General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: This message was self-deleted by its author [View all]Rozlee
(2,529 posts)We've coddled the Saudis since the 50s. We've sold them military hardware. They are one of the most brutal regimes in the world. They are the beheading capital of the planet. They use capital punishment against married women for merely talking to men who aren't their husbands. The royals live lavishly, one of the princes spending 25 million dollars on his daughter's birthday party while the common people struggle. 15 of the 19 hijackers on 9/11 were Saudis. Women accused by their husbands of adultery, sometimes even without proof, are sentenced to death. Other capital crimes are apostasy and homosexuality. Methods of execution are beheading, stoning and cruxifiction.
And we're a lot worse for having removed Saddam. Saddam was a secular leader for all his brutality. Women served in his cabinet, his Prime Minister, Tariq Azziz, was a Christian, women were allowed to attend colleges. They were allowed to wear Western clothes and, in the Baghdad club district, even wore miniskirts. Baghdad even had gay clubs. The Chaldean Christian community had lived for almost 1,500 years undisturbed in Iraq and they were a protected minority under Hussein.
Now, with the Shiites in control, Sharia law holds sway over all. The Chaldean Christians have been driven out. Estimates are that maybe only under 50,000 of the former 700,000 of them now remain. Few women are seen wearing Western clothes. Homosexuals are persecuted. There are horror stories of suspected gay men having their genitals burned off and their anuses glued shut. One father invited neighbors to witness him eviserating his gay son to cheers and clapping. An estimated three million Iraqis have fled the country and two million are displaced within it. It's considered the greatest humanitarian refugee crisis on the planet.
Add to that the horror of the poisoning of the country with depleted uranium. Before the Gulf Wars, childhood Leukemia was rare in Iraq. By 2006, after 4,000 tons of DU was dropped on the country, Iraq ranked #One in the incidence of childhood Leukemia. Add to the scenario is the fact that Iran, once counterbalanced by Hussein, is now closely allied with the Shiite government there. Our leaders have to sneak into Iraq under cover of darkness and heavy guard with President Talabani smiling frostily by their side. Compare that with visits from Iran president Ahmedinajed, who's greeted like a rock star.
I served for six months in the beginning of the war and my daughter has gone on five tours of Iraq. She tells me she definitely doesn't feel the love. I'm sure many women, gays and displaced Christians and refugees don't either.