Quote:
Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
If the Iraq people are so willing to fight and die, why didn't they do it with Sadamm? I know the Sunnis would have no reason, and broad based revolt were Chemical attacked, but why wasn't there some onging resistance fro the Shites in Baghdad?
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Much as I would hate to question Howard Stern's knowledge of Iraqi politics and history, there were ongoing Shiite resistance movements under Saddam which outlived him -- along with a few attempted military coups. The resistance was focused, of course, in the South -- but also operated in the Shiite enclaves of Bagdhad. The Dawa movement and the operations of SCIRI (HQ in Iran) come to mind .
These movements rarely engaged in open confflict or armed attacks, though. The explanation is that Saddam was so damn ruthless and his secret police were so damn efficient that such armed resistance was barely possible.
Consider the operation for which he was sentenced to death. A half-dozen guys (probably Dawa) took a few shots at a Saddam motorcade. The army and secret police moved in and scooped up a couple hundred men from the village near the attack. Vigorous torture and collective punishment ensues, and 148 people are executed for their alleged crimes. Combine this with a environment of constant indoctrination in the media and schools --kids taught Saddam is next to God and encouraged to inform on anyone including their parents.
Nothing like today's insurgency was possible.
S_A_M
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