Gone, Gone, Gone
Well, whatever one thinks of the war, or US hegemony, it’s hard not to rejoice at this. I’m not even going to bother to try – which is no great feat, of course, I don’t think too many people are trying, though I did see an odd comment from George Galloway. But good news is good news. Not a shot fired, no one so much as got his hair mussed, as dear General ‘Buck’ Turgidson put it in ‘Dr. Strangelove.’ Just a murderous ruthless tyrant caught like a rat in a trap, lying in a spider hole under ground, hauled off to be shaved and examined and pushed around. He’s still alive, he can be tried in court. He may use the occasion to make a rhetorical case for himself, as Milosevic is doing at his trial, but it still seems worth it. Surely it is worth it, to make tyrants testify before open tribunals. That almost happened with Pinochet, it is happening with Milosevic and some of the guilty in Rwanda and South Africa. Maybe some day bin Laden, maybe some day Kissinger – no, that last is not likely.
It was quite startling, hearing the live press conference by the military spokesman on the radio – the shouts that suddenly erupted when the pictures of Saddam were shown. What it must be like to live in a situation like that. It’s hard to imagine when you never have, and have never even had a serious likelihood of it. The permanent nightmare, that you can’t wake up from becase it’s real. He could come back. He’s out there. Maybe he’ll be back, and then he’ll punish us all. Now at least that’s over. He won’t. He’s not coming back, he’s not going to punish anyone. Not never not nohow.
GET IN!
Ultimately, I counted myself among the anti-war contingent (with some misgivings, the fact I marched with Tariq Ali still gives me the occassional guilty start), but sweet Baby Jesus and all the orphans what a result!
I am so happy at his capture, I can let it slide that I don’t have the vocabulary to describe what I feel about the murderous piece of sh*t that he is (that’s about as far as I get before I get all fiery and incoherent)
Wouldn’t it be nice if this war had truly been fought in the name of liberation? If all the other oppressive regimes were next, or under pressure to reform? I’d march for that.
Yeah, it would. Be nice. But as you indicate – his capture is pretty damn good. I’m fairly ecstatic myself. And who knows, maybe the public, bloodless, humiliating downfall of a tyrant will start a fashion. Who knows, maybe one tyrant found hiding his sorry self in a hole in the ground will make a lot of other tyrants suddenly look more vulnerable and stupid, maybe people will be inspired to send more of them fleeing to their spider holes. Maybe with multilateral help in future. Who knows, who knows. One can hope.
See, that’s where I get all twitchy – it wasn’t bloodless (on the day, yes, but what drove him there?). There were a lot of civilians killed in the war (controversial Iraq Body Count figures or not) and a lot of Iraqi soldiers too. I think it could have been done better. I think G.W. Bush could be outwitted by my 13 year old cousin. I get so wound up by people in power who quote the Bible as their source of inspiration that I damn near spin round on the spot. Things could be so much better, I hate having to align myself with the lesser of so many bleedin’ evils…
sorry, just realised how weak that line in the second post sounded. “What drove him there”? His own actions, the murderous f*cker. But I hope my point isn’t missed. This wasn’t bloodless, and while I rejoice at his capture, I think it could’ve done been so much better.
Yes, I do too. And I cannot begin to tell you how I loathe the Bible-toting Bush. I hate to think that this day could mean his re-election. It could indeed have been done better. But, I also have to admit (reluctantly – I don’t want to join with the Liberty Fries crowd) that the blame for that can be spread around. If the Europeans had done better on the Balkans and Rwanda – that would have helped. 20/20 hindsight, of course – but that’s partly the point.
To put it another way, my instinct is all to agree with you; I’m making a conscientious effort to remember some other pieces of the puzzle.
You wouldn’t believe the number of wishy-washy comments I came up with in the last hour or so in an attempt to articulate my joy about the capture of Saddam, only to delete them.
I live in a comfortable world; a democracy where I can speak my mind; where I can state my sexuality without any fear of reprisal; where I have the freedom to reject religion (and I do so with all my heart). What am I, compared to those who truly take a stand in cultures that try deny them such rights? A bit of a nothing.
Sometimes I feel I need to shout from the rooftops. Sometimes I think I should just shut up.
The answer is probably somewhere inbetween.
Many thanks to B&W for articulating so much of what I feel – Ophelia, you are up there with Richard Dawkins and James Randi in my intellectual heroes list.
Blimey, that’s high praise – thanks.
Somewhere in between – so that would be a bit of gentle humming halfway up the stairs?
Sorry! Inveterate frivolity strikes again. Anyway, just so, about living in comfort. I suppose that’s why I try to second-guess my thinking these days.
Ugh.
Comments boxes need an “Are you sure? Cos this is going to sound overly earnest and ever so slightly po-faced when you re-read it in the morning light.” option. I’m naturally quip-happy, whenever I try and be serious I just can’t pull it off!
Not that I retract a word of it – and high praise it may be, but I mean it. I’ve only recently had a political and scientific awakening (bit of a conspiracy theorist a few years back. Ahem.) and Butterflies and Wheels was one of the first websites I came across when I started looking into all this malarky. I’m damn glad I did.
Oh I wouldn’t worry about the po-faced bit – yesterday was that kind of day.
Anyway I’m quite earnest myself along with the inveterate frivolity – a confusing combination, but quite common.
I’m very glad we’ve been a helpful companion in your awakening. They’re a great thing, awakenings are; I’ve had one or two myself.