The capture of Saddam was one of those moments in US political history when only one emotion is permitted, and anyone who dares break from the official line is The Enemy.
The first to break the silence this time, and early, was Cardinal Renato Martino, head of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. "I felt pity to see this man destroyed," he said, with the military "looking at his teeth as if he were a cow.... Seeing him like this, a man in his tragedy, despite all the heavy blame he bears, I had a sense of compassion for him."
Oh how the bloggers loved this one. Instapundit blasted away, National Review attributes such crazy thoughts to the disease of anti-Americanism, and the Dynamist said she could never "respect the authority of such idiots."
It is unseemly to see intellectuals using their talents toward such anti-intellectual ends as national chauvinism. But we've seen that many times in history, as the career of Heidegger shows. Never believe that intellectuals are above it all; when the right circumstances present themselves, they are ready not only to goosestep with the best of them, but also to write the manuals and administer the prison camps for those who refuse.
Just for the sake of review, let us just state the obvious points that one is somehow not allowed to mention. Iraq under Saddam was known as the most liberal Arab state. There was relative religious freedom. Women had rights. You could get a drink. You could own private guns. There were symphonies and arts. Fundamentalists had no power. The place was prosperous and enjoying immigration.
He was a despot, yes, but that hardly distinguishes him in the region. He owned some nasty weapons, yes, mostly sold or given to him by the US government, on whose behalf he waged war on Iran. He also made war on the attempted secessions of the Kurds and the Shiites.
Oh the joy of liberation! And don't you dare disagree with the claims of the imperial wizard in the slightest respect. Never mind that the US denies pro-Saddam protesters the right to assemble and speak, and shoots them. Never mind that violence and bombers have become more common after his capture. Never mind that the main group cheering the capture in Iraq were pleased that an impediment to an Islamic state had been removed. No, the US says this is all great news and you had better believe it.
Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.: Next US War Target: the Vatican?
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