REMEMBRANCE

Malcom La Gauche, April 28, 2007

On April 28, 1937, Saddam Hussein was born. April 28, 2007 would have been his 70th birthday, a milestone for most people. But, he was deprived of this anniversary because of the actions of an out-of-control, bloodthirsty, psychopathic U.S. administration and a bunch of Iraqi quisling traitors who were, and still are, more beholden to Iran than an Arab Iraq.

Saddam could have easily celebrated his 70th birthday if he took the path of others whom the U.S. bullied and left his country in exile. Even during his phony trial, there was a chance for him to live a longer life. At one time, his attorneys were putting pressure on the U.N. and world community to have his trial moved to the International Tribunal in the Hague, The Netherlands. He asked them to cease their actions and said he preferred to be tried in Iraq, even though he knew the outcome from the first day. There would have been a good chance that he may have been acquitted in the Hague because many truths would have been made public about the lies put forth against him by the U.S. Even if found guilty, Saddam would not have been executed because the International Tribunal does not offer the death penalty. Saddam chose pride of the country of Iraq over a fairer trial that would have spared his life.

For many of his birthday celebrations, Saddam Hussein swam across the Euphrates River. In the 1990s, when the U.S. media showed him performing this ritual, the administrations again demonized him by saying that it was a Saddam lookalike, and not the Iraqi president. Saddam Hussein never used a "body-double" in his reign. Shortly after the U.S. began its occupation of Iraq, Saddam’s longtime personal photographer was interviewed and he told the world there were never any phony Saddams.

Yesterday, I asked a few people to give me a short account of what Saddam meant to them. Here are their replies:

"From an Arab whose dignity was trashed and desecrated, to the spirit and name of the leader who gave up his life, his family and the glory of the world to defend his country and the dignity of his people and nation.

"To you and all those family members of yours who followed your suit: Uday, Qusay and Mustapha. To you and all the Iraqis who resisted and are still resisting the occupation, I bow my head with respect. You will always be on my mind till the last drop of blood leaves me. I express my gratitude for your sacrifices, I express my appreciation for your heroic deeds, for your steadfastness.

"I say rest in peace and we all are indebted to you. We will always remember you with pride and congratulate and envy you for what you did for your nation, to the rest of the world and to us."

-- Martin, a Palestinian whose land was taken and forsaken

"Saddam Hussein chose death to give life to Iraq. His legacy went beyond the borders of Iraq, to every corner of the Arab Homeland. His Party, the Baath Party, is expanding across the Arab land, he is resurrecting the Arab Nation and he is the force behind the Resistance that motivates the determination of the Iraqis to liberate their land."

-- Ibrahim Ebeid: Co-Editor of Al-Moharer

"When I lived in Baghdad in the 1990s, the country, even though under embargo, was secure with peace over the entire country. These times are now looked back upon as precious times by the Iraqi people.

"I saw Saddam Hussein many times on Iraqi TV talking about the welfare of the country. What impressed me very much was his forward thinking and his ability to properly assess a situation. His main message was always the same: the country of Iraq must remain unified among all groups.

"He also warned the public of the consequences of a U.S. invasion of Iraq, backed by Iranian interests. His predictions have become eerily accurate. He will always live in the memory of every dignified Iraqi."

-- Wameeth Mansour, U.S. peace activist

Instead of a short statement, Husayn Al-Kurdi, president of News International deemed it necessary to eloquently elaborate on how Saddam Hussein was a beacon for Iraq and all the people worldwide who opposed U.S. hegemony.

ON SADDAM"S 70th BIRTHDAY

By Husayn Al-Kurdi, President, News International

In the jargon of the sports world, it's not necessarily how you start but how you finish that determines the quality of your effort. In the words of basketball expert Michael Jordan, it doesn't do to have a "Million Dollar Move with a Five Cent Finish."

Saddam Hussein and the Ba'ath Party "made Iraq worth fighting for," in the words of Iraq expert Jeff Archer. Iraq became a modern, prosperous, highly educated country with a high standard of living. Illiteracy was all but eliminated.

Women played prominent roles throughout society and were highly respected as a matter of policy. People were not persecuted for what they did in the privacy of their homes. Oil wealth was used to expand social services and create benefits for the people rather than line the pockets of the international bankers. Ethnic and religious differences were nullified in the context of a pride in the Iraqi identity, with its ancient and noble roots at the dawn of what is called Civilization.
Baghdad was once again attaining greatness as a center of Arab and international culture. Iraq was becoming a strong, unified, Arab country confronting the enemies of the Arab people and the Crusaders against the Islamic lands.

Saddam's iron-willed determination to achieve all of these positive social results for Iraq serves as an example to the rest of us to reject defeatism and abject servility and positively take on the Crusading oppressors wherever we find them and to the limit of our capacities.
He was the model Strong Man facing up to a constant conspiracy and onslaught directed by the Jewish state and its Persian intriguer auxiliaries, who have once again shown their perennial colors as the de facto 13th Tribe of Israel.

Saddam put the enemy on trial when he was put on trial by the puppet pseudo-authorities. He unflinchingly stood up to his lickspittle accusers and constantly exhorted Iraqis to unite and resist the occupation, even urging forgiveness for those who had done wrong if they showed remorse for their error and showed signs of mending their ways.

Increasing millions of Iraqis pine for the days of Saddam, even though they included three wars instigated by the USA and the Jewish entity, and featured a decade of blockade in which some million or more Iraqis, mainly children, unnecessarily lost their lives.

Saddam exhibited the greatest imaginable dignity when being taken to the gallows. He was implacable, magnificent in death as he was dauntless in life.

Saddam "finished" well, unlike all of the many Communist Parties, including the Maoist Nepal CP which recently gave up armed struggle in exchange for seats in the Royal cabinet; unlike the pathetic Iraq Communist Party, now a cowering breadcrumb-pecking contingent of camp followers around the US Green Zone in Baghdad; unlike the scumbag murderer Persian subsidized Mahdi Army and Badr Brigade death squads in charge of the mass murder and torture in their renewed role as helpers to their ancient sponsors and their American and British spawn; unlike the many politicians and leaders who sold the interests and well-being of their countries and people to attain personal fortune while bending the knee to the International Gangster Consortium aka "The International Community;" and unlike those wayward Kurds who have lent themselves to the schemes of the destructionist occupiers while flaunting their utterly Jewish State-buggered status and despicable servility to Massa Uncle Sham.

Unlike deposed corrupt tyrants like King Farouk and Baby Doc Duvalier, Saddam refused all deals and exile escape routes, laughing at the blandishments of his captors. At the same time, many of his U.S. guards have remarked at the winsome, caring, human, friendly disposition which he displayed towards them at all times.

Saddam Hussein is the great Arab and Muslim martyr and hero of our time. He left a legacy of struggle, of bravery, of integrity and of unyielding tenacity. His life and death form a lustrous example, providing us also with a true "role model" in our time.

In sporting terms he was a real "Stud." He ran the race and finished well. He finished "First in the hearts of his Countrymen," to borrow an old American expression.

The Iraqi people, the Arab people, Muslims everywhere and those who take justice and self determination seriously all look up to Saddam and seek to live up to his ideals and his example. All are sad that he is no longer here on Earth with us, but glad at the thought that he was here for so long and through so much, and finished unblinking, unwavering and intact for the ages to admire.

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