lennart
24-07-03, 19:30
Iraqis Demand to See Bodies of Saddam's Sons
Thu July 24, 2003 01:54 PM ET
By Michael Georgy
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqis said on Thursday they were not convinced by photographs of the bodies of Saddam Hussein's sons and demanded the corpses should be dragged through the streets as proof the feared brothers were dead.
The grisly pictures were broadcast on Iraqi television and international satellite channels, but many Iraqis could not see them because of power cuts plaguing the country. It didn't seem to matter because Iraqis said photographs alone were not enough to prove Uday and Qusay were dead.
"Death is not enough. They should have been hung up on poles in a square in Baghdad so all Iraqis could see them. Then they should have died as people ate them alive," said businessman Khalil Ali. "The photographs do not mean anything."
The pictures issued by the U.S. military showed the bodies lying on plastic sheeting. Both had thick beards. Uday's head was shaved and a wound obliterated part of his nose and upper lip. Qusay's eyes were closed and his mouth was hanging open.
But Iraqis remained skeptical that Uday, known for cruelty and rape, and Qusay, a cold calculating killer, were gone after terrorizing the country for years.
On one busy Baghdad street, an undercover policeman denounced Uday and Qusay, shortly after he and his colleagues shot their pistols and AK-47s into the air to capture a thief.
"SONS OF DOGS"
He said the brothers were "dogs and sons of dogs" when asked about the photographs. Another policeman told him not to say too much, and they sped off.
For Iraqis who had waited all day to see the photographs on television there was the frustration of yet another electricity blackout in a country still recovering from war.
"We wanted to see it and then have our wedding celebrations," said Nabeel Ahmed, 33, a wedding hall owner. "What can you do?"
Some brushed off the photographs as an American ploy to prove they were in control of Iraq, where attacks have killed 44 U.S. troops since major combat was declared over on May 1.
"This is all a deception. The Americans are just playing games," said housewife Sajida Abdel Rahim. "Besides why is it such a big deal? Don't you think the British and Americans commit atrocities?"
While U.S. military officials see the photographs as indisputable evidence that Uday and Qusay were killed, Iraqis say they will need a lot more.
Iraqis never imagined that years of terror would ever end. So it comes as no surprise that they will not rest easy without even more evidence.
"We will believe they are dead when Uday and Qusay's bodies are tied to cars and dragged through the streets so everybody can see them," said Muhammad, an engineer.
"These people got away with killing and terror for so many years. We never thought that anything could stop them. Not even death can touch them."
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3154042
Die Iraqis zijn harde mensen, ben benieuwd of de Amerikanen hiertoe bereid zijn :p
Thu July 24, 2003 01:54 PM ET
By Michael Georgy
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqis said on Thursday they were not convinced by photographs of the bodies of Saddam Hussein's sons and demanded the corpses should be dragged through the streets as proof the feared brothers were dead.
The grisly pictures were broadcast on Iraqi television and international satellite channels, but many Iraqis could not see them because of power cuts plaguing the country. It didn't seem to matter because Iraqis said photographs alone were not enough to prove Uday and Qusay were dead.
"Death is not enough. They should have been hung up on poles in a square in Baghdad so all Iraqis could see them. Then they should have died as people ate them alive," said businessman Khalil Ali. "The photographs do not mean anything."
The pictures issued by the U.S. military showed the bodies lying on plastic sheeting. Both had thick beards. Uday's head was shaved and a wound obliterated part of his nose and upper lip. Qusay's eyes were closed and his mouth was hanging open.
But Iraqis remained skeptical that Uday, known for cruelty and rape, and Qusay, a cold calculating killer, were gone after terrorizing the country for years.
On one busy Baghdad street, an undercover policeman denounced Uday and Qusay, shortly after he and his colleagues shot their pistols and AK-47s into the air to capture a thief.
"SONS OF DOGS"
He said the brothers were "dogs and sons of dogs" when asked about the photographs. Another policeman told him not to say too much, and they sped off.
For Iraqis who had waited all day to see the photographs on television there was the frustration of yet another electricity blackout in a country still recovering from war.
"We wanted to see it and then have our wedding celebrations," said Nabeel Ahmed, 33, a wedding hall owner. "What can you do?"
Some brushed off the photographs as an American ploy to prove they were in control of Iraq, where attacks have killed 44 U.S. troops since major combat was declared over on May 1.
"This is all a deception. The Americans are just playing games," said housewife Sajida Abdel Rahim. "Besides why is it such a big deal? Don't you think the British and Americans commit atrocities?"
While U.S. military officials see the photographs as indisputable evidence that Uday and Qusay were killed, Iraqis say they will need a lot more.
Iraqis never imagined that years of terror would ever end. So it comes as no surprise that they will not rest easy without even more evidence.
"We will believe they are dead when Uday and Qusay's bodies are tied to cars and dragged through the streets so everybody can see them," said Muhammad, an engineer.
"These people got away with killing and terror for so many years. We never thought that anything could stop them. Not even death can touch them."
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3154042
Die Iraqis zijn harde mensen, ben benieuwd of de Amerikanen hiertoe bereid zijn :p