Dictator or Hero?
I have always felt that our (Indian common men) support for Saddam is not based on facts but on sentiments, that he is anti-US. There isn't much of reasons to support him. But that doesn’t mean he is the most notorious criminal even in Iraq.
I have just finished reading The Time's and Guardian's account of the Saddam sentence. I guess the last time they might have said something so venomous could be when Hitler was dead. The whole account would have convinced me that the end of Saddam would be the end of terrorism and world would be synonymous to heaven, had I had been ignorant about the after effects of the US invasion.
I am not sure if Saddam should be given a lesser sentence. He was a brutal dictator, there is no doubt about that. But that doesn't justify the US regime in the area. In what way arer the Iraqi's better off now?
This is an account of the terrorist attack after the US invasion in Iraq. (Copied from an article in The Times of India)
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Madrid bomb attacks - result Spain pulls out of Iraq and is now safer and has not yet had any attacks of that nature after that.
I have just finished reading The Time's and Guardian's account of the Saddam sentence. I guess the last time they might have said something so venomous could be when Hitler was dead. The whole account would have convinced me that the end of Saddam would be the end of terrorism and world would be synonymous to heaven, had I had been ignorant about the after effects of the US invasion.
I am not sure if Saddam should be given a lesser sentence. He was a brutal dictator, there is no doubt about that. But that doesn't justify the US regime in the area. In what way arer the Iraqi's better off now?
This is an account of the terrorist attack after the US invasion in Iraq. (Copied from an article in The Times of India)
-----------------
Madrid bomb attacks - result Spain pulls out of Iraq and is now safer and has not yet had any attacks of that nature after that.
London attacks - everything status quo - more powers to the police who can shoot to kill just on suspicion and get away with it.
Delhi attacks - Delhi bomb attacks on the eve of Diwali and Id - no respite from terrorism in India (Kashmir and Delhi)
Israel - Even Israel pulling out of Gaza did not reduce the suicide attacks in Israel.
Iraq - Everyday scores of people dying in insurgent attacks which have only grown stronger since the fall of Saddam. (Both Iraqis [read 30, 000] and US soldiers.
Indonesia - More foreigners in killed in recent bombings.
Jordan - Hotel bombings in Jordan kill scores more people
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The euphoria over this sentence is understandable, but I wish the media would have given a balanced account. Either it says as if Iraqi's are doomed and Saddam era was their golden age (like the Indian media) or they show how relieved and well off are they with US aid (like the US and UK media).
The only argument I have against the whole trial is that where is UN in the picture? How come it doesn't even have a proper say? Are we all taking the US for the world police?
Hats off to BBC for bringing up a relatively neutral report.
posted by Dew Drops at 11:41 PM
5 Comments:
just read an article in the Hindu which says a study conducted by as authentic a source as John Hospkins University found that as many as 6,55,000 people have died till US troops marched into Iraq. and this report apprently made the last pages in US and British dailes and have not been heard of since. Bush said the methodology used is discredited!! by the way, this figure is 10 times the figure officially quoted!!
as for UN, it continues to be a mute spectator and sadly, is under the wily grip of the US. remember how our own candidate Shashi Taroor got vetoed by the US and Ban ki Monn who enjoys strong support from the US is all set to be the next Secy Gen.
US has messed up in Iraq. But I dont have any sympathy for saddam and the muslim world is also quite indifferent to the verdict. He is probably the one single ruler whos killed the most number of muslims - i mean state sponsored genocide. there was no democracy in Iraq,though there was peace. But I think such an artificial peace will never survive. With the majority Shia and minority Kurd aspirations massacred all the while by his regime. The verdict showcases the arch didvide in the Muslim community too, the sunni countries like India oppose it while the shia countries are indifferent *as they are anti-US*. I really hope the current civil war in Iraq is the birth pangs of a new working secular democracy where sunni and shia can co-exist peacefully. In the meantime let saddam hang.
@arjun
i think it can be justified if only we finally grab that permanent seat.
@bvn
Her now the left is putting pressure on the Govt to formally go against the verdict, where as Congress is putting on an indifferent face. I hope the left would concentrate more on domestic affairs. Its high time they change there - China-yil mazha peyyumbol ivide kuda pidikkum - attitude.
This time I feel the left has no genuine reason to sympathise with Saddam. It is just the anti-Bush sentiments on display.
you remember the Che post...left cant do that*concentrate on India*...its in karat's blood :))
@bvn
finally they will bring the genuine left people to a stage that being one would be such a shame. we wud be taken for something similar to those society ladies in Hindi movies, who got nothing to do with the real world.
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