Baghdad fears rise of 'Iraqi Hitler'

dr. what · Post by **dr. what** » 2004-12-13 09:42am

linky

LONDON, England -- Iraq's interim president has criticized U.S. and British forces for dismantling Iraqi security forces and warned that long-term instability could give rise to an "Iraqi Hitler."

Ghazi al-Yawer said Monday the decision to dismantle Saddam Hussein's defense and interior ministries contributed to the violence and disorder seen since the Iraqi dictator was captured a year ago.

"Definitely dissolving the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior was a big mistake at that time," al-Yawer told BBC radio.

"We could have screened people out instead of screening them in and this could have saved us a lot of hassle and problems," he said.

In remarks published Monday in the Arabic press, al-Yawer also warned of a replay of post-World War I Germany, when Adolf Hitler came to power, if Iraqis continue to feel humiliated and despondent.

"This could in the long term create an environment in which an Iraqi Hitler could emerge like the one created by the defeat of Germany and the humiliation of Germans in World War I," al-Yawer told the London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.

Al-Yawer -- a Sunni Muslim who was chosen for the largely symbolic post of president in June -- also urged Iraq's neighbors to break their "negative silence" about attacks in Iraq and play a positive role in helping stabilize the country.

"When a fire breaks out in your neighbor's house you should act quickly to put it out, not only for the sake of your neighbor but also so that you are not forced to put it out in your own home when it spreads there," the president told the newspaper.

Al-Yawer has said parliamentary elections should go ahead on January 30 as scheduled, and told BBC radio he expected more violence in Iraq aimed at derailing the polls.

"Their tactical target is to undermine the electoral process and to stop us having our first elections. This is why we see it is a challenge we have to meet.

"The problem is we are not fearing representation, we are fearing the time of the elections. If people can feel safe enough to go and cast their vote," he said.

On the issue of dismantling Saddam's security forces, al-Yawer said it would be necessary to reinstate some of the officers from the pre-war army and security forces in order to boost the effectiveness of the new security system.

"I firmly believe that the security situation will not be solved unless we have 100 percent efficient Iraqi forces, and that is the message that I took to Washington," he told the BBC.

Al-Yawer was in London, where he briefly stopped after a visit to the United States.

Despite the chaos of the past year, al-Yawer insisted that the overthrow of Saddam by the U.S.-led coalition had been good for his country.

"Changing Saddam's regime, toppling Saddam is the biggest plus that we will never regret happening," he said.

"He established a dynasty of villains. There was no way on earth Iraqis could have pushed him out of government.

"We had to have a surgical intervention to do so, and I think this is the biggest positive thing that makes all the negative things relatively secondary."

HyperionX · Post by **HyperionX** » 2004-12-13 10:00am

It's been pretty obvious for a while that something like this would happen anyways. Either this or a fundementalist regime. Right now the best we can pray for is a benign dictatorship.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-12-13 10:27am

Democracy and good secular public education are inter-dependent. This is the biggest problem with the thinking of those who would assume that you can just magically solve the third world's problems by "giving" them democracy, as if it's some kind of Christmas gift.

Post by **Coyote** » 2004-12-13 10:46am

But remember, DW, this is inertia left over from the folks who once tried to "cure" social ills by importing Christianity by the bulk to other countries.

Magic inoculation of cure-all... uh-huh...

CJvR · Post by **CJvR** » 2004-12-13 11:45am

I think the main fire Iraq's neighbors are concerned with is Democracy and they eagerly support any Jihadist willing to go there to piss on it. An Iraqi Hitler do not frighten them, he would fit in nicely among them and the old Baathist military was ripe with eager corprals.

Patrick Degan · Post by **Patrick Degan** » 2004-12-13 05:35pm

Funny, but I thought we pulled down the "Iraqi Hitler". Wasn't that motive number three or four for the late war? I've lost count along the way.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2004-12-13 05:56pm

Patrick Degan wrote:Funny, but I thought we pulled down the "Iraqi Hitler". Wasn't that motive number three or four for the late war? I've lost count along the way.

Labeling the motivations for the war numerically implies that they simultaneously co-exist in a list form. This is not the case. It would be more appropriate to treat the motivations as a football team roster -- Team Bullshit. For example, Weapon of Mass Destruction was the first-string quarterback.

But Weapons of Mass Destruction and Saddam Supports Al Qaeda (full-back) both sustained career-ending injury at the end of regular combat and could not lead the Bush administration into the occupation, that is, the play-offs.

So, Team Bullshit has been forced to play the second-string quarterback, Freeing The Iraqi People and the second-string full-back, Saddam Was An Evil Man. Saddam Was An Evil Man has proven a surprisingly effective pass-blocker. Even so, Team Bush's performance in the play-offs has been abysmal. Their offensive line is weak, and Team Facts has repeatedly broken through to sack the shit out of Freeing The Iraqi People. Star player on Team Facts, Iraqi Police Officers Are Afraid to Show Up For Work, has been responsible for record numbers of offensive yards lost by Team Bullshit.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-12-13 06:05pm

Darth Wong wrote:Democracy and good secular public education are inter-dependent. This is the biggest problem with the thinking of those who would assume that you can just magically solve the third world's problems by "giving" them democracy, as if it's some kind of Christmas gift.

If you analyze modern conservative morons like O'Lielly, there's this massive conceptual flaw that Christianity is what made the West what it was. No - Christianity made the West as it was in 1500.

The Enlightenment, a secular movement toward logic and reason by those oh-so-evil ivory tower intellectuals is what made the West what it is today. If one wants to discuss the philosophical and value roots of the U.S.; it is Locke, it is Bacon, it is Voltaire, it is not Christ.

The Enlightenment which concieved America was the product of at the most theistic a tone of philosophical deism, something which does not prescribe the moral edits that fundie idiots delude it does. That was logic and ethics. Secular thought. And all this was possible because the Reformation broke the strangle-hold the Church had on Europe.

The rise of America is very much the story of the decline of the all-powerful church.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-12-13 09:52pm

Durandal wrote:
Patrick Degan wrote:Funny, but I thought we pulled down the "Iraqi Hitler". Wasn't that motive number three or four for the late war? I've lost count along the way.
Labeling the motivations for the war numerically implies that they simultaneously co-exist in a list form. This is not the case. It would be more appropriate to treat the motivations as a football team roster -- Team Bullshit. For example, Weapon of Mass Destruction was the first-string quarterback.

But Weapons of Mass Destruction and Saddam Supports Al Qaeda (full-back) both sustained career-ending injury at the end of regular combat and could not lead the Bush administration into the occupation, that is, the play-offs.

So, Team Bullshit has been forced to play the second-string quarterback, Freeing The Iraqi People and the second-string full-back, Saddam Was An Evil Man. Saddam Was An Evil Man has proven a surprisingly effective pass-blocker. Even so, Team Bush's performance in the play-offs has been abysmal. Their offensive line is weak, and Team Facts has repeatedly broken through to sack the shit out of Freeing The Iraqi People. Star player on Team Facts, Iraqi Police Officers Are Afraid to Show Up For Work, has been responsible for record numbers of offensive yards lost by Team Bullshit.

Highly FUQable.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2004-12-14 03:15am

Durandal wrote:Labeling the motivations for the war numerically implies that they simultaneously co-exist in a list form. This is not the case. It would be more appropriate to treat the motivations as a football team roster -- Team Bullshit. For example, Weapon of Mass Destruction was the first-string quarterback.

But Weapons of Mass Destruction and Saddam Supports Al Qaeda (full-back) both sustained career-ending injury at the end of regular combat and could not lead the Bush administration into the occupation, that is, the play-offs.

So, Team Bullshit has been forced to play the second-string quarterback, Freeing The Iraqi People and the second-string full-back, Saddam Was An Evil Man. Saddam Was An Evil Man has proven a surprisingly effective pass-blocker. Even so, Team Bush's performance in the play-offs has been abysmal. Their offensive line is weak, and Team Facts has repeatedly broken through to sack the shit out of Freeing The Iraqi People. Star player on Team Facts, Iraqi Police Officers Are Afraid to Show Up For Work, has been responsible for record numbers of offensive yards lost by Team Bullshit.

FUQ