We struggled to describe and define Saddam Hussein’s reign. Once again, language failed to be expressive enough. The notion that things in Iraq would be black and white could not have been further from the truth. Almost everything was gray.
Saddam’s reign could be likened to the mob (organized crime) taking over the government in America. Everything was stolen. Power became its own legitimacy. The abuses that were heaped upon the masses were grotesquely articulated.
Early on in the war, the Iraqis were selling movies to the Soldiers at the gates to our camps to make a little money. Many of these CDs featured torture and acts of unspeakable cruelty. We wondered where these atrocities were committed and why they were documented and distributed to the people. It turned out that Saddam had them made to record his punishment, or revenge, upon those who displeased him. Saddam had a saying, “I want every Iraqi family to have a story.”
This is how Saddam perpetrated fear and his bigger-than-life persona. However, it came with many bad consequences. It cruelly scarred the psyche of the Iraqi people. It also made the Iraqis hate him with an amazing zeal.
The damaged psyche of the Iraqi people presented itself in many ways. All sorts of crimes were committed in the name of god. Murder, thievery, and lies were perpetrated in the name of politics as well. In response to their many trips to prison, some would glorify their criminal relatives. “Ali Baba” (thief) became a term of endearment to many,. Others would say that the Koran did not make fools. They would say that a crime is a crime, whatever excuse you use for it. These were the Iraqis who called the insurgents “criminals” for their acts against humanity.
CLEPTOCRACY
Practicing self worship
We struggled to describe and define Saddam Hussein’s reign. Once again, language failed to be expressive enough. The notion that things in Iraq would be black and white could not have been further from the truth. Almost everything was gray.
Saddam’s reign could be likened to the mob (organized crime) taking over the government in America. Everything was stolen. Power became its own legitimacy. The abuses that were heaped upon the masses were grotesquely articulated.
Early on in the war, the Iraqis were selling movies to the Soldiers at the gates to our camps to make a little money. Many of these CDs featured torture and acts of unspeakable cruelty. We wondered where these atrocities were committed and why they were documented and distributed to the people. It turned out that Saddam had them made to record his punishment, or revenge, upon those who displeased him. Saddam had a saying, “I want every Iraqi family to have a story.”
This is how Saddam perpetrated fear and his bigger-than-life persona. However, it came with many bad consequences. It cruelly scarred the psyche of the Iraqi people. It also made the Iraqis hate him with an amazing zeal.
The damaged psyche of the Iraqi people presented itself in many ways. All sorts of crimes were committed in the name of god. Murder, thievery, and lies were perpetrated in the name of politics as well. In response to their many trips to prison, some would glorify their criminal relatives. “Ali Baba” (thief) became a term of endearment to many,. Others would say that the Koran did not make fools. They would say that a crime is a crime, whatever excuse you use for it. These were the Iraqis who called the insurgents “criminals” for their acts against humanity.
CLEPTOCRACY
Practicing self worship
Saddam’s children
give prominence to thieves
Politics and religion
provide the necessary shroud
and place an acceptable black abaya over hired murder
Acts of unspeakably supercilious cruelty
transmogrify the moral face
of a proud and ancient people
amidst loud pagan screams… “allah yureed thalik!”
—
Editor’s Note: COL (R) Nathan K. Slate commanded the 17th Field Artillery Brigade in Iraq during their year-long deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
He has been kind enough to share portions of his chapbook (Into the Biblical Wilderness: Impressions from Operation Iraqi Freedom) with us for publication on SOFREP. – GDM
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