December 14, 2003
Forensic Dentistry
The image of Saddam Hussein being examined like a homeless drunk arrested for public urination should have a devastating effect throughout the Arab region. Al-Jazeera is showing the photographs. And this article's headline describes Iraqis "dancing in the streets" and the caption of the top photograph says that Iraqis in Nassariya are "celebrating Saddam's arrest".
Such a public humiliation of Saddam should sear into the regional consciousness the failure of Saddamite-style militant Arab nationalism. There are several other Arab tyrants who deserve a similar dental checkup. "Baby Doc" Assad and the entire Saudi royal family come to mind. The Palestinians in particular are in need of some shock therapy:
Disbelief and gloom seized many Palestinians on Sunday at news of Saddam Hussein's capture while Israel, which came under Iraqi Scud missile attack in the 1991 Gulf War, hailed the United States for capturing Saddam.
We must never forget that Palestinian terrorism is not fueled by "despair", but out of a sense of hope that terrorism will destroy Israel. Some more disbelief and gloom are needed to convince the Palestinians that terrorism will only make their own conditions worse. It's a criminal shame that the United States and the "world community" continue to protect Yassir Arafat and Ahmed Yassin from enjoying Saddam's fate which they also deserve. Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at December 14, 2003 02:51 PM
Comments

What a great day for the Yanks, the Brits and all the allies helping on the ground in Iraq. Thanks to all their efforts.

Posted by: Gary on December 14, 2003 07:09 PM

The capture of Saddam Hussein may very well be a first when you consider that Hitler and Mussolini were not captured alive. Who was the last comparable tyrant to be taken alive? After all the evidence of atrocities is introduced in open court it is hard to see his reputation not sinking like a rock in Arab opinion. Already his image on TV screens tonight has overturned his image of cocky bravado. It reminds me of film footage of the idiotic posturing of Mussolini. For the first time in a long time Palestinian hopes must be taking a beating!

Posted by: Gary Epstein on December 14, 2003 09:42 PM

Actually, Mussolini was captured alive. But his captors preferred Palestinian methods of arrest and detention to American ones.

Posted by: Insufficiently Sensitive on December 14, 2003 10:10 PM

If those same folks read the reaction from the American/Euro-Left, they will be heartened instead, judging from the number of folks who somehow view the televising of his examinations as "hurtful of his dignity" and a violation of his human rights.

Odd, innit, how these same folks often have far less to say about Hussein's hurting of his own people's dignity, such as allowing his sons to whip the feet of his soldiers....

Posted by: Dean on December 15, 2003 10:28 AM
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