Trying to pull the statue of Saddam down

Rich_L · 9 Apr 2003 at 18:52

This may be of interest,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2932833.stm

Check out the denials from Iran, Syria

Tehran, Iran

I've been watching the state news channel here in Tehran for the last couple of hours, and there has not been one picture of the scenes of jubilation in Baghdad at all.

Damascus, Syria

Syrian state television is not showing any of those pictures. Obviously Syria is very much against the war, and after having warned about the consequences of the war the state television has chosen not to show any pictures of jubilant crowds.

Will · 9 Apr 2003 at 18:56

Originally posted by Rich_L
This may be of interest,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2932833.stm

Check out the denials from Iran, Syria

Tehran, Iran

Damascus, Syria

It doesn't really surprise me, but i do think it is awful. The governments in the Middle East help manipulate opinion against America by such actions. Whatever you think of our media, on the whole it is not as one sided as much of the Middle Eastern media.

Rich_L · 9 Apr 2003 at 19:01

Not surprising, and understandable from their point of view, those governments (read religious dictatorships) must be positively bricking themselves at the prospect of a prosperous democratic state on their borders.

I forsee the effect of East and West Germany before long, perhaps ending up in a 'Cold War' between the Western world and the fundamentalist religious states, before the collapse of the oppressive states and freedom for the Middle East.

sedm1000 · 9 Apr 2003 at 19:29

Originally posted by Balddog
Do you think that, after seeing these pics, the end justfied the means? I think we all know this isnt just a few hundred people.

And finally, I don't want to sound like a party-pooper. But that was a small crowd celebrating in the square. Vociferous, yes, but not large. So officials are urging caution, there still might be pockets of resistance left to come

Paul Adams BBC

Christo · 9 Apr 2003 at 19:32

I'd be very interested on what Al Jazzera is saying - anyone have that link to the english website?

dirtydog · 9 Apr 2003 at 19:33

Originally posted by Chrisp7
I'd be very interested on what Al Jazzera is saying - anyone have that link to the english website?

Was working earlier, it isn't now..

http://english.aljazeera.net/

edit: it's working now

Yossarian · 9 Apr 2003 at 19:34

http://english.aljazeera.net/

Quite amusingly blocked my my work proxy

edit - beaten again! but it is working just now for me

Will · 9 Apr 2003 at 19:34

Originally posted by sedm1000

And finally, I don't want to sound like a party-pooper. But that was a small crowd celebrating in the square. Vociferous, yes, but not large. So officials are urging caution, there still might be pockets of resistance left to come

Paul Adams BBC

Yes, those in the square were small in number and proportion given the population, and its a point often made, but do you genuinely think most iraqis *won't* welcome the imminent/ongoing demise of Saddam Hussein? :confused:

Or is just making a point so as not to get carried away?

Christo · 9 Apr 2003 at 19:41

Originally posted by dirtydog
Was working earlier, it isn't now..

http://english.aljazeera.net/

cheers dirtydog and Yossarian

- at least they are reporting the happiness of the Iraqis

MindYerBeak · 9 Apr 2003 at 19:42

Originally posted by Élynduil
All the posts like this confuse me, I don't think anyone who was againsts the war didn't think we'd see scenes such as this and that the Iraqi people wouln't be happy about it. There are so many reasons to be against the war, but this was never anything to do with any of them. You are simply being selective of what people are saying and putting words into everyones mouth.

The anti war brigade were adamant that the Iraqi population would repel the infidels...

theleg · 9 Apr 2003 at 19:44

Originally posted by sedm1000

And finally, I don't want to sound like a party-pooper. But that was a small crowd celebrating in the square. Vociferous, yes, but not large. So officials are urging caution, there still might be pockets of resistance left to come

Paul Adams BBC

Failing to see your point mate. That square is merely a microcosm of Iraq as a whole.

PS, Who is Paul Adams?

dirtydog · 9 Apr 2003 at 19:46

Originally posted by MindYerBeak
The anti war brigade were adamant that the Iraqi population would repel the infidels...

I wasn't

Who here said that the devastating might of the US military would be repelled by the tenth rate army of Iraq?

MindYerBeak · 9 Apr 2003 at 20:04

By repel I meant tooth and nail, which they didn't.

Over Clocker · 9 Apr 2003 at 20:04

Originally posted by dirtydog
I wasn't Who here said that the devastating might of the US military would be repelled by the tenth rate army of Iraq?

A lot said the force would be greatly repelled. That is repelled, not beaten.

MindYerBeak · 9 Apr 2003 at 20:05

Originally posted by Over Clocker
A lot said the force would be greatly repelled. That is repelled, not beaten.

Are the pacifists in denial maybe?

mikester · 9 Apr 2003 at 20:06

i have to admit, its a strong image to watch. very happy to see it though.

Over Clocker · 9 Apr 2003 at 20:08

Originally posted by MindYerBeak
Are the pacifists in denial maybe?

I guess it hasn't quite sunk in yet, or they are just clutching at straws etc.

Oh well.

My main concern was that the Iraqi people would be happy, they are, nuff said

Dtab · 9 Apr 2003 at 20:32

Originally posted by sedm1000

And finally, I don't want to sound like a party-pooper. But that was a small crowd celebrating in the square. Vociferous, yes, but not large. So officials are urging caution, there still might be pockets of resistance left to come

Paul Adams BBC

You could clearly see from some tv angles that the Army bods didn't want to let anymore people into the square,they had it pretty well sealed off by the looks of things.Can't say as i blame them either.The road in the top right of the piccies was clear ish when it all started ,but chocca at the end.

dirtydog · 9 Apr 2003 at 21:09

Originally posted by Over Clocker
I guess it hasn't quite sunk in yet, or they are just clutching at straws etc.

Oh well.

My main concern was that the Iraqi people would be happy, they are, nuff said

what?!

I always thought it would be a cakewalk for the US and so it was.. when did I ever say different!

elbows · 9 Apr 2003 at 21:12

Originally posted by Over Clocker
I guess it hasn't quite sunk in yet, or they are just clutching at straws etc.

Oh well.

My main concern was that the Iraqi people would be happy, they are, nuff said

Well funnily enough thats always been my concern too, but obviosuly we see it rather differently and I dont see either of us totally understanding our respective positions, oh well.

I still dont know who exactly was supposed to be in denial that the Iraqi's would react like they have?

eg look at this short thread from Speakers Corner "War Media Coverage"

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=61022

I was talking about the first happy Iraqi attacking Saddam footage, back on March 21st...

Im sure there will be many Iraqi's who do hate Saddam and would ahppily love to indulge in such behaviour. I am a little cynical about this particular footage, it looked a little staged, but I do genuinely feel there will be many repressed Iraqi's that will be happy. Its not justification for war in my eyes, but it is a real thing.

Its also quite possible that ther will be many Iraqi's who are happy to see Saddam gone but not happy about allied ocupation of their country.

Actually Im just thinking to myself that if I lived in a really repressed society and it fell, I would just love to attack the symbols of that regime as a personal cleansing process.