Iraqi regrets toppling Saddam statue ("today we have 50 Saddams")

[sabra]

Source: AFP

BAGHDAD - Ibrahim Khalil, who five years ago took part in the iconic toppling of a giant statue of Saddam Hussein in central Baghdad, said on Wednesday he now regrets taking part in the hugely symbolic event.

“If history can take me back, I will kiss the statue of Saddam Hussein which I helped pull down,” Khalil told AFP on the fifth anniversary of the statue’s toppling.

...

“It was a historic moment. I felt like I was born again. Most Iraqis felt happy as they all were affected by Saddam’s regime.”

...

“Now I realise that the day Baghdad fell was in fact a black day. Saddam’s days were better,” said Khalil, who along with his brother runs a car repair shop.

“I ask Bush: “Where are your promises of making Iraq a better country?’

“These days when we go out we have to carry a pistol. In Saddam’s regime, we were safe. We got rid of one Saddam, but today we have 50 Saddams.”

Read more: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/focusoniraq/2008/April/focusoniraq_April73.xml§ion=focusoniraq

[BrklynLiberal]

1. I did not think there were ANY actual Iraqis involved in that PR stunt..

[lazyriver]

3. I completely agree. PR stunt all the way.

[panader0]

2. I always thought that the toppling of the statue was staged.

The idea was to make it look like Iraqis spontaneously tore down the statue when in fact the US army was behind it. Kinda like the rescue of the female soldier, staged.

[TomInTib]

4. That statue is still in storage.

Maybe we can put it back together, reinstall it when we leave.

GMaybe give Harlan Crow his money back.

[RedEarth]

5. Mubarak predicted this before we invaded.... he also

predicted 1000 bin Ladens.....way to go george, way to go right wing warmongers.

[MADem]

6. And thus, the Cult of Martyrdom begins--on a broader scale than those expected few al-Takritis. nt

[ckramer]

7. And you would think GWBush was history major from Yale

Either the school is no good or he partied through four years without reading a book.

[IamyourTVandIownyou]

8. It's time to bring Iraqi citizens in front of the Senate Hearings.

Let's hear from the people of Iraq.

[ckramer]

9. I think the Vietnam rooftop helicopter scene would repeat

again in the end.

There is no other way unless they throw a few nuclear bombs in Iraq before leaving.

[calimary]

10. Damn. There it is.

I think most of us suspected this. And I take no pleasure in it. This is another one of those cases when it hurts like hell to have been correct.

[Auggie]

11. It blows the mind that an organization as inept as BushCo is still in power.

How long did Hitler last -- 12 years?

[bigworld]

12. Hitler wasn't inept.

[Auggie]

17. Yes he was. And mad too.

[superkia]

13. I think bushco has accomplished allot of what they wanted...

make lots of money for their friends, get a foothold in an oil rich country and try to destroy the constitution as much as possible so that their people could not hold them accountable for anything.

Oh and I forgot, make the American people believe even more than they did before that bush and the republicans are doing this alone and that the democrats are all innocent and here for the people. I think our government is the group of bullies that lead the charge for the elite of the world. Big bad America with all their weapons and armed forces running around establishing bases all over the world and pushing the worlds population around. If you think about it, who else could get away with it? Most countries people would either riot or protest or would be looked at in a negative way by the world, America is just providing democracy to the world! :sarcasm:

[Auggie]

18. Yes, they accomplished it without outrage. That's what I can't believe.

[KansDem]

14. “I ask Bush: 'Where are your promises of making Iraq a better country?’"

Hey, Ibrahim! I've got news for you: He lied to you just like he lied to us!

[DemoTex]

15. Old adage comes to mind: Better the devil you know ..

.. than the devil you don't know.

[sinkingfeeling]

16. Why isn't this Iraqi testifying in Congress in lieu of the liars?