Politics

After Sunday Morning's joyous reaction to Saddam's capture (and that was joyous and spontaneous, just ask hubby-Eric), I've had time to sit back and reflect on the capture and what it means. Just like any conspiracy-minded liberal, I'm sure there are many unanswered questions about it. However, overall it's a very good thing.

The biggest reason I think it's good is because of the people of Iraq. As long as Saddam was free, he was a boogey-man. A shadow on the door. There was always the chance that he would rally the nasties once the Americans left and take over again. That myth is gone. They saw him hauled out of a hole in the ground, looking like a broken old man.

The reactions of Iraqi bloggers can give a little insight: Zeyad of Healing Iraq felt sadness and a tiny bit of pity. Riverbend has a bit of intelligent commentary on the custom of shooting into the air: "The bullets are supposed to be an expression of joy... and they probably are- in a desert, far from buildings, streets crawling with vulnerable people and cars. In Baghdad, they mean chaos. People were literally ducking and running, trying to get out of the rain of firepower because what goes up must, eventually, come down." Salam Pax tells how he wants a public trial. Alaa declares: "The Ululation of Gunfire again; you should all be here now. What fireworks! You should be here. The Baghdadis are expressing what they really think again." Ays tells us to "look at the monkey!!!" and suggests that Saddam not be executed: "he should imprisoned for the rest of his life and watch how Iraq, the country that he had destroyed, will progress and become the prosperous and model country , so I think the execution will relieve him, but when he is humiliated in the prison, he will die and die everyday." Sam of Hammorabi points out an inconsistency of unripe dates in the video of Saddam's capture. Omar of Iraq the Model stated on the day of the capture: "I wish I could hug you all."

For the people of Iraq, this capture was a very good thing. As for all the questions it raises, yes... there are some problems with the whole scenario, but I'm willing to let those slide right now and let the celebrations continue a bit longer. I still think Dubya is a liar who led his country into war on false pretenses, and I still think there are far too many unanswered questions about 9/11, but even out of horrible acts some good things can come, and taking out Saddam (finally) can only be a good thing.