RE:[Marxism] Saddam and Baathists vs radical Iraqi nationalism

["Eli Stephens" <elishastephens@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

M. Junaid Alam wrote:

> Abu Nasr's characterization of Saddam is ridiculous. The man didn't go out
> guns blazing as he touted he would. He had two assault rifles and didn't
> fire a bullet. Even if he had gone down fighting, that hardly qualifies as
> making him a fighter against imperialism in any sense of the word.

This kind of statement plays into the imperialist demonization of Hussein.
First of all, it has never been stated in the media exactly where these "two
assault rifles" were, or even the handgun, but it seems very unlikely
Hussein had the rifles with him in the hiding place (what would he have done
with a rifle in a 6x8 room?). And even if he had the pistol, even a
revolutionary (which certainly Hussein was not) has no obligation to commit
suicide, which is what he would have been doing had he tried to fire his
pistol at the soldiers who captured him. "Going down fighting" has a
romantic turn to it, but unless you do so as part of a battle or attack or
other action (e.g., Moncada) with a serious purpose, it serves no purpose
whatsoever.

The man is in his 60's, and long past the age where he was likely to be an
effective guerrilla fighter, and even  if he were younger, had he played any
kind of significant role in the resistance, he would most likely have been
located and captured or killed long ago.

Criticisms of the way Hussein led his country are entirely justified.
Criticisms of his actions since April serve no purpose other than to play
into the hands of the U.S., IMHO.

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