Saddam in Custody, US Less Safe Than Ever

Among the silliest of charges leveled at Democratic presidential nominee apparent Howard Dean is that he somehow mispoke when he remarked that the capture of former CIA errand boy Saddam Hussein–nothing more than the latest chapter of a lengthy labor-management dispute if you think about it–hasn’t made Americans any safer, whether in Iraq from local resistants or here in the U.S., from terrorists.

With news of U.S. troops continuing to come under heavy fire in Iraq, it’s time for former contenders like Dick Gephardt and John Kerry–both worthy men who would have made fine opponents to Generalissimo El Busho had they not already lost–to stop criticizing Dean for speaking something that’s so plainly true. Dean’s plainspokenness, after all, is what has brought him so far. It’s also time they drop out of the race and endorse Dean.

A Guide to Today’s Cartoon

Not every cartoon works. Some are so obtuse that no one gets it; to wit this week’s offering “The Triumph.” The original idea was to show Bush having captured Saddam but himself being trapped by the war itself. So I drew two Iraqi jihadis celebrating as Condi and Colin were forced to drag a cage containing Bush and Saddam, the latter held in chains by the former.

Still don’t get it?

You’re not alone. Looks like I blew it. Probably has something to do with all the Nyquil I’ve been taking for this godawful bug.

Now Hear This: Ted on Athens GA Radio on Xmas + 1

“In the fight against radio fascism, at least one liberal beacon has emerged victorious on the AM airwaves. Dan Matthews has hosted an hour long live call in talk show in the Athens, Georgia market on NewsTalk 1340 WGAU (AM) since August and has ruffled the feathers of ne’er-do-wells such as Senator Zell Miller and assorted other conservatives. So far we are unaware of any way to get it on the computer, but if you are within 20 miles of the University of Georgia in Athens, you should be able to hear award winning author and illustrator Ted Rall this Friday morning, 9-10 am EDT, along with 12th district congressional candidate John Barrow, who has raised more money for this Georgia race than any other U.S. congressional candidate at this point. Should you want to call in a question for Ted Rall, dial 706-549-8255 between 9:06 and 9:20 am Friday, December 26, 2003. Thanks for your interest. “

Now back to bed.

Happy Holidaze

I’m sick as a dog and, in any case, busy being festive and stuff. I’ll be away from the blog pretty much until Dec. 30.

The Ted and Jerry Show

I’ll be discussing the Sen. John Kerry cursing “scandal” and the corsening of our society with the Rev. Jerry Falwell on CNBC TV tonight, 6:15 Eastern Standard Time.

It’s Good to be King, a.k.a., It’s Nice Being Loved, sung to the tune of “We’re So Popular”

We’re winning so many hearts and minds in Iraq it’s just incredible:

U.S. Hunts for Militants North of Baghdad

By ALEKSANDAR VASOVIC, Associated Press Writer

SAMARRA, Iraq – Using sledgehammers, crowbars, explosives and armored vehicles, U.S. forces smashed down the gates of homes and the doors of workshops and junkyards Wednesday to attack the Iraqi resistance that has persisted despite the capture of Saddam Hussein.

In Baghdad, guerrillas ambushed a U.S. military patrol with small arms fire, killing one soldier from the 1st Armored Division and injuring another, the military said.

The soldier’s death brings the number of U.S. soldiers killed in combat to 314 as violence persists after Saddam was detained on Saturday.

Staff Sgt. Kimberly A. Voelz, 27, of Carlisle, Pa., was killed Sunday in Iskandariyah, Iraq , as her unit was responding to an explosive ordinance disposal call, the Defense Department said.

A soldier assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) was killed Tuesday in a vehicle accident southwest of Mosul, Iraq. Some 144 soldiers have died of non-hostile causes, according to the Pentagon.

The raid, launched before dawn and lasting until midmorning, targeted the city of Samarra, north of Baghdad.

Loud blasts mixed with the sound of women and children screaming inside the houses. An explosion at the gate of one compound shattered windows, cutting a 1-year-old baby with glass. U.S. medics treated the injury while other soldiers handcuffed four men, who were later released.

U.S. officials say some 1,500 fighters operate in Samarra, making it one of the persistent hotspots in the so-called Sunni Triangle.

“Samarra has been a little bit of a thorn in our side,” said Col. Nate Sassaman. “It hasn’t come along as quickly as other cities in the rebuilding of Iraq. This operation is designed to bring them up to speed.”

In the Samarra raid by some 2,500 troops, dubbed Operation Ivy Blizzard, the 4th Infantry Division and Iraqi forces detained at least a dozen suspected guerrillas — though others got away, apparently tipped off about the raid.

In the city’s industrial zone, troops used even their Bradley fighting vehicles to break down the doors of warehouses, workshops and junkyards.

“Locksmiths will make a lot of money these days,” said a U.S. soldier, laughing as he sat atop a Bradley.

“They’ve made a mistake to attack U.S. forces,” Sassaman said. “No one knows the town better than we do. We’re gonna clean this place.”

In Wednesday’s sweep, soldiers used satellite positioning devices to locate buildings pre-marked as targets.

As Apache helicopters flew overhead, troops downtown fanned out in squads of 14 to storm several walled residential compounds, using plastic explosives to break in.

At one home, an explosion ignited a small fire. Elsewhere, a suspect was punched in the head and a soldier said: “You’re dead. You’re dead.”

Troops later moved on to the industrial area, where they found little. One military official said he suspected insurgents moved much of their equipment to farms outside town.

Attention MSNBC Fans

If you watch MSNBC you’ve seen their new promo. They ask: “Will Bush win Florida again?” then say something along the lines about how you have questions, they have answers (sorry, Radio Shack). If you have a digital camera and can send me high-resolution photos of the ad’s 2 or 3 panels, I need your help! Please email me at chet@rall.com. There’s a free, personally-autographed copy of any book of mine you want in it for you.

Thanks,

Ted

Saddam’s Capture Changes Nothing

Remember this greatest hit from a few months back?

“Washington had hoped that the deaths of Uday and Qusay would weaken the insurgency…”

That’s from the Associated Press archives.

Since I’m directly addressing the capture of Saddam in my column this week, I think it’s important for Americans to stop deluding themselves that the war in Iraq cannot be won by such get-won-quick moments as the capture of Saddam. Who can understand the countless comments from Republicans that those of us opposed to the illegal invasion based on countless lies should eat crow simply because we done got Saddie?

Hear this: no one said we weren’t gonna catch him.

What we said, and what continues to be true, is that the war was unnecessary, and did more harm than good for many reasons: we trashed our credibility, made others fear and hate us, created a power vacuum, destablized the Middle East, etc. None of that changes just because one dictator has just fallen into the clutches of another dictator.

“Werewolf” Follow-up

Several German correspondents have written to confirm that, in fact, exactly zero American soldiers were killed in occupied Germany by so-called “Werewolves” after the May 7, 1945 surrender of Germany. And even if there had been casualties–which there were not–they certainly would have been expected in a nation which had declared war upon us. Iraq, on the other hand, was supposed to greet us with roses, remember?

Support Your Local Draft Board

An anonymous FOR (Friend of Rall) suggests:

“Some friends and I decided that the best defense in this case is to

stack the draft boards with fellow anti-war/anti-draft folks. We could

then grant exemptions freely.”

Indeed, why should the draft boards gearing up for possible spring 2005 conscription be loaded up with American-flag-lapel-wearing right-wing loons? It’s time for all patriotic lefties (a redundant term) to submit their application to join their local draft board!

Sign up with the Selective Service System today!

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