Democracy in Action

[bfp]

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Thousands of Iraqis marched through central Baghdad on Thursday demanding the execution of former dictator Saddam Hussein and denouncing Islamist militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

Noisy protesters waved Iraqi flags, chanted anti-Saddam slogans and held up posters depicting mass graves.

"Let every fool listen, Saddam has to be executed," "No, No to Tikrit" shouted the crowd in reference to Saddam's hometown north of Baghdad. Protesters also shouted slogans denouncing the United States, Zionism and terrorism.

"Death to Wahabis! Death to Zarqawi!" shouted several hundred people in the heart of Baghdad's commercial district, referring to a strict Sunni Muslim sect based in Saudi Arabia.

Zarqawi, the U.S. military's number one target in Iraq with a $25 million bounty on his head, is suspected of being behind many of the most deadly suicide attacks that have devastated Iraq in the 15 months since Saddam's overthrow.

Protest organizers said they also wanted the government to introduce an annual day of remembrance for victims of Saddam.

"It's crucial we don't forget the past," said 50-year-old Jafar Jasim, a member of the National Islamic Independence party, an organizer of the event alongside humanitarian groups.

"We will ask the Iraqi government to make this day a national holiday," he said.

"We have a specific aim of making sure Saddam is executed. We also want to return Iraqi money to Iraqi hands and demand Syria cleanses its land from terrorists," said Jasim.

As well as in central Baghdad, an estimated 1,000 protesters marched against Saddam and in favor of rebel Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in the southern Shi'ite city of Najaf. "Long live Sadr. Saddam must be executed." they chanted.

Sadr earlier this year led a two-month uprising against the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq, but has since quietened down.

CANNIBAL JUSTICE

Saddam appeared before an Iraqi judge on July 1 to face charges that could lead to a formal indictment for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Iraq's interim government has said the former regime leaders could face the death penalty if convicted.

Demonstrators in Baghdad were determined Saddam should die.

Isa al-Musawi, a 63-year-old man in tribal dress carried a picture of his executed son, Fadhil. He said his son was dragged away from a mosque in 1981 and executed by the former regime.

Musawi said he only found out his son was dead 22 years later, after the U.S-led war, when he found his son's name on a long list of executed political prisoners.

He says Saddam should be executed live on television, but said he would prefer personally to avenge his son's death.

"If Saddam was in my hands, I would eat him alive ... but even that isn't enough of a punishment, he must suffer," he said.

Another protester in Baghdad, Jalal Juma held a picture of his younger brother Jamal who was hauled away in a midnight raid from his house in 1980.

"I heard there was a protest against Saddam's murderous regime so I had to take part," said the 47-year-old businessman. "He was still young and was looking forward to marrying his fiancee," he said. "I still don't know why he was killed."

(Additional reporting by Khaled Farhan)

[MysteryMeat]

Originally posted by bfp
Noisy protesters waved Iraqi flags, chanted anti-Saddam slogans and held up posters depicting mass graves.
Protesters also shouted slogans denouncing the United States, Zionism and terrorism.

"Mission accomplished"? Nice company we seem to keep there: Zionists, terrorists, and us.

I'm not going to spark another debate about whether it was right or wrong going there and unseating Saddam, or whether or not our government lied to us about why we went.

The fact of the matter is, however, is this administration fumbled horribly on the post(?)-war handling of Iraq, and we're currently making more future enemies. If we don't correct ourselves in that respect, we can expect another "regime change" attempt come the next pachyderm in office.

[PointBender]

Bush didnt listen to protesters why should the Iraqi government?

[Element4040]

Originally posted by MysteryMeat

The fact of the matter is, however, is this administration fumbled horribly on the post(?)-war handling of Iraq, and we're currently making more future enemies. If we don't correct ourselves in that respect, we can expect another "regime change" attempt come the next pachyderm in office.

We can definetely agree on the mis-handling. I wil take it a step further and say we grossly underestimated the insurgents "resolve" loly.

I have always felt like part of the unrest and insurgency was planned all along, knowing that the Iraqi military didn't really stand a chance against the 'coalition'.

I don't think this administration really thought it would turn out this way. I honestly think they figured there would be more acceptance among Iraqi's then there has been.

FUMBLE...........