I posted this NYT article in an earlier, and said, "The NYT keeps looking for negatives."
Terrorism Unveiled - Will US Media Undermine Iraqi Elections?
By Athena on Analysis & Opinion
The New York Times continues to try to undermine the Iraqi elections, and the will and freedom of the people of Iraq. An article today is particulary egregious to the situation, pushing the argument --yes, the argument-- that Iraq was better off under Saddam Hussein.
It starts out:
Abdullah Muhammad al-Ajili was standing next to his old Toyota pickup on the dusty road from Baghdad to Tikrit, simmering with resentment, the sleeves on his dark blue dishdasha rolled up on his forearms. [...]
"I didn't vote, and I'm not going to vote," said Mr. Ajili, 46, who like nearly everyone else in these parts is a Sunni Arab. "Saddam was bad. But this situation is worse."
How ingenius to interview someone from Tikrit, the hometown of Saddam Hussein. It's a stronghold of support for him, not only because it's a Sunni stronghold, but because of the numerous family ties.
The article makes the claim that the Sunnis were in charge of Iraq before the American invasion:
A complete picture of the Sunnis' fall, however, emerges only in an exploration of why they turned their backs on a chance to maintain a foothold in the halls of power that they controlled for so long.
Let's get one thing straight. Sunnis were not in charge, SADDAM HUSSEIN WAS. Sunnis were arrested, tortured and killed along with Shia, Persian, and Kurd.
Then after interviewing a few Sunnis that have negative outlooks, the article makes a bold statement:
"Well, I didn't vote," began Abu Amjed, 60 and a retired army officer.
In this place, the sham elections in which Mr. Hussein won 100 percent of the vote were perfectly fine.
These words are from the writer, not quoted. What is "this place?" The cafe where the men were drinking tea? The whole town? Having former military men speak for a populace certainly-certainly-gives a one-sided perspective. Then calling the elections sham? It continues:
"Look at the whole situation," Abu Amjed said. "No electricity. No gasoline. Security - two years and they couldn't improve it. Bring Saddam back."
Another retired officer, Abu Ibrahim, said: "Yes, I agree with Abu Amjed. Saddam was much better. He was giving food to everyone, and then had the people vote for him."
They went on drinking tea, lost in what they saw as a glorious era, and one that had come to a stop as surely as the traffic outside the shop.
Now read this letter from a Sunni Arab (not in the NYT):
While Jean was in the middle of writing my story, President Bush decided that Saddam had to go. But he was not final about it, giving the dictator a chance to step down peacefully. Watching from the sidelines, I was so jumpy that the world would pressure Bush to leave Saddam in power that I actually wrote an e-mail to the President of the United States of America, asking him to please rescue 24 Million Iraqi captives who were living under the tyranny and criminality of Saddam Hussein. I pleaded for help in ridding Iraq of Saddam. I have the right. I am an Iraqi.
The happiest day of my life was the 9th of April 2003. We Iraqis now call April 9th, our "Liberation Day." I know that many Arabs do not understand our Iraqi jubilations. Many have told me that we Iraqis are foolish to accept foreign soldiers on our soil. But I look those people straight in the eye and tell them if they had not lived under the rule of Saddam Hussein, that they have no right to speak for us, or to criticize jubilant Iraqis. We know the terror of those years. No one else has the right to speak for us.
As an Iraqi who lived under the rule of Saddam, I thank every foreign soldier that came to Iraq and extended a precious helping hand, or rather, liberating hand, and Allah Bless.
Despite the troubles and hardships Iraqis are still undergoing, I believe that one day not far away, Iraq, the cradle of civilization, will settle down to peace and become a Democratic Arab State. Iraq will be the "example," that other Arab nations will one day commend, and possibly follow into democracy.
This was the dream and wish of my two grandfathers, and it is my dream as well.
This I pray to Allah.
Another Sunni Arab writes this on Mahjoob forums (not in the NYT):
I'm Sunni and now there's a fatwa in my region to kill terrorists. don't think that Sunnis are against the new Iraq, those are just Saddams orphelins and Arab terrorists who kill and want to destroy Iraq. people were scared to say no to those criminals now that's changing and we captured tens of those terrorists and gave them to authoritys. Sunni tournout was low that's sadly true but that will be diffrent in 10 months next election
There's a range of views, writers of the New York Times. How about cover them rather than make the election out to be a failure just because you detest the American President that it occurred under? You only insult the legacy of the millions that died under Saddam Hussein and the millions of Iraqis who are beginning life anew. "I was not living before the 9th of April and now I am, so let me speak!"- Ali
So, the answer to my initial headline post is no. The will of the people of Iraq is too great. Allayhaliki al-Iraq! |
