Why Don't Protestors Ask for Saddam to Step Down?

DaShi · March 18, 2003, 10:58

Seems to me that they really dropped the ball on this one. They spent all their effort protesting for the US to not go to war, and look where it got them. Bush didn't care. Bush didn't listen. Was anyone so naive to think that he would?

So why not protest against Saddam? Show him that you're not happy with his policies. Tell him that you want him to step down. If anything the protests against America only exacerabeted the cause for war. They made Saddam feel confident that he could drive a wedge through the West. They made him scoff at inspectors and feel unthreaten by America as he thought that he had the international community on his side.

What were the protestors really thinking?

Arrian · March 18, 2003, 11:01

Probably because they are aware that Saddam is a dictator who will not listen to them.

I think they might have been hoping that democratic leaders would listen, if only to save their asses in the next election.

-Arrian

Eli · March 18, 2003, 11:03

Because Saddam is a victim of Western Imperialism/Agression/Colonialism, that gives him the excuse to do everything he wants.

GePap · March 18, 2003, 11:05

Let me think..they don't want war?

So, because Bush doesn't care, they failed, so instead, try should protest the actions of a man who has even less reason to care..and hence fail?

You know, in theory, Bush should care, as he is the democratically elected leader of a country, as opposed to the dictator, who has very little reason to care about protests aginst him taking place thousands of miles away.

Midshipman · March 18, 2003, 11:10

I always love reading about protests.

"We're going to stage a walkout on classes"

Yeah, what a sacrifice for you.

"We're going to block traffic in front of military bases."

Ok, so it only bothers the people back home.

"We're going to desecrate the American flag."

Your choice. However, there is that Mastercard ripoff that goes something like this:

American Flag : $25
Lighter: $2
Setting yourself on fire because you are a terrorist jerk: Priceless.

With pictures.

Protestors just manage to amuse me.

General Ludd · March 18, 2003, 11:18

Quote:

Originally posted by Midshipman
American Flag : $25
Lighter: $2
Setting yourself on fire because you are a terrorist jerk: Priceless.

Are you calling the monks who commited public suicide during vietnam "terrorist jerks"? Or is it trying to say protesters somehow manage to set themselves on fire.

Eitherway, that's an incredibly stupid thing to say.

Urban Ranger · March 18, 2003, 11:20

Hussein should issue an ultimatum to GWB. Demand for his exile. That will be something.

SlowwHand · March 18, 2003, 11:23

The monk that set himself on fire in protest was stupid.
Talk about "cutting off one's nose to spite the face".

Zkribbler · March 18, 2003, 11:27

Yeah, maybe we can get both Bush and Hussein to go into exile. That would be a win-win solution.

Midshipman, your assumption that pacifists are terrorists leaves something to be desire.

BTW: as a person who is anti-war, I fully endorse the exile of Hussein as the best way to avoid this conflict.

GePap · March 18, 2003, 11:29

The US will still have to move into Iraq after saddam leaves to "disarm it"

Also, does anyone realize that if Saddam and his boys leave, that still leaves the baathist party in power in Baghdad? I mean, what, Saddam leaves and magically, all is fixed? I mena, besides the bloodbath that mgiht incur as different groups try to gain total control in his wake....

Shi Huangdi · March 18, 2003, 11:31

Well why don't the protestors in Iraq then call for Hussein to step down? Oh wait....

SlowwHand · March 18, 2003, 11:35

Quote:

Originally posted by Shi Huangdi
Well why don't the protestors in Iraq then call for Hussein to step down? Oh wait....

Exactly.

Spiffor · March 18, 2003, 11:57

Quote:

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Hussein should issue an ultimatum to GWB. Demand for his exile. That will be something.

He did so.
But you know how Bush is a warlike, stubborn dictator. He'll never step back

BeBro · March 18, 2003, 12:00

Quote:

Originally posted by Shi Huangdi
Well why don't the protestors in Iraq then call for Hussein to step down?

I would prefer him to commit suicide.

Spiffor · March 18, 2003, 12:01

Dashi :
I didn't attend anti-war protests, but from the reports I've seen or heard, you could see "No to war - no to Saddam" signs and such.
However, it is pure form : as already said, protestors have a hope Bush (or their own countries) will listen. They don't hope Saddam will change anything for the sake of the protests.

DaShi · March 18, 2003, 12:23

Quote:

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Hussein should issue an ultimatum to GWB. Demand for his exile. That will be something.

And that will solve the Iraq problem?

DaShi · March 18, 2003, 12:26

Quote:

Originally posted by Spiffor
Dashi :
I didn't attend anti-war protests, but from the reports I've seen or heard, you could see "No to war - no to Saddam" signs and such.
However, it is pure form : as already said, protestors have a hope Bush (or their own countries) will listen. They don't hope Saddam will change anything for the sake of the protests.

So by burning American flags, hanging Bush in effigy, and shouting "Regime change in America", they hope to warm Bush's heart and make him change his ways?

Japher · March 18, 2003, 12:30

American Anti-war Protestor's wouldn't ask Saddam to step down because

a) then their dreams of being a human shield will have been lost
b) they lost his phone number
c) Saddam who?
d) they work for him

Iraqi protestors won't ask him to step down because

a) they are all dead, and have been so since 1 week after he was "elected"
b) they are all dead, and have been so since 1 day after he was "elected"
c) they are all dead, and have been so since 1 day before he was "elected"
d) they are all dead, and have been so since 1 week before he was "elected"

Spiffor · March 18, 2003, 12:38

Quote:

Originally posted by DaShi

So by burning American flags, hanging Bush in effigy, and shouting "Regime change in America", they hope to warm Bush's heart and make him change his ways?

On the 10 millions protestors, I guess there is some variety. Your propaganda kept the Americans flags burning, my propaganda kept the nice anti war + anti Saddam people. In the end, it doesn't matter : the anti-war protests are a very wide coalition of people with different interests and agenda. That's what you get when the anti-war feeling is nearly unanimous (outside of the US)

DaShi · March 18, 2003, 12:46

I think they should have at least tried a good cop/bad cop approach on Bush. He'd probably fall for that. When dealing with a redneck, the worst thing is to get mad him. That's just going to start a fight.

Spiffor · March 18, 2003, 12:47

Quote:

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Hussein should issue an ultimatum to GWB. Demand for his exile. That will be something.

From Le Monde

Quote:

L'Irak a rejeté d'avance l'ultimatum américain. "Il n'y a qu'une solution -pour éviter la guerre- c'est le départ du fauteur de guerre numéro un dans le monde" George Bush, a déclaré lundi à la presse le chef de la diplomatie irakienne, Naji Sabri.

Iraq has rejected beforhand the American ultimatum. "There is only one solution to avoid war, the departure of the world's #1 warmonger George Bush", stated Iraqi Foreign minister Naji Sabri to the press monday

Sava · March 18, 2003, 13:15

I'm not surprised American protestors aren't protesting against a foreign dictator. It's of no use.

This might come to a surprise to some people, but Iraq isn't a democracy. Public opinion doesn't affect Saddam. Western Democracies are affected by public opinion, hence... protesting.

Felch · March 18, 2003, 13:24

Quote:

Originally posted by Osweld

Are you calling the monks who commited public suicide during vietnam "terrorist jerks"? Or is it trying to say protesters somehow manage to set themselves on fire.

Eitherway, that's an incredibly stupid thing to say.

Quote:

Originally posted by Zkribbler
Midshipman, your assumption that pacifists are terrorists leaves something to be desire.

He was referring to a rip-off of a Mastercard ad. In the ad it showed a bunch of Middle Easterners burning an American flag. It was not a reference to peaceful protesters, but to groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Don't jump down someone's throat simply because you didn't read their post.

DaShi · March 18, 2003, 13:33

Quote:

Originally posted by Sava
I'm not surprised American protestors aren't protesting against a foreign dictator. It's of no use.

This might come to a surprise to some people, but Iraq isn't a democracy. Public opinion doesn't affect Saddam. Western Democracies are affected by public opinion, hence... protesting.

Not America. You said so yourself. Bush wasn't elected democratically.

Sava · March 18, 2003, 13:35

Now you're just being silly...

DaShi · March 18, 2003, 13:38

Well, you're trying to Sava my thread.

Sava · March 18, 2003, 13:39

SUCCESS!

General Ludd · March 18, 2003, 13:43

Quote:

Originally posted by Felch X
Don't jump down someone's throat simply because you didn't read their post.

maybe you should take your own advise. I did read his thread. He did not include the picture. I asked if it was a reference the monks who set thesmelves on fire, or protestors who somehow managed to set themselves on fire by accident.

If you read his post, he is clearly talking about war protestors, not hamas or jihad.

Jack_www · March 18, 2003, 14:25

Do people hear think that Bush is worse then Saddam??
It seems that the anti war protestors think Saddam is better then Bush, and they seem to be supporting Saddam which I dont get.

The people who think that Bush is worse then Saddam really creak me up.

Al'Kimiya · March 18, 2003, 14:34

When the war is over the IDF should move in and bulldoze Saddam's palaces for funding terrorist families