How the heck do you know that it is a "bad mistake"? Do you know the person?
This is the common trend with any "unwanted" leader - to demonize the person
and make him look outstandingly brutal, while not offering him any chance of
defence. The media acts as the prosecutor, jury and executioner without any-
body acting as defense. It's happened with Milosevic, it's happened with
Hussein, and it has happened with dozens of other leaders in the past
(Castro),
just because the western world doesn't like them. Please specify how my claims
have been logically flawed, and do provide evidence for it, ok?

Things need to be put into perspective. Iraq is not the US, and the values
and cultures are different. Iraq (as many other middle-eastern countries) is
built upon tribes and ethical groups who have in the past waged bloody wars
against each other, and there's every reason to believe that they would do
so again, given the chance. Saddam may not be a very likable guy from a
western viewpoint, but apart from dissidents and outright traitors, the
average Iraqi is probably happier than having his family slaughtered by
someone from another ethnicity, just because they happen to exist. That is
NOT why people have died in Iraq.

I have yet to read a UN report (I've read the ones Blix has submitted) that
says ANYTHING about torture devices in Saddam's palaces. Please supply me
an unambigious link (preferable to a report on the UN pages) that clearly
states that such is the case. The media is full of spin and disinformation
(both pro- and con-), and atrocities have been invented in the past against
the Iraqi regime, and others, to morally "justify" the need for war. Saddam's
"atrocities" are widely documented, but almost always taken out of context
when quoted by the media. He may not be a nice guy, but nor does he engage
in random massacres.

I am aware of the UN food for oil programme. Are you aware that one third
of its revenue is being stored in UN funds for "rebuilding of Kuwait"? Are
you aware that medicine and other humanitarian aid, despite the programme,
are either being denied (claiming dual use) or being stored for long times
in warehouses around the world because the UN monitoring directorate can't
reach an agreement (due to certain allied opposition) about what should be
allowed and what shouldn't? Are you aware that the top UN huminatarian
director for Iraq resigned some years ago calling the program a genocide
of Iraqi civilians? Are you aware that the substantial portion of Saddam's
wealth does not come from the food for oil programme, but from illegal
export of oil (what a horrible crime!)?

Are you aware that Israel launched an attack against an Iraqi nuclear
powerplant in the 1980's? The world didn't do anything about it, as the
security counsil resolution condemning the attack was vetoed by a certain
country with close ties to Israel. Israel was a staging ground for US
forces during the gulf war. Still you wonder why Saddam is willing to pay
incentive for Palestine suicide bombers?

Again I ask: who should run Iraq? I certainly don't expect it to turn
into a peaceful (americanized) democracy. The roots of hatred against the
western world lies deep in the mind of Iraqi people. The US is no saviour
to them. It's both sad and funny how the actions of a man can first be
applauded and then turned against him at the whim of the US, as is now
happening with Hussein. I can only hope and pray that one day the leaders
of America will stand trial for the atrocities they have contributed to
during the past 50 years.

++ Gore

P.s. This is the "bs" group, and as such is absolutely the right group
for these messages. If you don't like the content here, don't read the
group. Bat has the wealth of being somewhat international, and it's nice
to reflect and see the views of people from other nationalities. Who knows,
maybe Blayke is the future president of the US