Faithless
01-31-2005, 04:46 PM
Ummm, what in the hell were we fighting for, then?
Reason # 666 of why we shouldn't have gone it alone -- ungreatfulness.
Iraqis yearn for security enjoyed under Saddam (http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_2545475)
Article Last Updated: 01/30/2005 08:02:25 AM
By Jamal Halaby
AMMAN, Jordan — Dozens of nostalgic Iraqis gathered around a kiosk in downtown Amman on Saturday, singing patriotic songs and watching video clips of Saddam Hussein when he was in power.
Many said they longed for the security imposed by the ousted regime, glossing over the repression and brutality that came with it.
"These were the good old days, not because of Saddam, but because there was security and stability in Iraq," Mohammed Kadhem, 34, said as he watched images of Saddam on a small TV set up at the kiosk. The mustachioed ruler can be seen shooting a rifle, drinking coffee and presiding over a celebration.
Nearby, other Iraqi expatriates waited for a bus to take them to a local polling station to vote as Iraqis in 14 countries cast absentee ballots in their homeland's first free election in five decades. Ballots will be cast in Iraq today.
Voting was spirited in Jordan and posters promoting the parties of Iraq's interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and interim President Ghazi al-Yawer adorned walls and light posts at intersections in Amman.
Many Iraqis expressed anger over the U.S.-led invasion and the violence that followed.
"I'm pained for what's taking place in my country," Wisam Jawad, 20, said as he stood outside the kiosk, watching a video of fighting between U.S.-led coalition forces and insurgents in Fallujah.
"The old system was better, because there was security and stability, but now there's no security, there's occupation, there's killing and violence, there's nothing but death."
Both Kadhem and Jawad voted but refused to say for whom.
Kiosk owner Ziad Hussein said his small business has thrived selling videos of Saddam and the Iraqi fighting, which are shipped from Fallujah.
"There's a big demand only among Iraqis for such videos, they love them, they come and ask specifically for them," he said.
He said he sells at least 150 video and audio discs a day, each for about $1.40.
He never sold more than 20 discs a day of his previous wares, popular English-language movies.
Hareth Amir, 24, said he enjoyed watching video clips of Saddam, but could not afford to buy them. He did not register to vote and decried the elections as a "mockery to Iraqis, to force us to do what the American occupiers want."
The crowd of Iraqis also chanted songs praising their country and called on fellow Arabs to help them rebuild their war-embattled nation.
Since Hussein started selling the videos three months ago, Jordanian police repeatedly arrested him, most recently last week for allegedly "inciting public sentiments," he said. "But I told them I show these videos not to arouse Iraqi feelings, but to sell, it's good for my business."
Jordanian security officials were not available for comment.
Mohammed Barakat, 58, owner of a poultry store next door, said police had closed down the kiosk and arrested Hussein and other workers several times after complaints from him and other neighbors about the "silly Saddam songs."
"They never give up, as soon as they're out of jail, they open up the kiosk again," he said.
Reason # 666 of why we shouldn't have gone it alone -- ungreatfulness.
Iraqis yearn for security enjoyed under Saddam (http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_2545475)
Article Last Updated: 01/30/2005 08:02:25 AM
By Jamal Halaby
AMMAN, Jordan — Dozens of nostalgic Iraqis gathered around a kiosk in downtown Amman on Saturday, singing patriotic songs and watching video clips of Saddam Hussein when he was in power.
Many said they longed for the security imposed by the ousted regime, glossing over the repression and brutality that came with it.
"These were the good old days, not because of Saddam, but because there was security and stability in Iraq," Mohammed Kadhem, 34, said as he watched images of Saddam on a small TV set up at the kiosk. The mustachioed ruler can be seen shooting a rifle, drinking coffee and presiding over a celebration.
Nearby, other Iraqi expatriates waited for a bus to take them to a local polling station to vote as Iraqis in 14 countries cast absentee ballots in their homeland's first free election in five decades. Ballots will be cast in Iraq today.
Voting was spirited in Jordan and posters promoting the parties of Iraq's interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and interim President Ghazi al-Yawer adorned walls and light posts at intersections in Amman.
Many Iraqis expressed anger over the U.S.-led invasion and the violence that followed.
"I'm pained for what's taking place in my country," Wisam Jawad, 20, said as he stood outside the kiosk, watching a video of fighting between U.S.-led coalition forces and insurgents in Fallujah.
"The old system was better, because there was security and stability, but now there's no security, there's occupation, there's killing and violence, there's nothing but death."
Both Kadhem and Jawad voted but refused to say for whom.
Kiosk owner Ziad Hussein said his small business has thrived selling videos of Saddam and the Iraqi fighting, which are shipped from Fallujah.
"There's a big demand only among Iraqis for such videos, they love them, they come and ask specifically for them," he said.
He said he sells at least 150 video and audio discs a day, each for about $1.40.
He never sold more than 20 discs a day of his previous wares, popular English-language movies.
Hareth Amir, 24, said he enjoyed watching video clips of Saddam, but could not afford to buy them. He did not register to vote and decried the elections as a "mockery to Iraqis, to force us to do what the American occupiers want."
The crowd of Iraqis also chanted songs praising their country and called on fellow Arabs to help them rebuild their war-embattled nation.
Since Hussein started selling the videos three months ago, Jordanian police repeatedly arrested him, most recently last week for allegedly "inciting public sentiments," he said. "But I told them I show these videos not to arouse Iraqi feelings, but to sell, it's good for my business."
Jordanian security officials were not available for comment.
Mohammed Barakat, 58, owner of a poultry store next door, said police had closed down the kiosk and arrested Hussein and other workers several times after complaints from him and other neighbors about the "silly Saddam songs."
"They never give up, as soon as they're out of jail, they open up the kiosk again," he said.