Saddam Words – Moon of Alabama

December 27, 2006

Saddam Words

J. Keane and F. Kagan think at least 30,000 troops for at least 18 month "or so" should do the job in Iraq that can not be done.

Pat Lang says 4 Army brigades and 2-3 Marine regiments – some 15,000 troops will evntually be send – a drop of water into hell.

Meanwhile a careful selective translation of a letter by Saddam Hussein got published and is distributed through the US press. So what did he say? Here is the media interpretation:

Saddam Hussein urged Iraqis to embrace ”brotherly coexistence” and not to hate U.S.-led foreign troops in a goodbye letter.

This followed by the quote that is supposed to support that interpretation:

”I call on you not to hate because hate does not leave space for a person to be fair and it makes you blind and closes all doors of thinking,"
…
”I also call on you not to hate the people of the other countries that attacked us,”

My interpretation of those quotes is: "Keep a cool head and don’t fight the home base of those troops, but concentrate on the troops themselves"
That does not sound to me like a call to NOT to fight and hate U.S.-led foreign troops.

But then – the interpretation of news editors is following the party line much more than the facts on the ground or a realistic interpretation of Saddam’s words (if those are his at all).

Could anybody please provide a real translation of the whole letter?

Thanks.

Posted by b on December 27, 2006 at 22:45 UTC | Permalink

Comments

Quote:
interpretation of Saddam’s words (if those are his at all).
—
My God! Russian communist’s propaganda was just a game for these guys. Have you for a minute believed this “letter”???
I am laughing my ass here…

Posted by: vbo | Dec 27 2006 23:16 utc | 1

Americans are not even aware that they already are in “Stalin’s Russia”…poor people!

Posted by: vbo | Dec 27 2006 23:23 utc | 2

Just a game …
WaPo: Close Adviser to Sadr Dies in U.S.-Iraqi Raid

A top deputy of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr was killed Wednesday during a raid by U.S. and Iraqi troops in the southern holy city of Najaf, sparking protests from Sadr’s followers and complicating an already tense relationship with the powerful anti-American leader.
…
Within Maliki’s circle, some advisers questioned whether Amiri was deliberately killed, said a senior Maliki adviser who spoke on condition of anonymity.
A raid involving American forces in Najaf is particularly embarrassing for Maliki. Last week, in an elaborate ceremony, the U.S.-led coalition handed over control of Najaf to Iraqi forces.
“The agreement between the two sides when the security profile was transferred to the Iraqi side is that the Iraqi side should know about any operations or actions done by the multinational forces,” said Sadiq al-Rikabi, a political adviser to Maliki.
…
Caldwell, who declined to confirm Amiri’s link to Sadr, said U.S.-led coalition forces had been gathering intelligence on him for a long time. He said Amiri was implicated in a roadside bomb attack on a police chief in Najaf this year.
…

US hands control of Najaf back to Iraq

A report by the Brussels-based International Crisis Group warned on Tuesday of tensions between the Mehdi Army and the Badr Brigades, a militia loyal to the powerful Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq.
“Both Shi’ite paramilitary groups are engaged in a dangerous tug-of-war over the holy city of Najaf,” the report said.
…
Hikma Habib, a 27-year-old policeman in Najaf, was sceptical of the handover, saying previous ceremonies handing over smaller areas of control had made little difference.
“One time I raised the Iraqi flag and we had a ceremony with the governor of Najaf present … and now they are handing over security again,” Habib said.
“I don’t think this will be the last time, because the US forces, when they want to arrest somebody, they take back control of security, and after the arrest they hand it back again to the Iraqis. It’s just a game.”

Posted by: b | Dec 28 2006 4:43 utc | 3

A close analysis of the text:
Saddam expressed deep atonement for all his deeds, except for his war on Iran. He called on dictators all over the world to resign and announce free and fair elections. He apologized for having WMD’s that threatened the USA and its allies and for his close personal ties with Bin Laden and Al Qaida.
He went on to say that had he not been stopped, he would’ve developed closer ties with Chavez and Morales in South America in order to destabilize Latin America.
And he closed by asking America to thank god for having George Bush, the greatest president ever.

Posted by: ralphieboy | Dec 28 2006 7:44 utc | 4

what’s does ” That’s All Folks ” mean over at the whiskey bar ??
that’s all for 2006 or that’s all forever ??
anybody know anything ??

Posted by: general panzer | Dec 28 2006 9:59 utc | 5

“And he closed by asking America to thank god for having George Bush, the greatest president ever.”
Please tell me you made that up ralphieboy.

Posted by: beq | Dec 28 2006 13:41 utc | 6

Saddam lawyer asks world for help

Saddam Hussein’s chief lawyer implored world leaders Thursday to prevent the United States from handing over the ousted leader to Iraqi authorities for execution, saying he deserves protection as a “prisoner of war.”

Bombs rock Baghdad as Saddam judgement published
An Iraqi court has published its formal written condemnation of Saddam Hussein, putting in motion the legal machinery which will lead to his execution, as bombs rocked Baghdad.
Good excuse for a “Surge” eh? heh ,heh, heh…

Posted by: Uncle $cam | Dec 28 2006 18:09 utc | 7

i would say that the hinges on the gates of hell are just about to be torn right off

Posted by: remembereringgiap | Dec 28 2006 18:31 utc | 8

From Reuters;
Sadam Says Faces Death Without Fear, Urges Unity

Posted by: tescht | Dec 28 2006 21:48 utc | 9

the bpdy not being well – i belatedly watched control room – it’s a bit of a habitude of mine to see some thing years after they were done
& i was struck – struck terribly – by the patent contempt of all americans – in this documentary – not only for the people of iraq but for the arab people, generally. this contempt is translated into an almost palpable hatred of arab journalists. the situation in centcoms conference room where the dullards of the western press are wetting their pants & giggling like a group of gnomes at the statue of saddam falling – literally made me want to vomit – i think they can dusgust me no more & then i see something else which makes me even more disgusted – i suppose a version of dylan’s “it not dark yet but its getting there”
i was struck by the moderation of the journalists of al jazeera especially their correspondant from mosul who spoke of the likes of himself (softer voices, he sd) being pushed aside by firmer voices who would take matters into their own hands. their body language spoke of the terrible desolation that has laid waste through the arab world principally through colonial policies & those of the american empire – caught in the contradictions of history – in that moment – mistook what was happening with the invasion as the americans did – they were discounting the real soul of arab people – which for an occidental would seem strange – but the arab people – jurisprudentially have always been concerned for – justice
in 2003 – they were unable to see exactly what was moving in the arab world of which their television has been a sacred gift – because all a people need is an opening – a way to see the other – & this the arab people are doing & will do
there will be a clumsy road to their liberation, but of their liberation – i am certain & i am as certain as i can be that i have witnessed in my lifetime the fall of the american empire
the americans in control room – are well – more roman than i could ever have believed & for their lack of moderation & for their absence of comprehension this empire has fallen by an own goal & that own goal just keeps on getting madder & madder
perhaps it is not the resistance that the left of europe or even the intellectuals of al jazeera would support but there is being borne in this moment something quite extraordinary out of this blood & bone – whether it is occupied palestine, or the lebanon or iraq but there is profoundly rooted resistance which draws in all the strands of identity into something that tyrants cannot kill
the west can offer their devils – whether its hamas, sheik nasrallah or sadr – but these are after all men – & they i imagine represent only the mildest point of what is to come & they too will be left behind by their people
the doors of hell have been opened allright but somewhere out there – their is a history being forged – that we in the west including our ‘experts’ can barely understand

Posted by: remembereringgiap | Dec 29 2006 0:23 utc | 10

Can’t say if this article employs sound math (and correct figures), but this is definitely interesting:
Is there a Sunni Majority in Iraq?

Posted by: Alamet | Dec 29 2006 1:01 utc | 11

& the wounds of bloody baghdad will burn into our memories far further than those tyrants who now whisper in washington their endless failure to tell day from night or world from worlds
they may have their puppets hang saddam hussein but their own shredded morality has come undone & they will never, ever be able to build that house back together again
the crimes they commit create concatenations on the four corners of the globe
whatever they seek to do in somali will come undone as it has all come undone
they have turned the third world into an endless tumbrill where if it is in iraqi today it will be you tommorrow
either as victim or as perpetrator
their own metropolis have been constructed from fear & will continue to become increasingly enveloped by a fear they will be unable to control
it is the west that is being turned back to their own history, to their own medieval moments, their own clawing in the cave & all the shadows on the wall are of the other you will never know until he has come for you or his children have come for you & if anything in history is certain & i am after all a part time hegelian – it is that the payment for all that is being done this day will be returned to us into regrets we may be incapable of feeling
the daughter of the hassan family will wreak her vengeance – that is the most certain of truths

Posted by: remembereringgiap | Dec 29 2006 2:44 utc | 12

“the doors of hell have been opened allright but somewhere out there – their is a history being forged – that we in the west including our ‘experts’ can barely understand”
as for the moral superiority of the West
“say it loud” – the boss knows best

Posted by: jony_+b_cool | Dec 29 2006 4:17 utc | 13

Back to Main