Dean: Iraquis much worse off with Saddam gone

[ringmastery]

MANCHESTER, N.H. - Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean (news - web sites) said Sunday that the standard of living for Iraqis is a "whole lot worse" since Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s removal from power in last year's American-led invasion.

"You can say that it's great that Saddam is gone and I'm sure that a lot of Iraqis feel it is great that Saddam is gone," said the former Vermont governor, an unflinching critic of the war against Iraq (news - web sites). "But a lot of them gave their lives. And their living standard is a whole lot worse now than it was before."

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=694&u=/ap/20040125/ap_on_el_pr/dean_44&printer=1

[LBJBestEver]

1. Another brillaint gem by Dean <nm>

<sarcasm>

[Dagaz]

7. Our men and women in uniform get nuked by Dean yet again

Dean doesn't seem to care that he's a total joke. Dean is the crazy Aunt that you just wish would go away.

[LBJBestEver]

11. Dean is damaged goods at this point.

I don't think he has a realistic chance at winning a single state primary.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Blitz]

25. What is Dean a leader of?

n/t.

[Forkboy]

27. What are any of the candidates leaders of?

Dean at least leads a state....what's Kerry leading right now?

anyone? Bueller?

[Blitz]

30. Which state does Dean lead?

This is news to me.

[Forkboy]

31. uh...Vermont

:eyes:

[Hoppin_Mad]

28. LOL ! What a stretch ! His statement was about Iraqi civilians

and did not reflect one bit on the men and women sent to fight the unjust waged by bush + PNAC backers and condoned by the majority of our Dem nominees.

[Forkboy]

14. What's wrong about what he said?

[quaker bill]

2. Sounds like the Dr. tells the truth again.

People hate it when he does that.

[arewethereyet]

3. When did he have the time to go over and find all this out ?

Must have bought a Concorde with all that money so he could conduct this research in between stump speaches.

[cprise]

4. He sure is flogging those sacred cows

And I for one am glad he is keeping the issue on the table.

[dsc]

5. they have no electricity

in a country with an average temp of over a hundred degrees. They have been paying over 2 dollars a gallon for gas (used to be around 30 cents). They have had bridges, buildings, water systems, and their food distribution system destroyed. They have over 1 million people unemployed (their former army) in a country of under 20 million. For the math challenged that is 5% of all people, 10% of all males, and likely 30% of all adult males. We called a 25% unemployment rate here the great depression. And crime has skyrocketed to the point that women won't leave at night for fear of being raped. Other than that they are just fine.

[Military Brat]

9. And don't forget the depleted uranium cancer timebomb

As well as the cluster bombs scattered like nightmarish easter eggs.

There are at least two sides to every story. Dean is just pointing out the side that Americans don't seem to want to face, but in fact it is a reality that we will be forced to deal with.

[dsc]

12. It is easier for some here to justify this war

than dare say Dean is right. Then they will ask us for loyalty oaths. Sounds fair to me.

[shance]

20. Yep, isnt that unbelievable. Theyd rather justify 500 American deaths

and who knows how many innocent Iraqis, but all in the name of politics they would rather lie to themselves, then admit the truth.

Thats pretty frightening actually.

[Forkboy]

21. And then they try to belittle and cow those of us

who are pissed about it.

2004 is the last Dem vote for me...and right now I'm not even sure about 2004.

[MariaS]

29. You are right

on the money. Who in their right mind could think that having their homes destroyed their lively hood striped their family members killed and their woman rights taken back decades as being better off? Granted Hussein was a monster but at least there was a semblance of a functioning society. Bravo Dr. Dean for speaking the truth.

[Joe the Revelator]

6. Don't play the republican game of putting words in peoples mouth

I think he was saying that the standard of living for those civillans that were killed is a lot worse then it would have been if they had not been murdered in an unjust war. Smear if you want, but don't play the wingnuts game.

[jeter]

8. I understand what Dean is saying here

But he has to watch HOW he says it.

It would have been better for him to criticize the lack of a plan for a post-war Iraq. Then say, "Iraqi's may see this and conclude that the US occupation is no better than living under Saddam." Or something to that effect.

[mzmolly]

10. And the rest of that quote is here:

"Now I would never defend Saddam Hussein," Dean told the "Women for Dean" rally. "He's a horrible person. I'm delighted he's gone. Would there not have been a better way to get rid of him in cooperation with the United Nations" (news - web sites)

Not quite as interesting now I know.

[creativelcro]

13. Exactly...

[frank frankly]

15. Dr. Dean tells the truth and people go nuts

we are robbing them in every conceivable way

also, this has nothing to do with supporting the troops! they are doing their job the best they can. it is not their fault that there was a takeover of our government by BushCo.

keep telling the truth, Doctor.

all you nay sayers: just wait until the civil war breaks out there.

once again, Dean tells the truth and gets in trouble here at DU

amazing!

[charlie]

17. Nedra Pickler again...

(Nedra Pickler)

...which means you can't be sure the quotes aren't mixed-n-matched to suit Nedra's distaste for Democrats, Dean in particular. I'd wait for an unedited transcript.

[mzmolly]

19. I actually saw it in context... the story is really misleading

SURPRISE!!!

[kodi]

22. ah, pickler again? the queen of the subjunctive clause

the title was misleading.

it should have said "dean says dead iraqis worse off"

[shance]

24. If you were named Nedra Pickler,

wouldnt you be a bitter person too?

I mean I would rather be named something like Navel Tickler, or Never Sickler than Nedra Pickler.

I think we should seriously consider giving her a pass, due to the trauma caused to her by the name. Must have taken years of extensive therapy and as we can see it didnt help her anyway, which probably has made her even MORE bitter....

poor Nedra Pickler....

ruhroh...I think I feel a poem coming on.....

nah...think it came and went

:)

[milkyway]

18. Someone in this gutless party has to stand up and tell the obvious truth,

even if it means he goes down in flames.

[shance]

26. Ive been thinking of changing my username to Snickers.

Just curious if you have any thoughts or words of wisdom from your experience as a Milky Way?

[Seldona]

23. He is absolutely right.

Though it may be politically unpopular to admit it at this point.

Does anyone here read any of the Iraq bloggers?

Some of the things happening you won't hear on the news here are amazing.

For instance there are some serious problems with the currency.

The Dinar was doing very well, and then all sorts of people, including many on the Governing Counsel, were caught smuggling billions out of the country.

The Dinar lost half its value over night!

And womens rights.

With Saddam's secular government, women had essentially the same rights as men.

Things are now headed back to the militant Islamic way, and women are very upset.

Not to mention the electrical and fuel problems.

I really think reading the Iraqi bloggers is important to understanding just WHAT is going on there and how they feel about it.

Here are the two I just can't seem to stay away from.

http://dear_raed.blogspot.com/

http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/


Spelling and/or punctuation edit.

[Gloria]

32. Actually read a story today in the foreign press about how there

is actually some economic improvement in Baghdad and Basra...so by November this statement may be harder to use....But things are really crappy there now.