At Funeral for Hussein's Sons, a Call for "Death to America"

[kskiska]

AWJA, Iraq, Aug. 2 — The brothers Hussein were buried today here in their hometown 11 days after they were killed by American soldiers, at a funeral that touched off an outpouring of nostalgia for their fugitive father and of angry calls to rid the country of its American occupiers.

Coming out of seclusion, more than 100 members of Saddam Hussein's family gathered in a parched cemetery here and laid the bodies of Uday and Qusay side by side, and then, to conclude an emotional ceremony, buried a third relative killed in the American raid, Qusay's 14-year-old son, Mustafa. A group of American soldiers kept watch at first, then slipped away.

The mourners, many of whom thrived under Saddam Hussein's brutal but patriarchal rule, asked God to judge Uday and Qusay as heroes killed in a glorious battle against a foreign invader, and draped each grave with an Iraqi flag.

(snip)

The end of the ceremony, attended by as many as 200 people in all, set off a frenzy. Family and friends seemed to stop mourning the passing of the sons as they began chanting for the return of the father.

(snip)

When friends and family lined up in a traditional prayer to mark the end of the funeral, one of the members rose from his knees and exploded in anger, jabbing his finger at a small number of Americans standing by.

"Death to America!" he shouted, with murmurs of assent behind him. "Death to America!"

more…
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/03/international/worldspecial/03IRAQ.html?ei=5062&en=5e6b78f163d3a6e7&ex=1060488000&partner=GOOGLE&pagewanted=all&position=

[flamingyouth]

1. Just like the late '70s in Iran

Great. This is just great news.

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

3. Look at the "nostalgia" for Communism in Russia

If the new regime can't deliver the goods, people will naturally want the old one back.

[IndianaGreen]

6. They had jobs and pensions with the Communists in charge

What has the Western-style government given to the average Russian? Nothing! All they had gained in terms of education, jobs, and even law and order, they have lost to the organized crime cabal that is running the country (and I include Putin in that!).

Russia is not even a Superpower anymore. Unable to contain the excesses of American hypower politics, Russia will continue to decline until it reaches the same level of misery it enjoyed under the Tsars.

[Whoa_Nelly]

2. Conditions for release of bodies?

The debate ended this morning. Members of Mr. Hussein's clan, Al Tikriti, said American officials had notified them at 6 a.m. that they could pick up the bodies at an American base in Tikrit. The Iraqis said the Americans had imposed strict conditions for the release of the bodies, obviously intended to minimize any outpouring of nostalgia for the old government.

Soooooooo....were enough DNA, tissue samples, pictures, fingernail clippings, etc., taken before release was allowed? IMO, I don't believe for a minute that the intention was "minimize any outpouring of nostalgia for the old government", but was to reduce the consequences of retaliation for whatever the US did to those bodies.

[JNelson6563]

4. uh-oh, we knew this was coming

I wonder if there will be a hostage situation that can be in stand-off status until election time.....like watching a bad movie all over again.

Julie

[Heddi]

5. wow. how convenient

calling 'death to america' just DAYS after the administration (who is on a month-long, 'well earned' working vacation :eyes:) says that planes may be used 9/11 style, and the internet is vunerable AND people on ferries need to be extra cautious....

just a day after the prez says that the COULD have let the recession worsen just to boost any recovery (as to make himself look good)

just after the gov't "dismantled" a stock market on terrorist futures.....

gee. you. don't. think. something. bad. is. going. to. happen. this. summer. do. you.