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Axis of Evil
Saddam vows defeat for enemies
2003-01-17
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein said Friday that Iraq had mobilized its forces to defeat U.S. forces at the gates of Baghdad should they invade his country. "We have determined and planned to defeat the aggressors. We have mobilized our abilities, including those of the army, people and leadership," he said in the text of a televised speech marking the 12th anniversary of the Gulf War. "Baghdad, its people and leadership, is determined to force the Mongols of our age to commit suicide at its gates," Saddam said. Calling U.S. troops the "new Mongols," the Iraqi leader said they would not be able to conquer a "mobilized and determined" Iraq. "The army of Hulagu has come again to clash with Baghdad after it was born anew. They will commit suicide on the walls of Baghdad and other Iraqi cities," he conveyed.
For history buffs, in 1258, under Hulagu Khan, the Mongols invaded Baghdad and put an end to the remnants of the once-glorious 'Abbasid Empire. The ancient systems of irrigation were destroyed and the devastation was so extensive that agricultural recovery, even in the twentieth century, is still incomplete. Hey, Saddam, compared to the U.S. military, the Mongols were wimps!
Posted by:Steve

#7  I think there should be a international tv sitcom show called INFIDEL POOL BOY
Posted by: REZANATOR   2004-05-26 11:42:42 AM  

#6  Actually the Caliph of Baghdad was crushed in a rug due to the Mongols' respect for his office. They didn't want to shed his blood, or at least see the blood they did shed. I guess afterwards they didn't bother to unroll the rug to check their results. How about calling the liberation of Iraq "Operation Rugroll" or better yet, "Operation Rugrat"? At least the US Military can release some videos of our tanks rolling over rolled-up carpets, as part of their training.
Posted by: Tresho   2003-01-18 05:03:20  

#5  How 'bout a nice planeload of cards that say "With deepest sympathy"?
Posted by: Fred   2003-01-17 15:22:16  

#4  In addition to dropping leaflets in certain areas of Iraq, we should be dropping crates of white hankys as well. I think they'd understand that not-so-subtle hint.
Posted by: Raj   2003-01-17 14:08:46  

#3  Don --- If we got Operation Hulagu as the name, it would completely psych out everyone. The press and commentators would be backlogged with bs, and Saddam would show us all his hidden weapons and beg for mercy. One word... intriguing....
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2003-01-17 12:47:59  

#2  I think we should email the pentagon and nominate "Operation Hulagu" for the liberation of Iraq. Ask if we can chip in some coins for a rug. It was a Mongol tradition to take the leader of the enemy, as in the case of Baghdad 1258, and encase them rolled in the rug. He was then trampled to death within that rug. Sort of like a full body Depends. While we don't have the horses like the Mongol, we do have the horsepower. Crunchies!
Posted by: Don   2003-01-17 11:39:49  

#1  The Mongols disrupted the basic maintenance of the extraordinary (for its time) irrigation system for a couple of years. That was all it took and the region never recovered. Most of the Mongol troops were actively "pro-nomadic" and took great delight in destroying to things that they viewed as non nomadic, like wells and such.
Posted by: Chuck   2003-01-17 10:57:58  

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