Like most people in the world, I was greeted this morning by the video of Iraqis trying to pull over a statue of Saddam Hussein in the center of Baghdad. I searched the crowd for evidence of a sledgehammer and saw none. Even as the young man climbed up the rope around the statue's neck, I kept wondering if the crowd would have the strength to yank it hard enough. An American APC stood at the ready, and as I ironed three shirts and quizzed my third grader on the phases of the moon, the statue had not budged without its assistance. I got a good laugh as people threw their shoes at it.
I wonder if the world press assembled vented any of their frustrations and suggested the townies give up and tie the rope to the armored vehicle. I can't imagine that they didn't. Hell, they even pre-empted Dick Cheney's speech to show this live footage. I grew impatient and continued on to earth rotation and a necktie, turning back to family from the video. Later I found the statue had indeed been pulled over by the machine and not by the mob.
This tea leaf needs little interpretation.
The Western Media and Governments are quick to show photage of Iraqis celebrating the fall of Saddam Hussein. This is expected, the fall of any dictator is a great thing, but what they fail to mention is that Saddam was put in power by the US Government. They also fail to say that the Iraqi's celebrating are Kurds and Shi'ites, not Sunnis, and even they demand the US leave as soon as possible. Even if the Iraqi people are united with the Coalition in their hate for Saddam, they will not agree on who should be the next leader...and that is when the shit will fly.
Posted by: Aramis at April 10, 2003 06:04 PMi am happy to report that my boy got an 'a' on his science test.
as for u.s. culpability, i agree. remember april glaspie. on the other hand, the closer you look at this part of the world, in particular, turkey and syria, the more complicated it gets. looking north is our next theme...
Posted by: mbowen at April 11, 2003 02:23 PMVery quiet in this thread lately. More comments please.
Posted by: area code at January 30, 2004 08:44 PM
I found the video very moving, in some ways to struggle to get it down add a rather dramatic touch to the final moment...the fact that I could here the crowd roar and electricity of the moment. Quite moving....
Posted by: mike van winkle at April 9, 2003 02:29 PM