posted on October 25, 2002 09:12:46 PM new
01:21 2002-10-26
Saddam Hussein: Free the hostages
His Excellency President Saddam Hussein of Iraq has urged the Chechen terrorists holding 700 hostages in a Moscow theatre to release their prisoners.
President Saddam Hussein claimed that “the true enemies of the Moslems” are the USA and Israel, not Russia. “Listen to the voice of Baghdad and if you are convinced, do what you should do (free the hostages and do not harm them)” said the Iraqi President on a televised message on Iraqi TV tonight.
He added that “Islam is a humanistic doctrine and not a fanatical one” and warned the Chechen terrorists that fundamentalist religious tendencies would deprive the Moslems of the sympathy of the Russians and the other countries of the world.
“This is Baghdad’s message. Zionism and the USA are the oppressors, not Russia, China and India”, continued the message.
posted on October 26, 2002 01:51:23 AM new
It is a good political manuver - for Saddam. If the Chechen rebels give in, he will receive some of the credit. If they do not, he still receives credit for trying. He's getting slicker all the time.
posted on October 26, 2002 10:15:44 AM new
This situation will be interesting to follow. Many of us are waiting to see how the Russians will respond in Chechneya.
My bet? Russia will probably surround several cities in Chechneya and demand that all the rebels surrender or the cities will be leveled and the inhabitants will be killed.
Will the US green light Russia going into Georgia after the Chechen rebels if the Russians agree to the Iraq resolutions and ultimate invaision?
Now if France were to be hit by terrorists, I would begin to get very suspicious.
edited to add-- "Vasilyev said about 750 other hostages were freed and 34 of the hostage-takers were killed, though the Federal Security Service later said 50 captors died, including 18 women, and three were detained, the Interfax news agency reported."
How did all these hostage-takers get killed when there were put to sleep by the gas ? It looks like the Russians killed them and saved 3 for interogation. These 3 may later die due to "complications" from their "wounds".
One thing you can NEVER count on the Russians to do is NOTHING.
posted on October 26, 2002 12:17:18 PM new
>How did all these hostage-takers get killed when there were put to sleep by the gas ?
"Sleeping Gas" is dangerous to use, as is any anethetic. How many surgery patients survive the operation, but die on the table due to the wrong mixture of anethetic?
>One thing you can NEVER count on the Russians to do is NOTHING.
Ain't that the truth! My favorite one reminds me of the bad old days in hostage-taken of westerners in Beruit. Ever wonder why the Soviets never complained about hostages being kidnapped? It's because some terrorists did kidnap some Soviet personell one day in the early 1980's. The next day, a Soviet millitary truck pulled up outside of the Iranian Embassy in Beruit, the back truck gate dropped down, and a large crate was pushed off. The truck drove away. When the Iraninans opened up the box, it was all of the bloody body pieces of the terrorist kidnappers!
posted on October 26, 2002 02:34:47 PM new
How long do you think it would have taken the Israeli's to respond? Not as long as it took the Russian's.
How often now do you see Israeli's taken hostage? I can't remember the last time.
The Isreali's have a well deserved reputation of not screwing around with terrorists. Now if the PLO & Palestine would learn the lession, there would be a better chance of peace in the mid east.
IF only we had allowed the Israeli's to go after Saadam in 1992....
posted on October 26, 2002 03:05:35 PM new
The reason the PLO and other terrorists haven't learned the "lesson" is because the US hampers Israel's options when it goes after terrorists.
If the US would give Israel a free hand to make strikes, the PLO and other terrorists would be non-existent by now -- and there would be no nuclear power plant in Iran.
I don't think Russia is done with the job yet. There will be a stiff price to paid by the Chechens for this terrorist act. I think Russia's position towards Iraq may have been seen as a sign of weakness by the Chechen terrorists and emboldened them to take the hostages.
posted on October 26, 2002 03:40:37 PM new
>IF only we had allowed the Israeli's to go after Saadam in 1992....
Yeah, that's one thing that would have made the world a much better place.
A better idea would have been to allow Saddam attack Saudi Arbia and take it over from the monarchy that funded the takeover of Iran into a Islamic Fundamentalist state and funding other countries to overthrow their governments and put up similar states AND the Suadiis - our Best Buddies, who funded Al Queda to strike at us with jets on 9-11! And we STILL kiss their (>*< today from the White House!
>If the US would give Israel a free hand to make strikes, the PLO and other terrorists would be non-existent by now
I think that if we just let Israel alone - poltically, financially, and millitarily, the whole situation one way or antoher would resolve itself in the mdiddle east and bring real peace to the region. If Israel ends up owning Mecca, so much the better!
today from the White House!