Turns out Saddam was really a sweet guy...

[Siddhartha]

Originally posted by: Beachboy

Saddam read poetry, fed birds in prison

Tuesday Jan 2 11:17 AEDT
Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was an avid reader, fed birds and told jokes while he was in US custody, an American military nurse who looked after him said in interviews with US media.

Robert Ellis, 56, an operating room nurse assigned to Saddam during his US military detention, described a courteous, contemplative figure in stark contrast to the brutal reputation Saddam earned during his rule over Iraq.

source

They left out the part about how he loved kittens and rainbows. :roll:

The liberal media is determined to turn Iraq into another Vietnam even if they have to invent stuff.

I find this to be hugely disgusting.

Actually I have not read anything in "the liberal media" that disputes that Saddam was a dictator who murdered, gassed, bombed, and tortured his own people.

Why do you find it disturbing that "the liberal media" would report that Saddam fed birds and read poetry? He probably loved his children and family in his way too.

If you only want to hear information that supports your world view, I recommend that you stick with Fox News and conservative talk radio for your "news".

 

[Conky]

Originally posted by: Siddhartha

Originally posted by: Beachboy

Saddam read poetry, fed birds in prison

Tuesday Jan 2 11:17 AEDT
Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was an avid reader, fed birds and told jokes while he was in US custody, an American military nurse who looked after him said in interviews with US media.

Robert Ellis, 56, an operating room nurse assigned to Saddam during his US military detention, described a courteous, contemplative figure in stark contrast to the brutal reputation Saddam earned during his rule over Iraq.

source

They left out the part about how he loved kittens and rainbows. :roll:

The liberal media is determined to turn Iraq into another Vietnam even if they have to invent stuff.

I find this to be hugely disgusting.

Actually I have not read anything in "the liberal media" that disputes that Saddam was a dictator who murdered, gassed, bombed, and tortured his own people.

Why do you find it disturbing that "the liberal media" would report that Saddam fed birds and read poetry? He probably loved his children and family in his way too.

If you only want to hear information that supports your world view, I recommend that you stick with Fox News and conservative talk radio for your "news".

Doesn't the timing of this kind of "Saddam had a good side too" stuff seem to be a bit premature?

Again, leave your prejudices against anyone who will speak against the party line at the curb.

I am not a neo-con or a racist but a person that thinks for themselves without following anybody. Is it such a bad thing that I consider humanizing such a brutal jerk to be a political move?

I've been cursed from birth with what my sister says is a "mastery of the obvious"(a joke for people who don't get them, and yes, there are a lot of people here that have absolutely no humor).

I don't know why others can't see such simple things.

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: Beachboy
The New York Times probably wishes all those car-bombs were going off in Manhattan. Maybe I'm the odd one for rooting for the home team.

and you said you aren't rabid a few posts ago?

 

[LunarRay]

There is a notion know as "But for"... meaning, at times, but for one event another would not have occurred. In Saddam's case you'd start at the point of relevance... And But For the CIA's intervention a number of times along with tons of munitions and money and probably intellegence from on high Saddam's rule would have been short lived... All this means to reasonable people is that Saddam was simply an extension of some other Power Force.

That he fed birds and what ever is normal behavior for bird lovers or even bored folks. One thing is for certain, however, Iraq was always - or almost always - a place where the powerful ruled and the less so died.. Saddam followed Stalin's model in bringing stability to Iraq as Stalin did in the Soviet States. Hitler loved dogs and, probably fed them too.

EDIT: So I edit to include.... As an Extension of some power force it is the power force who should beget all the name calling and wrath of hatred... don't you think... Is it the stick that batters or the wielder... well.. who goes to jail?

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: Beachboy

Originally posted by: Siddhartha

Originally posted by: Beachboy

Saddam read poetry, fed birds in prison

Tuesday Jan 2 11:17 AEDT
Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was an avid reader, fed birds and told jokes while he was in US custody, an American military nurse who looked after him said in interviews with US media.

Robert Ellis, 56, an operating room nurse assigned to Saddam during his US military detention, described a courteous, contemplative figure in stark contrast to the brutal reputation Saddam earned during his rule over Iraq.

source

They left out the part about how he loved kittens and rainbows. :roll:

The liberal media is determined to turn Iraq into another Vietnam even if they have to invent stuff.

I find this to be hugely disgusting.

Actually I have not read anything in "the liberal media" that disputes that Saddam was a dictator who murdered, gassed, bombed, and tortured his own people.

Why do you find it disturbing that "the liberal media" would report that Saddam fed birds and read poetry? He probably loved his children and family in his way too.

If you only want to hear information that supports your world view, I recommend that you stick with Fox News and conservative talk radio for your "news".

Doesn't the timing of this kind of "Saddam had a good side too" stuff seem to be a bit premature?

Again, leave your prejudices against anyone who will speak against the party line at the curb.

I am not a neo-con or a racist but a person that thinks for themselves without following anybody. Is it such a bad thing that I consider humanizing such a brutal jerk to be a political move?

I've been cursed from birth with what my sister says is a "mastery of the obvious"(a joke for people who don't get them, and yes, there are a lot of people here that have absolutely no humor).

I don't know why others can't see such simple things.

You still haven't given a good reason for people not to know this yet.

 

[LunarRay]

To our resident Master of the Obvious:

Saddam was human.... and with human traits... I'd have surmised he'd not be sitting in the lock up staring at pictures of Baghdad all day long... It is Obvious that folks find things to do to occupy time aside from what ever court 'stuff' he'd be involved with, if any.
I'd not think it more than depicting what it was that Saddam did while in custody... That is sorta interesting and sorta not political but since he was President of Iraq.. just about anything he does or did do would have some political link..

 

[Siddhartha]

Originally posted by: Beachboy

Originally posted by: Siddhartha

Originally posted by: Beachboy

Saddam read poetry, fed birds in prison

Tuesday Jan 2 11:17 AEDT
Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was an avid reader, fed birds and told jokes while he was in US custody, an American military nurse who looked after him said in interviews with US media.

Robert Ellis, 56, an operating room nurse assigned to Saddam during his US military detention, described a courteous, contemplative figure in stark contrast to the brutal reputation Saddam earned during his rule over Iraq.

source

They left out the part about how he loved kittens and rainbows. :roll:

The liberal media is determined to turn Iraq into another Vietnam even if they have to invent stuff.

I find this to be hugely disgusting.

Actually I have not read anything in "the liberal media" that disputes that Saddam was a dictator who murdered, gassed, bombed, and tortured his own people.

Why do you find it disturbing that "the liberal media" would report that Saddam fed birds and read poetry? He probably loved his children and family in his way too.

If you only want to hear information that supports your world view, I recommend that you stick with Fox News and conservative talk radio for your "news".

Doesn't the timing of this kind of "Saddam had a good side too" stuff seem to be a bit premature?

Again, leave your prejudices against anyone who will speak against the party line at the curb.

I am not a neo-con or a racist but a person that thinks for themselves without following anybody. Is it such a bad thing that I consider humanizing such a brutal jerk to be a political move?

I've been cursed from birth with what my sister says is a "mastery of the obvious"(a joke for people who don't get them, and yes, there are a lot of people here that have absolutely no humor).

I don't know why others can't see such simple things.

Oh your OP was humorous?

 

[Zebo]

That's nothing - I'm in Europe/Eurabia right now and they are praising Sadaam like no tomorrow in the news. Showed all the things he built around Iraq..profiles of his family etc. Can't wait to get home away from all this Eurotrash.

 

[aidanjm]

even Adolf Hitler had his good points. People expect a monster, but how can it be surprising that Saddam Hussein was a real person. He certainly must have been reliable and co-operative, afterall he worked in close co-operation with the USA government & CIA for all those years, brutally torturing and assassinating America's "enemies". I wonder if he ever understood why the USA turned it's back on him.

 

[Jaskalas]

Originally posted by: dahunan

Originally posted by: Beachboy

Originally posted by: Slick5150
So, you're saying you know more about his behavior than the nurse who looked after him?

I think there are a few thousand dead people who know him even better. 😉

It is pretty disturbing that Americans are fixated on Saddam.. .. we put the man in power and helped him keep power and now Bush and the Neocons decided to kill AT LEAST FIFTY THOUSAND IRAQI'S ..

WHY WHY WHY... did WE AMERICANS kill so many Iraqi Citizens?

Not only is it off topic, leading me to join you for a paragraph, but what you did in that post is exactly the core of our problem as a country. We (you and your fellows) intend to spin everything else as better than us, and beat ourselves down as the great big bad evil who needs to be neutralized. In the age of nuclear proliferation, your defeat America at all costs attitude is going to be the death of millions of our people.

Saddam was a brutal dictator, any wrongs of our own do not turn him into a man of milk and honey regardless of however much you?d like to degrade us to such lengths.

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: dahunan

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
I agree with beach boy.
Yes it is an interesting human story.
There are always stories like this after someone is executed. About how so and so was a model prisoner and talked to the guards about their kids and such. That does redeem them for all the bad things they did in their lives.

But let?s not try to humanize Saddam and make him seem like a great guy.
Did this article mention the guy Saddam had chopped up and returned to his family in pieces because he suggested that Saddam ?temporarily step down? as a means to ending the war with Iran?

Saddam did what he had to in order to keep power?

Bush is responsible for the deaths of 50,000+ Iraqis.. now what? .. you know that statement is correct.

How many more are we as americans responsible for when we let our govt sell weapons to both sides in a war >>Iran - Iraq War.. and we told Saddam we were on his side but we also sold weapons to the Iranians.. 😕

Are you seriously trying to justify Saddam brutaility?

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: Genx87

Originally posted by: dahunan

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
I agree with beach boy.
Yes it is an interesting human story.
There are always stories like this after someone is executed. About how so and so was a model prisoner and talked to the guards about their kids and such. That does redeem them for all the bad things they did in their lives.

But let?s not try to humanize Saddam and make him seem like a great guy.
Did this article mention the guy Saddam had chopped up and returned to his family in pieces because he suggested that Saddam ?temporarily step down? as a means to ending the war with Iran?

Saddam did what he had to in order to keep power?

Bush is responsible for the deaths of 50,000+ Iraqis.. now what? .. you know that statement is correct.

How many more are we as americans responsible for when we let our govt sell weapons to both sides in a war >>Iran - Iraq War.. and we told Saddam we were on his side but we also sold weapons to the Iranians.. 😕

Are you seriously trying to justify Saddam brutaility?

I believe this is another one of his chances to make a anti-Bush statement.

He is a perfect example of why Ford issued the pardon to Nixon. Some people will allow hatred to consume them at the expense of moving forward.

 

[Strk]

So the MSN site in Australia posts an article that humanizes the guy and suddenly the media is spinning out of control?

 

[piasabird]

Convicted Murderers sometimes have mice as pets also. That does not mean they are good people. If you fiddle while Rome burns that does not make you a patron of the arts, it makes you a mass murderer for ordering it.

Often dictators treat their own pets and animals better than common people. What this means is they are killers, who are good at compartmentalizing. In the USA sometimes the most ruthless murderers would go go Mass on Sunday and make large donations. That does not make them good people.

 

[MrMajestyk]

Saddam was no angel, but there have been far, far worse despots than him.

When he was captured the idea of handing him over to the Iraqi's and executing him, was thought to go along way to stopping the insurgency. Of course now we know the violence is out of control and NO ONE can stop it.

The 'public' execution of Saddam, the taunting, and filming via cellphone, was degrading and an insult to common decency. By allowing it, we have joined the ranks of the Saudi's who regulary stone people to death. If the Iraqi's themselves had overthrown him, then fair enough, do a 'Coucescu' on him. But Saddam was served up to them by coalition forces, and we should have been there to see he got a fair trial AND execution.

This may well be OK for George Bush, the former Texas executioner-in-chief, but for Tony Blair, who does not even support the death penalty and refuses to extradite people to countries where they will be executed, it's inexcuseable and he should be ashamed of himself.

US and British stock in the Arab world would have risen somewhat if Saddam had been tried in the Hague and imprisoned for life. Instead we are associated with yet another act of barbarism.

 

[mc00]

I won't hide it but I actually felt bad for the dude when he was getting hang but I realize this man has taken many life.

 

[lotus503]

Originally posted by: Beachboy

Originally posted by: thraashman

Originally posted by: Beachboy
Iraq is in a state of war. Civil war even if that will make you happy. Of course it will not look as great as it did before until people can rebuild and not expect carbombs to be going off all the time.

And, AGAIN, I say the Iraqi's are killing themselves. Americans are not killing innocent Iraqis despite your claims to the contrary(at least not intentionally... there are always collateral or unintended friendly-fire situations in ANY war, war sucks what else can you say?). Your insistence that Americans are killing Iraqis is false. Just plain false.

I know some guys back from Iraq and they are seriously pissed about how the media keeps trying to make them out to be losers. I don't see the media asking any of these guys what their opinion is on what is going on over there.

Well you say that the Iraqis are killing eachother and basically seem to feel that Americans can absolve themselves of all fault for it. Well, there's a reason that if you yell fire in a crowded theater and the resulting chaos leads to someone's death that you can be charged with their murder. Right now I feel that signing up for the military, where you know there's a high chance you'll go to Iraq and end up involved in an illegal war, means that you're adding to the problem and have to take responsibility for your share of the deaths that this war we started has caused.

I was with you up until the "illegal war" stuff which is just more liberal parrot talk.

I don't support Bush 100% although I feel that now that we are commited to this blunder that we should at least see it through.

I would hate to embolden any terrorist-thinking types because the USA turned and ran like cowards which is what the ant-war types and media is hoping for.

I would prefer we finish the job and bring some sort of stability to that country so that the average Moe(I hope this humor is not lost 😛 ) there can go back to working and a boring life without car-bombs going off all over the place.

I might be the only one but I am glad all that nonsense is going down on the other side of the globe. The New York Times probably wishes all those car-bombs were going off in Manhattan. Maybe I'm the odd one for rooting for the home team.

Beach Boy, I agree with you we need a real exit strategy that leaves Iraq in a better position than when we got there. We can?t just walk that?s what we did to Afghanistan in the 80s and a huge reason most in the Middle East hate us now.

That said we have a responsibility to not only finish the war but to examine what got us there to begin with. It?s when we examine what got us there that all that?s ugly with our country are revealed.

You mark my words history is going to remember GWB and his administration as some of the worst leaders in our short history.

Cases for war

WMDs - flat out False, numerous years of sanctions and inspections revealed nothing
Iraq 9/11 connection, other Than GWB stating it a few times pre war nothing linking them.

To Free the Iraqi people ? It?s a bullshit reason if in fact that was the case we would have done something to stop the genocide in Rwanda which is in fact in much worse shape than Iraq.


I agree we are there now and have an obligation to finish the job, problem is noone knows what the definition of a finished job looks like.

 

[Starbuck1975]

I think it is important to understand the human element behind dictators, tyrants and other evil men.

Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini, Napoleon...even some mass murderers...make for interesting character studies...to perhaps catch a glimpse of the human being behind the monster.

Of course, it makes all of us uncomfortable to admit that any human being is capable of becoming a Saddam Hussein.

That being said, I don't care if Saddam loved kittens and wrote poetry...he was a terrible, evil person, and in the end, he deserved to die a common criminal.

I was honestly disturbed by some of the media reports over the past couple of days about Saddam...I have no problem with humanizing a monster...what I do find troubling is the media spin where they are trying to make Saddam sound like a nice guy with a good sense of humor and a love for family and the suffering people of Iraq.

 

[Aimster]

He walked around with a smile on his face that made him seem lovable.

 

[tvarad]

Saddam should have swallowed poison or shot himself or, like his sons, gone out in glory in one last gunfight with his would-be captors when he was about to be captured. Especially knowing the fate that awaited him. Without even putting a value judgement on what he did during his rule, for a guy who played for such high stakes, not doing so only showed him up to be nothing but a coward.

What happened in the hanging room is part and parcel of the absurdity of the Middle East theater. Let's not try to put some kind of logic on it.

 

[imported_dna]

Originally posted by: MrMajestyk
The 'public' execution of Saddam, the taunting, and filming via cellphone, was degrading and an insult to common decency. By allowing it, we have joined the ranks of the Saudi's who regulary stone people to death. If the Iraqi's themselves had overthrown him, then fair enough, do a 'Coucescu' on him. But Saddam was served up to them by coalition forces, and we should have been there to see he got a fair trial AND execution.

Isn't it typcial? The man was in charge of a system of terror and murder, and some people are concerned about "common decency" of his execution.

Naturally, the soul-seraching follows, and the conclusion is obvious: it is all our fault; throw in a mention of the Saudis, and you have a perfect argument. It's all like the 9/11 "what did we do to deserve this?" argument.

I can't wait for a movie showing Saddam's final days: his pain and misfortune; how he lived in a hole for months; how he was mistreated by his captors; how he was brutally executed. I think Mel Gibson will be a shoe-in for directing such a film.

EDIT: BTW, the majority of Iraqis probably did want to overthrow him, but obviously couldn't.

 

[palehorse]

I'm sure there are some folks around here who would rather have given Saddam a hug than the rope around his neck...

 

[yllus]

I'm wholly unconcerned about any taunting that occurred at Hussein's hanging. I doubt his many victims were allowed to die with much self-respect intact.

 

[lotus503]

Originally posted by: palehorse74
I'm sure there are some folks around here who would rather have given Saddam a hug than the rope around his neck...

I think thats a bullshit statement. I doubt there is anyone that wanted to hug the guy.

Im sure there are some that wouldnt have put him to death.

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: palehorse74
I'm sure there are some folks around here who would rather have given Saddam a hug than the rope around his neck...

Yeah, some are looking for a father figure to be in their lives. Their crack whore mothers never knew who their daddys were either.