A story in today’s Gazette says that a large segment of Iraqis in Montreal are cheering the prospect of an American-led war on Iraq if it means that Saddam Hussein would be tossed out in the process:
But Sheik Mohammad Altaie, 57, spiritual leader and president of the Azzahra Foundation, a Shia Muslim community, said a war will be “very good” for Iraq if it spells the demise of Saddam. “He’s a dictator. He killed 2 million, and 4 million migrated out of Iraq,” he said.
The article doesn’t suggest that people want war, but that they see it as a way of getting rid of Saddam. Most would welcome alternatives to war if Saddam could be ousted.
This echoes what people have been saying all along: War is bad, but sometimes it’s the best of the worst options. If war can be avoided, great. But you don’t solve a problem by burying your head in the sand and pretending it will disappear. Sometimes it is necessary to take action.
It’s good to see that the same attitudes exist north of the border (as they do here) among Iraqi exiles.
“The article doesn’t suggest that people want war, but that they see it as a way of getting rid of Saddam. Most would welcome alternatives to war if Saddam could be outsted.”
Exactly, which makes the headline of this article totally inappropriate. Montreal Iraqis are not cheering for war against Iraq at all as is quite plain from the rest of the article.
The reaction amongst Australia’s Iraqi exiles has been similar: happiness at the thought of the Hussein regime being removed, but fear of civilian casualties. This is not surprising given the idiotic media reports filled with dire warnings of “another Vietnam” and so on. We heard the same rubbish about Afghanistan. Once the war is over, with limited civilian casualties (apart from what Saddam manages to inflict on the way out), I’m sure most Iraqi exiles will be happy with the result.
It is not surprising that you are translating the article as if people want USA led war against Iraq.
After all it is the arabs who are going to suffer .. right?? .. not you or your family or your community.
People don’t like Saddam at all, infact he is the most hated person in the whole Muslim world. But intention of Bush is also very much in question, as their previous record in Iraq is not good. That is why there are so many use of ‘if’.
So Hanthala and Khan, how do you suggest getting rid of Saddam? Asking him “pretty please with a cherry on top”?
Segacs, don’t be so naive, it doesn’t suit you.