Dead Iraqi Would Have Loved Democracy

[Marxist]

from www.theonion.com

BAGHDAD, IRAQ—Baghdad resident Taha Sabri, killed Monday in a U.S. air strike on his city, would have loved the eventual liberation of Iraq and establishment of democracy, had he lived to see it, his grieving widow said.

"Taha was a wonderful man, a man of peace," his wife Sawssan said. "I just know he would have been happy to see free elections here in Iraq, had that satellite-guided Tomahawk cruise missile not strayed off course and hit our home."

A shoemaker and father of five, Sabri, 44, was listening to the radio at 3 a.m. when a missile launched from a U.S. warship in the Persian Gulf veered off course and struck just feet from his house. Sawssan was away at the time, tending to an ailing aunt in the Baghdad suburb of Mansour.

"My husband was no fan of Saddam," Sawssan said. "He felt he was a terrible despot. If the Americans do drive him from power, it will be that much more of a shame that they killed Taha."

 

[Marxist]

I wonder if Cheyenne will read this...

 

[breakwall]

Aah, the Onion...

My source for news. CNN can go hang.

 

[Problem Child]

I wonder if the number of Iraqis accidentally killed as a result of collateral damage from Allied weapons would even approach the number Saddam would kill if he were left in power for say, another five years.

I doubt it.

 

[jodarby]

It has been said on the streets of Baghdad that they believe the American reports that American bombs only hit the targets they are aimed at. Essentially, the people believe the U.S. military never misses.

This isn't as good as it sounds because that means the citizens of the city think the U.S. intentionally targetted the markets.

Now, we know that the missiles don't always hit their targets. The Tomahawks were taken off the line today because many have landed in Saudi Arabia or Turkey by mistake. However, the Iraqis don't know that they don't always work.

 

[jodarby]

I wonder if the number of Iraqis accidentally killed as a result of collateral damage from Allied weapons would even approach the number Saddam would kill if he were left in power for say, another five years.

I doubt it.

Who knows. The people of Iraq only know who are killing them now.

 

[funspirit]

yea, and it won't even come close to the estimated 2 million who died as a result of our sanctions. Don'tyou just love the way we are forcibly installing democracy? Why didn't we think of this before?

 

[Problem Child]

Now, we know that the missiles don't always hit their targets. The Tomahawks were taken off the line today because many have landed in Saudi Arabia or Turkey by mistake. However, the Iraqis don't know that they don't always work.

I don't know where you get "many". I've heard that a grand total of two landed in Turkey in unpopulated areas.

 

[jodarby]

I don't know where you get "many". I've heard that a grand total of two landed in Turkey in unpopulated areas.

In this morning's briefing:

Doha (CNN)

Major General Victor Renuart said the United States has restricted the firing of Tomahawk cruise missiles over parts of Saudi Arabia until it can be determined what caused some errant missiles to land in Saudi territory.

 

[jodarby]

I don't know where you get "many". I've heard that a grand total of two landed in Turkey in unpopulated areas.

Look it up yourself. If they didn't think they had a problem, why take them out of service? They don't want them landing them on their own troops and some have been landing too damn close to units.

 

[Problem Child]

yea, and it won't even come close to the estimated 2 million who died as a result of our sanctions. Don'tyou just love the way we are forcibly installing democracy? Why didn't we think of this before?

It's amazing that Iraq makes billions from their oil but it never seems to get to the people. 60% of Iraqis survive completely on the U.N. food for oil program. I wonder how many more would starve if they had to rely solely on their government to feed them and provide some kind of economy.

Saddam seems to have a lot of palaces and fortified bunkers and weapons. I wonder why that is...how puzzling!

The number I've always heard tossed around in reference to Iraqi deaths is a nice round one million. Is it two now? Inflation sucks.

 

[jodarby]

It's amazing that Iraq makes billions from their oil but it never seems to get to the people. 60% of Iraqis survive completely on the U.N. food for oil program. I wonder how many more would starve if they had to rely solely on their government to feed them and provide some kind of economy.

Saddam seems to have a lot of palaces and fortified bunkers and weapons. I wonder why that is...how puzzling!

The number I've always heard tossed around in reference to Iraqi deaths is a nice round one million. Is it two now? Inflation sucks.

I supported the sanctions and blockade because it is the only way short of war to compel a country to comply to international pressure.

I still have my doubts that the war will achieve all the objectives that the United States wants. It might change the regime, it may find weapons of mass destruction (I wonder what people would say if they don't) but I don't don't know that it will being democracy or a country that might be frought with unforseen problems for U.S. security.

The United States says that it doesn't want to occupy Iraq but it may just have to do it for a very long time otherwise it might fall back to something they don't desire.