Jubilant Iraqi's Welcome Marines

[shellonabeach]

Even I have to agree that it was a nice sight to see the Iraq people who were there so very happy. However there were not actually all that many people there - I was watching it live from the UK as it happened and the camera's panned out to show the whole sqaure - showing only about 100-200 people.

"U.S. soldiers briefly draped a Stars and Stripes flag on the face of the giant Saddam statue as they prepared to topple it. It was quickly replaced with an Iraqi flag."

Yes they put the American flag over the head of the statue, it was removed - at NO time was the Iraq flag put over his head.

"The war has provoked enormous Arab anger and resentment and any display of the U.S. flag could add to those feelings. All over the Arab world, people gathered to watch scenes from Baghdad on television and reacted with a mixture of awe, disbelief, disappointment and contempt both for Saddam and the Americans. "

Said it all to me, the US came and conquered. A Iraq commentator on the BBC live broadcast was disgusted by the use of the US flag.

The Iraq people who were on the square - only one flag was being waved - an Iraq flag by 3 men.

If anyone would like to see what I saw live as it was beamed to the UK then I have it all on tape.

I will say I am happy for the men who were on that square, I only hope that the rest of the people who weren't there feel the same. I also hope that they have indeed been given freedom.

[Soledad]

Nicely put, Shell. This is not the end at all.

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by shellonabeach

Said it all to me, the US came and conquered. A Iraq commentator on the BBC live broadcast was disgusted by the use of the US flag.

If anyone would like to see what I saw live as it was beamed to the UK then I have it all on tape.

VENI, VIDI, WE KICKED ASS.

TRANSLATED AS --

WE CAME, WE SAW, WE KICKED ASS.

the iraqi commentator will get over it.....of course i'd be kinda ticked off if someone came to my country and draped a flag over-
ah, over.......well we don't have gaudy statues of our dictators in
downtown washington, plus the fact that the day some jokers think they will TRY and take over the US.....i just don't see it...



hey!!!!!!!!

there she is!!!!!


aren't ya happy to see those soldiers right in the middle of baghdad......(you support them right????)

you know two of the most important people in the war were the driver of the M-88 and the pilot of the B-1.

thank god you are alright.....i was worried that the pics on the telly this morning would have driven you a tad over the edge..i was wondering when subject of the "bush world domination tour" woudl come up.......


i mean FOUR years to take over the world.......ya gotta believe!!

[Logan]

Originally posted by Soledad
Nicely put, Shell. This is not the end at all.

I think all of us realize that, but regardless of how many were there, it certainly was nice to see the joy on their faces, in Baghdad and other places. I heard the crowd did increase to over 1000 later in the day. Regardless, it is a step in the right direction.

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by Logan
I think all of us realize that, but regardless of how many were there, it certainly was nice to see the joy on their faces, in Baghdad and other places. I heard the crowd did increase to over 1000 later in the day. Regardless, it is a step in the right direction.

i think it may be more contagious than SARS...






(twice in one day........you have to love it!)

[moosmom]

watching the Iraqi's enjoying a deep breath of freedom, is beyond words.

You said it all! I watched as a U.S. soldier wrapped an american flag around the head of the statue. When the statue finally came down, everyone in the street was stamping on the face of Saddam, which is the ultimate insult, according to news reports. It brought tears to my eyes. I'm glad the Iraqi people finally have the freedom they deserve.

[KYS]

It was than and still now,being reported that "many" people
are afraid to be seen and come out of their
homes until they are sure Sadaam has been
toppled. The Iraqi people living in Baghdad did not
even know our soldiers were their until 24 hours ago
when they saw an American tank, because of the lies
of their Iraqi defense minister being broadcast.
Iraqi's are being interviewed by reporters who are still
afraid to show their face in fear, not of the US but
of Sadaam and his regime. I am sure you will see many
more people coming out and celebrating once their
fear is over, than the few hundred you are
referring too.
As for the US flag that was briefly put on the head of
Sadaam. It was quickly taken off too.
The Iraq commentator who was so disgusted about seeing the
US flag put up for a "couple" of minutes.
Those soldiers are proud to be Americans,
the flag is a symbol of Freedom,
and all of them are willing to loose their
lives to give the Iraqi people FREEDOM.
Maybe that Iraqi commentator would have liked to show
his disgust in person in front of Sadaam's statue before
it fell, or to the thousands of Iraqi's who
marched in the streets of Michigan to
show their support of American and happiness,
that Sadaam has been toppled.

As for this war provoking enormous Arab anger?
Why don't they ask the Iraqi's living under Sadaams
regime how they feel?

Would you like to live under Sadaams regime?
This war is not over yet, but to see the joy
on the faces did put a big smile on my face.

This is just the beginning of the Iraq war,
and only history will tell how the Iraq war
goes down in the future to be told and read for all.

[mugsy]

I smiled everytime I thought of that sight this morning! The American flag didn't last long and almost immediately the REAL Iraqi flag went up in it's place! It was awesome. My favorite part had to be the picture of the guy taking a ride on Saddam's head! hehehehe. I guess the Iraqis don't hate us as much as some members of the media would like us to believe. (Now, understand, I'm sure the rebuttal will be something of the opposite, but that's ok...I'll live through it! lol)

I'm so glad that the Iraqi people are finally going to be able to taste freedom. I heard one Iraqi guy say that he is 43 years old and this is the first time he remembers being free, what a nice tribute.

[Soledad]

aren't ya happy to see those soldiers right in the middle of baghdad......(you support them right????)

Yup. Sure am. I'm happy to see it happened rather easily and that the Iraqi people don't have to live in fear of a man who has tortured them for years. I am still worried that Saddam has something up his sleeve, though. I do wonder about where he is and if he'll be caught, or if he'll just become another Osama.

As happy as I am for the Iraqis, I still don't trust the government to give them a true democracy. I don't think Bush will budge on this one. He'll have American appointees everywhere.

[KYS]

Soledad,
I am worried too, that Saddam still might have something
up his sleeve. (I hope he is not alive)
As far as American appointees.
An total Iraqi government can't be put in place over-night.
Along with Iraqi government their will need to
be so called "appointees" for
a period of time possible around a year, to make sure
the new Iraqi Governement is stable enough to run on its's own. I am not expert, but I will assume their will be a temporary
governement put into place with Iraqi's, till the transition period
is stable/strong. When that happens the Iraqi's will "vote"
and choose their own leaders and be a democracy.

[Soledad]

Yes, KYS, I understand the need for a transition. The problem is that the plan the admin currently has is somewhat backwards. It has Americans heading Iraqi departments with Iraqi advisors. I think it should be reversed. I also think they should be very public about who they are appointing and any ties or history that could be dubious to avoid putting in another Saddam.

[gini]

I may be a very lone voice here........but I am so very cautious about the entire events that took place today.

Yes, on television we were able to see 1,000 - 2,000 maybe, very happy Iraqi's celebrating and riding Sadaam's head through the city.

But there is so much work to be done here.........there are so many groups in Iraq that do not get along.........and to try to bring them under one fair government - that they will all respect and obey the new laws is a huge undertaking. And it must belong to the Iraqi's........American's need to eventually come home!

I think what I personally want is a huge cry - worldwide - that we have peace throughout all of the Middle East! We have the Israeli and Palestinian situation still very much a huge problem.
(little tiny articles in the news - they are still killing each other six or seven at a time).

I am by far not an authority on any of this - so jump on me - rant and rave about what I have to say - it is alright!

I just needed to say that even though it was so exhilirating to see those few people so happy - tomorrow is another day and their country must be re-organized FROM SCRATCH!

At least now, we can start to get them some of the medical and basic necessities that they have been without for so long.

So, join me in the hope that true peace can be obtained in that region without our having to police it - and we can pay attention to the many needs we have in our own country.

( I did not mean to ignore the fact that the Brits need to go home and enjoy their lives as well - and some Australians and all of the other countries that have come to America's aid as allies.)

[Soledad]

Amen, Gini!!!!

[Pam]

I totally agree Gini - we are not out of the woods yet but they are better off than they were 24 hrs. before. I personally am very hopeful that our POWs may now be quickly located and our MIAs be found too. I know the families of these people must be on pins and needles now knowing that soon they may (hopefully) have some good news about their loved ones.

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by gini
I just needed to say that even though it was so exhilirating to see those few people so happy - tomorrow is another day and their country must be re-organized FROM SCRATCH!

what make me laugh is the fact that all the arab countries are
scratching their heads trying to figure out why Iraqi citizens are kissing pics of good ol'GW.
there seems to be a little bit of anxiety in the area seeing the americans greeted as liberators........the way i see it is the 227 year old kid from across the street came into your neighborhood
kicked your butt, ate your lunch and watched your TV (Al Jazeera
of course...)!!!!!!

saddam was supposed to uphold the 'hate' that everyone feels for america and he folded his tent up and hit the road...

the leaders of the countries in the area are afraid that they'll
lose their hold on their people when they see what democracy
is all about.......there is nothing worse than a bunch of smart people when you are trying to keep them stupid and afraid....

yep there are problems, but i really think that people in iraq,
as bad as they were treated, still have the desire and the sense
to get THEIR country together...


the real danger to american soldiers is having the skin worn away from shaking hands and getting kissed on the cheek.


(no disrespect meant- they have that OTHER job they have to do)