I am somewhat reminded of a story that appeared in an edition of the National Geographic, published shortly after the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) quietly and thankfully imploded. Centering on the former Soviet Republic of Georgia, a woman who was holding up a picture of Joseph Stalin was interviewed, and was asked; “why she was showing open sympathy for a man with so much blood on his hands?”
The woman replied, “he may have been a monster, but he was our monster, (a son of Georgia).”
I believe that the Georgian woman’s sentiments for Stalin, pretty much sums up the sentiments of some in the Arab world for late Saddam Hussein, the former dictator of Iraq. The Palestinians have responded with open affection for the Butcher of Baghdad, and are outraged over his demise.
“The execution of Saddam Hussein sent many Palestinians into deep mourning Saturday as they struggled to come to terms with the demise of perhaps their most steadfast ally. Unlike much of the rest of the world, where Saddam was viewed as a brutal dictator who oppressed his people and started regional wars, in the West Bank and Gaza he was seen as a generous benefactor unafraid to fight for the Palestinian cause, even to the end.”
With $25,000 going to each family that produced a homicide suicide bomber against Israeli civilians, Saddam was content with waging a terrorist war against Israel to the very last Palestinian, spending nearly $35 million in the process. By no accident, it largely resembles the current terrorist war being waged against the present Iraqi government. I am amused and sickened by all those who still maintain that there were “no ties bewteen Saddam Hussein and terrorism.” Or for that matter, between Yasser Arafat and the terrorist murders of US government employees. Read here. *L* KGS
