First, an American welder spent an hour weakening the statue.Then locals hauled until the rope snapped. Another was fixed in place, and many among the watching thousands applauded as Saddam fell head first on to a stepped podium above a pool of water.
Scores clambered over the statue and beat it with shoes or anything else they could grab.
One onlooker said: ?It?s very good because we don?t like it.?
An elderly man added in broken English: ?Good, good, good ? Mr W. Bush, no Saddam.?
As US troops proudly wore flowers given to them by townsfolk, a 25-year-old said he could not understand opposition to the war.
He asked: ?Everyone who refuses this war ? why??
Pointing to the statue, he went on: ?Come here and live two days with this man, and then refuse this war.?
Others were still too frightened to celebrate. Karbala was one of the Shi?ite cities to rise against Saddam in 1991, only to face his wrath weeks later. This time, they pray, freedom is there to stay. |
