By now, you've all heard the news.
"We Got Him."
Yesterday was Thief's 24th birthday. I didn't need any presents. I'm set up in DC in a very comfortable life. I have the freedom to speak, to worship as I please, to criticize my government's leaders.
There are many other people in Iraq who celebrated their 24th birthdays this weekend. Saddam took power in 1979. For them, Saddam is the only leader they ever knew. They grew up with his picture in their schoolbooks, and listened to their parents tell them never, ever, ever, to criticize Uncle Saddam.
Iraqis who turned 24 today were infants when Hussein launched his 10-year war against Iran, a war which left many of them fatherless. They were 12 years old during the first Gulf War. As I watched the bombings on CNN with my Cub Scout troop, they hid in fear in basements as Saddam pledged "the mother of all battles."
As I got older, I went to a good high school, and then a great college. But Iraqis who turned 24 today suffered under Saddam's renewed campaign of oppression and torture. Males were taken into military service at age 18, forced to fight for a tyrant they all hated.
Then, this day came. The regieme that oppressed them their whole life is gone. They now have a chance to live the life that I have, and that all Americans have.
To all of you new 24-year old Iraqis:
Happy birthday. I hope you liked the gift!
From Alaa:
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. Can you hide this now CNN & others? I don’t like swearing, but for those foul friends of the murderers, of all nationalities and kinds, it is like a spike has shot up their asholes to come out of their mouths. Just now the Miserables are beginning to bomb the streets, out of hatred and desperation. They will attack the people. I tell you, there should be no complacency. Unleash the people against them and NOW.
From Ays:
I don’t know what to say.. I am confused.. no … I am very happy.. I am very happy.. .. I am very happy.. .. I am very happy.. .. I am very happy.. .. I am very happy.. .. I am very happy..
This is the end of tyranny.. congratulations .. a great day.. for Iraqi and all the good people.. share us our great day.. I can’t express my feelings.. thanks to the coalition forces and all the honest people who helped in that great operation….thank you thank you thousand times..
From Omar:
Horrraaaaa
It's the justice day.
I'm speechless.
I'm crying.
The tyrants' hour has finally came. I went down to the streets to share the joy with my brothers. This is our day, the day of all the oppressed and good people on earth.
Tears of joy filled the eyes of all the people.
Saddam, the coward, hides in a hole, shaking in fear from being captured.
Not a single bullet was fired, without any resistance, God, he was even cooperative! The mighty tyrant, who exploited all our country's fortune for his personal protection, surrenders like the cowered I expected him to be.
Yes, he should be prosecuted in Iraq. We will not allow anything else.
We want to see him in a cage bending more and more, humiliated more and more, just as he forced all the Iraqis to bend to him, like they were his slaves. But we will not be like him, we will give him a fair trail, and he will get just what he deserves, although I have no idea what does he really deserve.
It's indeed an inauspicious day for all the tyrants. Let them know that their days are near too.
This is the day of all Iraqi martyrs who were slaughtered just to please his sick lust for blood.
Rest in peace my brothers. The paradise is yours and the disgrace and hell is for all the tyrants on earth.
Thank you American, British, Spanish, Italian, Australian, Ukrainian, Japanese and all the coalition people and all the good people on earth.
God bless the 1st brigade.
God bless the 4th infantry division.
God bless Iraq.
God bless America.
God bless the coalition people and soldiers.
God bless all the freedom loving people on earth.
I wish I could hug you all.
You're welcome.