“Palestinian Love Affair with Saddam Sours”
Source: Yahoo! News
Aside from the amusing intro, the article itself has some useful and intriguing info:
Saddam Hussein has gone from hero to zero among Palestinians angry that the man they deemed their only true Arab champion was removed so easily by the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.“It has become clear that we all were deceived by Saddam’s words,” said Gaza taxi driver Ahmad Yahya. “Where is Saddam now? Why did the Iraqis not fight (more)? It is a shame!”
For Palestinians, the Iraqi president was the sole Arab leader to offer more than rhetoric against the United States and its perceived pro-Israel bias in their long conflict with the Jewish state over its grip on the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Saddam’s disappearance and the impression that his army put up little fight against U.S.-led forces, making a mockery of his vows of heroic resistance, plunged many Palestinians into dismay and confusion.
Most of the 3.5 million Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the two territories they seek for an independent state, as well as millions of refugees abroad saw Saddam as “the symbol of Arab honor” and the “hero leader.”
Of course, the fact that Saddam was the best that they could do for a hero does underscore their downtrodden status (not to mention the utter failure of Palestinian leadership to, well, lead). Although it also bolstered the argument that I have been making that perceptions of power are important.
Hat tip: The World Wide Rant
But since zeroes are heroes for Gen X, is it now the case that Palestinians who listen to the Smashing Pumpkins now like Saddam? It is so confusing.
Comment by John Lemon — Tuesday, April 29, 2024 @ 11:34 am
Comment by Anonymous — Tuesday, August 10, 2024 @ 10:51 am