Iraq denies Saddam humiliated before execution

[sabra]

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?col=§ion=focusoniraq&xfile=data/focusoniraq/2007/January/focusoniraq_January23.xml

Iraq denies Saddam humiliated before execution
(AFP)

<snip>

“Where was the humiliation? The shouting of the crowd?” Iraq’s National Security Advisor Mowaffaq Al Rubaie asked during an interview on CNN.

...

One of those present at the execution could be heard shouting ”Moqtada! Moqtada! Moqtada!” at a sneering Saddam, inspiring some observers to compare the execution to a sectarian lynching.

“Basically they were doing their congregational prayers and supplications, and they mentioned at the end of their supplication the name of Moqtada,” Rubaie said.

“And (Saddam) replied to them. I can’t see where is the humiliation, to be quite honest. Moqtada, Moqtada, Moqtada is not a dirty word, not an obscene word, they were not cursing,” he said.

“I know it is not legal — it is not right and it’s wrong — but this is their belief,” said Rubaie.

[xultar]

1. Yeah, this is the lie he told the day of. He's not still sportin that lie.

He didn't retract it either.

[soothsayer]

2. oh, puh-leeeze!

[Divernan]

3. Who you gonna believe, Iraq govt. flak or your lying eyes & ears?

I have not watched the video of the execution, but the descriptions I have read from many sources are uniform in describing the hostile, insulting shouts & behavior of several of those present and recorded on video.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. damn, too slow!

:)

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. who you gonna believe, me? or your lying eyes?

Obviously this is for US consumption (Faux, Wall Street Journal, NYT, Washington Times, National Review) and NOT for domestic release. Besides, everyone in Iraq already knows what really happened.

[Double T]

6. Iraqi government leaders are acting like bush............

total denial of the facts and events that are plainly seen and heard by all who care to.

[Cass]

7. Is this guy for real? We all saw and heard what went on in that chamber.

He reminds me of Baghdad Bob. :eyes:

[TechBear_Seattle]

8. Yup. That is why...

... the Iraqi government is clamping down so hard on the "unofficial" record of the execution. Governments hate when their lies are revealed for the world to see.

[LynnTheDem]

9. This guy's bucking for a job in the bush Cabal.

:rofl:

Oh wait...

[alcibiades_mystery]

10. Noone at CNN cares to mention that the Jas al-Mahdi, Moqtada al-Sadr's

private army, is responsible for more US military deaths than even Saddam Hussein himself, nor that US troops fought running battles with them for the better part of 2004, nor that they continue to fight a low-intensity war against US forces throughout Baghdad. If it weren't for the despicable loss of life, it would actually be a bit comical.

US troops hand Saddam Hussein over to leather-jacketed, ski-masked militia members who look like they're about to rob a Brighton Beach jewelry store, those thugs take him to a room that looks like a set for Saw III, and proceed to chant to name of a guy that killed more US troops than Saddam.

The CNN anchors see nothing wrong with all this, and even let this piddling "spokesperson" lie openly about a video that is readily available for all to see. It is to laugh, really.

[IndianaGreen]

15. CNN is good at calling Osama, Obama

but CNN is not a news organization, but the PR arm of Time-Warner.

[Tempest]

11. PBS called Al Rubaie out on his lies while interviewing him

PBS interviewed Al Rubaie yesterday and every time Al Rubaie tried to spin the execution, the PBS interviewer gave out the facts.

It was pure comedy listening to Al Rubaie trying to weasel his way out of his lies.

[ShortnFiery]

23. I listened to that Interview!

Now that is an journalist with courage and integrity. I wish I caught the guy's name.

[gratuitous]

12. Isn't Al Rubaie the fellow who videoed the execution?

As I recall, his was the first name mentioned for having taken the cell phone footage of the execution before the Iraqi government decided to set up one of the guards in the room for the fall. And now Al Rubaie disclaims that the chaos and thuggery evident to every eye on the planet in his documentary footage didn't really happen?

If it weren't for the fact that you know some GOP political operative somewhere is assiduously taking notes, this whole fiasco would be laughable.

[lumpy]

13. Message from the dead?

And (Saddam) replied to them. I can’t see where is the humiliation, to be quite honest. Moqtada, Moqtada, Moqtada is not a dirty word, not an obscene word, they were not cursing,” he said.

Somewhat bewildered by Rubaie's statement contained in the article.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

16. are they saying Saddam is not dead?

who was the guy in the video? confused?

[IndianaGreen]

14. Al Rubaie lies as much as Baghdad Bob, but he is not funny!

We have created an Arab version of the Bush regime, they are all pathological liars!

[damntexdem]

17. It was just friendly bantering.

They would have shaken hands afterward, but Saddam was strangely nonresponsive.

[daleo]

18. He was just pining for the fiords. n/t

[otherlander]

20. Who?

[daleo]

21. Just a Monty Python reference

The Dead Parrot skit. The execution and the associated stories about how it became botched, have taken on a Pythonesque atmosphere.

[otherlander]

24. Yes, I know.

Hence the Ford picture. Not really funny, I know.

[daleo]

25. Sorry, I must be half asleep today.

The gag was ok, I was just oblivious.

[otherlander]

19. Gee...

You hate to see a mass murderer get their feelings hurt... :eyes:

[ShortnFiery]

22. That's not the point. Iraq is trying to present itself as a dignified

nation. You also have to appreciate that the Sunnis are a little miffed at the lack of professionalism of his executioners. Not the crowd but the hooded thugs that taunted him while slipping the noose on his head. Yeah, that took a lot of courage. :(

We made and bolstered Saddam, therefore, we have NOTHING to be proud of - execution or not. :shrug:

[tom_paine]

26. Since Iraq is a mere extension of the Bushevik State (of Evil)

we can assume not only is he lying, but lying shamelessly. He is lying so badly two cub reporters staying at a roach-infested motel could debunk it.

Just like his vile Bushevik masters, who lie in identical ways.