the name of the interviewees to make it appear he was actually in Gaza City.

"I love him so much, I can't stand watching it while he's in custody," Raafat Logman, 23 Hillary! Rodham, said as (sh)he was shooting pool. "We are surprised. We are so sad," said Sameh Aloul, 22 Tom Daschole.

[lilylangtree]

Can just hear the democrats and pro-Saddam loyalists crying. Yippee!

[Dan from Michigan]

I KNEW before clicking on the article that it HAD to be the Palis.

[Travis McGee]

#19 is so right! Major cognitive dissonance is going on in the Arab Muslim world today.

The symbolism of being captured without a struggle in a dirt rat hole is also very powerful in destroying his Muslim mojo forever.

[elhombrelibre]

Men like Saddam and Noriega don't fight back. They leave that to young, deluded nut cases.

[expatpat]

If Saddam had eluded capture, it would have shown that Allah is behind the Jihad, but for Saddam to be captured, and without a fight, it shows that Allahs favor is not on him.

Interesting analysis -- do you think that this view will be widespread among arabs?

[O Neill]

#19 is so right! Major cognitive dissonance is going on in the Arab Muslim world today.
The symbolism of being captured without a struggle in a dirt rat hole is also very powerful in destroying his Muslim mojo forever.

BTTT! And Hitlery, only a few days ago, was quoted by Rush as declaring her deep dread regarding the coming onset of the Muslim 'Haj' (sp?)....

What a hoot!

[freedomcrusader]

“It is a big defeat for all Arabs and Muslims,” said Raji Hassan, 29,...

Get used to it.

[nickcarraway]

New Poll Shows Saddam Opening a Ten Point Lead Over Howard Dean in Hew Hampshire

[Travis McGee]

My favorite picture today: our troops in one of his palaces watching his capture.

This is really twisting the knife for the humiliated Saddamites.

[TheSpottedOwl]

,i.“I love him so much, I can’t stand watching it while he’s in custody,” Raafat Logman, 23, said as he was shooting pool. “We are surprised. We are so sad,” said Sameh Aloul, 22

Better put some ice on it, Raafat...

[syriacus]

Peter Arnett says:
I get dibs on the first post-capture interview with Saddam.

[VRWC For Truth]

Bump. Great day to be an American.

[syriacus]

Scott Ritter says:

"I have dibs on being the first to strip-search Saddam for hidden weapons.
That can be done quickly at my favorite fast-food establishment."

[Eric in the Ozarks]

'sbeen that way for a thousand years.

[FrdmLvr]

It's painful for leftists too.

Just as I've been thinking. It's now after 1:00 pm est, and I've yet to hear comments from the left, such as any of the Dem candidates including Hillary. Where are they?

[Salem]

"Saddam should have put up a fight or committed suicide, they said, and his surrender is a stain on Arab honour."

Oh yeah right! When are these people going to realize they are being misled by a bunch of posers and actors who, when the balloon goes up and the shooting starts, their real character comes out for all to see! Any simple Iraqi soldier who decided to take a stand against US Forces at the outset of this war, although certainly misguided, has more honor than Saddam!

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[TheDon]

The images of the captured Saddam have great propaganda value for the US. The Arab media, read Arab gov'ts, cannot explain them away, nor can they explain all the nonsense they have been feeding their subjects after the invasion of Iraq. There may well be a religious dimension to Saddam's capture and humiliation, but the secular dimension is very, very large. Capturing Saddam has removed a great propaganda tool from the anti-US forces throughtout the region and the US, read the Demorats.

[O Neill]

Thanks for posting the great pic of our troops in the palace watching the news of Sad-dam's capture like some sort of Baghdadian Saturday Night Live. The decorated CHRISTmas tree in one of the palaces adds even more irony. Much appreciated!

[American in Israel]

Don't know what they will do, but they got some splainin to do...