Cheers for capturing Saddam didn’t last long

Oak Lawn (IL) Reporter ^ | 12/18/03 | Michael M. Bates

[mikeb704]

You’d think that bagging the butcher of Baghdad would be cause for near-universal celebration for at least a while. You’d be wrong.

The first accounts sent hearts – my heart, anyway – soaring. Living in a small hole in the ground with something less than luxurious accommodations, the big bad dictator decided he wasn’t quite ready for paradise and those 72 virgins after all.

Sure, he’s urged young men to go contentedly to their deaths in his name. He’s rewarded the families of suicide bombers with $25,000 a blast. He saw his own two sons die in a firefight with U.S. soldiers rather than surrender.

Hussein found himself more than a little short in the guts department. When the moment of truth arrived, the best he could do was squeal like a sissy and tell our troops he was willing to negotiate.

Realizing this possibly could have a negative effect on aspiring terrorists, Saddam’s sister immediately claimed that Americans must have drugged big brother. Otherwise, he would have gone down fighting. This strongly suggests someone in the family is on heavy medication, and it’s not Saddam.

Senator Joseph Lieberman is a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination. He’s an exceedingly dangerous man, mainly because he’s the only Democrat running who occasionally lurches into rationality.

Mr. Lieberman commented about one of his opponents: "If Howard Dean had his way, Saddam Hussein would be in power today, not in prison, and the world would be a much more dangerous place."

For his part, Dr. Dean claimed that Hussein could have been captured six months earlier. Presumably, this is if Howard Dean were president.

But then, if Howard Dean were president we wouldn’t have been looking for Saddam. We wouldn’t be in Iraq at all. We’d patiently be waiting for the United Nations, that anti-American loony bin that pretends it’s a moral beacon, to give us permission to do what it tells us.

The head spins. Little wonder that Howie is extraordinarily popular with two important segments of the electorate: Rank-and-file Democrats and current White House staffers who won’t have to worry about job security if he nails the nomination.

The doctor isn’t the only spoilsport. Jesse Jackson complained that bin Laden is still on the loose. Some guys you just can’t satisfy.

On Sunday’s 60 Minutes, Lesley Stahl wanted assurance from no less than the secretary of defense that the Red Cross would visit Hussein soon.

Then she asked Don Rumsfeld about, "for lack of a better term, torture. Let’s say he’s not forthcoming. Would we deprive him of sleep, make it very cold where he is, or very hot? Are there any restrictions on the way we treat him to get him to cooperate more than he has been?"

Saddam’s responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. Mass graves, unspeakable atrocities, and jails for children are part of his legacy. And Lesley’s concerned that this despotic monster might be too cold?

I’m surprised she didn’t insist that Secretary Rumsfeld promise Hussein would be provided cable TV. With all the movie channels, of course.

It’s only a short step to the Hussein apologists we’ll likely hear from next. Someone will claim that there really isn’t sufficient evidence to prove that Saddam knew what was being done. Or that he shouldn’t be put on trial because of mental incompetence and/or an advanced case of lice. Or that he was raised in a dysfunctional family and consequently isn’t responsible for anything he’s ever done.

The ACLU will check in, fretting that Saddam’s civil liberties might be ignored. Self-styled human rights organizations will do the same.

There’ll be demands that Hussein’s trial is conducted under the auspices of the UN. This is because the maximum punishment there would be a harshly worded reprimand and mandatory counseling.

A defense fund will be set up. Ed Asner, Barbra Streisand and the rest of the usual suspects will whine that the U.S., already guilty of all the maladies afflicting mankind – make that peoplekind, - has no right to impose its views on the rest of the world. Just because we think Hussein is a brutal murdering tyrant doesn’t make it so.

It’s been reported in the Islamic press that Ramsey Clark, attorney general under Lyndon Johnson, has expressed interest in serving as Hussein’s lawyer. Can Mark Geragos and Johnnie Cochran be far behind?

It will be a circus. One can only hope that America makes certain the right thing is done: Give Hussein a fair trial and then kill him.

[mikeb704]

This was written before a Catholic cardinal checked in with his concerns about the Gutless Wonder's fate.

[JustPlainJoe]

"Jesse Jackson complained that bin Laden is still on the loose. Some guys you just can’t satisfy."

Too bad Jesse Jackson is still on the loose.

[EdReform]

Bump & Ping

[Mac The Knife]

All these groups screaming for justice, were silent when Saddam was killing his own. Silent.

[2banana]

Sure, he’s urged young men to go contentedly to their deaths in his name. He’s rewarded the families of suicide bombers with $25,000 a blast.

I am more than happy knowing that these families will now not get a cent...

[thoughtomator]

Or that he was raised in a dysfunctional family and consequently isn’t responsible for anything he’s ever done.

Believe it or not, Human Rights Watch appears to be asserting this very thing.

[xzins]

The news media must be as worried as France and Chirac.

After all CNN paid for the privilege of turning its head to Saddam's atrocities. Saddam will be able to tell about the sweetheart deals he made with the other alphabet networks in purchasing their silence.

In Saddam's world it probably made sense for the networks to witness an offing as part of any deal so as to assure their silence. Those tapes probably exist.

Can you imagine? ABC witnesses a murder and also pays extortion rates so they can have cameras at the Baghdad Hilton.

[cwb]

And...we already have leading Democratic presidential candidates talking about how Saddam is getting free healtcare, while millions of Americans are suffering. So which is...are we brutallizing this tyrant, or is he getting better care than most Americans? His so-called dental checkup was a search for cyanide...and since lice are very contagious, it only makes sense to rid him of these creatures since he is going to be in close proximity to US soldiers. It is amazing to me the contortions and distortions that the media-crats will go through to tar a victorious occassion. I've never seen anything like this.

[tbpiper]

Jesse Jackson complained that bin Laden is still on the loose

So is bin Laden's stool, I bet. After hearing the 'good news'.

[arasina]

"Jesse Jackson complained that bin Laden is still on the loose. Some guys you just can’t satisfy."

Too bad Jesse Jackson is still on the loose.

Jesse Jackson is loose all right...loose stool.

[monday]

"Give Hussein a fair trial and then kill him."

I disagree. Why isn't he dead already? Do we really need a circus...? I say either accidentally toss him out of an airplane over the Persian gulf or stick him in Guantanamo never to be heard from again.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks for the post and ping !

[Terry Mross]

I say broadcast all over I Iraq where's he going to be then tell him he's going to be set free. Tell him he'll be taken to the town square and told "You're free to go." Let the people have him. They'd tear him limb from limb. I also bet he'd start singing like a canary, too. He knows he'll be treated well by the U.S. He knows he'll get ripped to shreds and stomped in the face with dirty shoes by his own people. So, let's do what the libs and the UN wants us to do. Let's set him free.

[Senormechanico]

Agreed on the town square bit, but I think he needs a "Mussollini Moment" instead.
I remember the Life Magazine pictures of that from my youth.

SM

[Marysecretary]

Jesse is just plain LOOSE!

[Marysecretary]

Me, too, old feller. I like the idea of a Mussolini Moment for these despots. Serves them right and gives the folks a chance to really get back at them.

[Viking2002]

Hopefully the next election will be enough of a blowout that it sends these leftist vermin packing for France and Canada, before it ends up spilling into the streets.

[ladyinred]

Cheers are still happening. I nearly fainted this morning watching an NBC very early morning news show. A reporterette was in Seattle area and she said that she was so wonderfully thrilled to be able to be in an area where there were many Iraqi's. She said they were so happy, cheering, Thanking President Bush, thanking the military, crying, saying they loved the President etc.

She nearly cried reporting it! She most likely lost her job at NBC station immediately following her report! :-)

[vladog]

Capture was a huge mistake. Wait unitl the trial starts! The sobbing and pro-Saddam tears will raise sea levels 6 inches.

[NYC Republican]

Jesse Jackson complained that bin Laden is still on the loose. Some guys you just can’t satisfy."

I was listening to the John Gambling show (precedes Rush on WABC in NY, and this rabid lib starts blasting Bush for not getting the real enemy (UBL) yet. Gambling is way too nice, and didn't throw the obvious retort back at him - "HOW WOULD YOU GET HIM? WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENLY"?

This question should be posed to each and every moron who brings up UBL.