The Command Post - Iraq - NYTimes: Iraqi Officials Crying

April 08, 2003

NYTimes: Iraqi Officials Crying

Still Descends on Iraqi Capital After Raging Street Battles

At the Palestine Hotel, a thousand yards away, sounds of fire were heard and flashes from tanks were seen lighting up the gates and gardens of the palace. At dawn, the Americans moved north from the palace which lies on a bend in the Tigris up the riverbank toward the rest of the presidential compound, crossing through areas that have been heavily bombed in the past 18 days. The toll on Iraqis appeared to have been severe, and senior Iraqi officials at the Palestine Hotel were seen clutching each other with tears rolling down their faces, whether for concern about their personal safety or about the pounding being taken by Iraqi forces could not be known. That pounding includes a devastating assault Monday that targeted Saddam Hussein and his two sons at a large residential compound in the Mansour district. Posted By PoliticaObscura at April 8, 2003 09:55 AM | TrackBack

Comments

Cry me a river.

Posted by: tenbase at April 8, 2003 10:09 AM

Dearie me. What a shame. Never mind.

Posted by: JSF at April 8, 2003 10:10 AM

Wahhhhhhh!!!!

Regards / GulGnu

-Stabil som fan!

PS.

Seeing your enemy starting to cry is always a good sign you are doing something right...

DS.

Posted by: GulGnu at April 8, 2003 10:11 AM

Maybe they caught the latest episode of "Ed."

Posted by: Ryan at April 8, 2003 10:15 AM

If it weren't senior Iraqi officials I might feel the least bit of pity. However, since I believe these people are, for the most part, willing participants, I don't.

Posted by: Jeannie at April 8, 2003 10:18 AM

To Crying Iraqi Officials:

Cheer Up, men - it's all an illusion. Smoke and mirrors. Nothing to fret over.

Posted by: Steve at April 8, 2003 10:19 AM

Actually, they just learned that the President of the U.S. was not President Josiah Bartlet from West Wing but, instead, was G.W. Bush from Texas.

Posted by: U.S. Cavalry at April 8, 2003 10:24 AM

Perhaps it's because they know what we don't: that SH and his sons are dead.

Posted by: NF at April 8, 2003 10:36 AM

Bagpipes. We need bagpipes.
It worked for the Brits in Basra.
We're still not sure whether it was intimidation or sheer terror.

Posted by: Dishman at April 8, 2003 10:39 AM

My pal has just remarked on this story, saying "Let history record that in the face of their final defeat...they cried like bitches". Hear! hear!

Posted by: Limbic at April 8, 2003 10:39 AM

If only Patton were around to slap them....

Posted by: aces at April 8, 2003 10:45 AM

Oh how sad, they are crying. Maybe we should lighten up on them.

NOT

Posted by: George at April 8, 2003 11:00 AM

Did something happen to the Great Leader?

Posted by: JH at April 8, 2003 11:05 AM

Clearly they haven't heard the latest report from Baghdad Bob. The Americans have been turned back and are now committing suicide.

Posted by: MK at April 8, 2003 11:10 AM

They should remember the lesson of Boabdil, the last Muslim ruler of Granada. His mother told him:

"Llora como mujer aquello que no supiste defender como hombre." ("Cry like a woman
over that which you could not defend like a man.")

As he fled the
Alhambra by the Puerta de los Siete Suelos (Gate of the Seven Sighs), he
asked that the gate be sealed forever. He is remembered throughout history
as the object of his mother, Aixa a Boabdil's, belittling words:
"Llora como mujer aquello que no supiste defender como hombre." ("Cry like a woman
over that which you could not defend like a man.")

Posted by: jsmith6 at April 8, 2003 11:14 AM

How many tears have Iraqi citizens cried as their families were raped, tortured, and murdered?

War is terrible but some things are worse.

Posted by: DSmith at April 8, 2003 11:47 AM

Except for the Disinformation Minister, who seems harmless, these Iraqi "leaders" are the heart of evil. Perfidious war criminals all. The Nazis were more honorable foes.

Posted by: lmg at April 8, 2003 12:28 PM

"Except for the Disinformation Minister, who seems harmless"

You have to factor in that there is a distinct possibility that he actually believes what he is saying... Scary indeed...

Regards / GulGnu

-Stabil som fan!

Posted by: GulGnu at April 8, 2003 01:30 PM

You mean Cry me a Tigris.

Posted by: Mike at April 8, 2003 05:27 PM

TO: All
RE: This...

...is what 'jihad' is all about. We've practiced it all our history. Now we teach it to the 'jihadists'...

...in a hands-on, performance-oriented, combined-arms forum.

Enjoy the 'lesson'. You pay for it in blood...

Regards,

Chuck(le)

Posted by: Chuck Pelto at April 8, 2003 07:32 PM