NBC’s Richard Engel ‘Moderately’ Hearts Saddam Hussein
by Greg GutfeldSo NBC’s chief war correspondent Richard Engel claims that if the U.S. had not invaded Iraq, things would still be bad, but not as bad as before. His reasoning: Saddam Hussein would still be in power, but, “he was probably getting more moderate.”
So, what does he mean by “moderate?”
I suppose, maybe, “only gassing half as many Kurds?”
Kurds gassed by “The Moderate”
Perhaps he was going to instruct his sons to only rape women on “every other weekend.”
Or maybe, to help the environment, he’ll only electrocute citizens using recycled car batteries.
Anypoop – Engel’s wrong. He makes the point that Saddam would be more accommodating, but you can’t be more accommodating than when you’re dead. I think even Saddam would agree, if he were alive. But he’s dead, so he can’t.
In that sense, I guess he’s not that accommodating (which does poke a hole in my theory).
More important, Engel should remember that one of the real benefits of that war is reminding dictators and homicidal maniacs that they are not impervious. The U.S. can and will stand up against evil – and Engel knows that many evil bastards were against the war for precisely that reason. It scared them.
Finally, Engel bases everything on a basic premise: all war is bad, even wars we win.
But we all know war sucks. We hate it when people die. And a lot of people had problems with the Iraq War, myself included. But the fact is, we won, and Saddam -who Engel calls a very bad man – is gone. That is a major accomplishment, and it strikes me as wrong not to give our armed forces massive kudos for that tremendous achievement.
And if you disagree with me, you’re a racist Islamophobic homophobe.
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101 Comments
Consider the source. Engel's the creep who called our soldiers "highy paid mercenaries w/ lot's of perks".
………"and Engel knows that many evil bastards were against the war for precisely that reason. It scared them."
They are still scared.
Reality makes them tremble.
Not only the evil bastards still scattered around the world, but especially those still traipsing through the Halls of Power, here in America.
Yeah, well, those of us ***uncaring*** ***selfish*** conservatives hate to see anyone raped or gassed. We can put ourselves in the place of all who suffered at the hands of Hussein.
Those ***wonderful*** ***caring*** ***intelligent*** liberals don't care about the victims and cannot uderstand what it is like living under such a tortuous regime. (To them, it was torture to live with George W. Bush in the WH). They take everything, I mean EVERYTHING America stands for for granted.
Saddam was the head of the Republican Guard. Surely THAT should have been enough to earn Mr. Engel's scorn.
Assuming we could keep a person's party affiliation secret, just what kind of human being do liberals disapprove of? Saddam put people into wood chippers, for Pete's sake.
Expecting 'moderation' from a man who gasses Kurds and rapes women is like expecting water from a dry well. You can't get something from nothing. Moderation is the child of compassion – and a man who gasses and rapes has none.
during the ww2 there were heros to be proud of, that the media covered, but during these wars, i notice there are no heros brought out by the media, other than the fake soldiers who were never even in the war. and why were the fake soldiers applauded by the media, for speaking out against the war. and today, or was it yesterday, harry over in nevada, claims he disparaged our troops, so we would win the war, wow, what an ass harry is, i hope he looses this november.
So by Engel saying that Saddam would have become more "moderate" he is saying that we freedom loving; not willing to let evil exist are a bunch of ignorant hateful people. I would like to take Richard Engel and all of the folks that think like his to the point and time to when the Kurds were getting gassed and shot to hell after Desert Storm to see how moderate evil can be. Better yet I have a better idea let run a tape for these "people" of all of the suffering that terrorist attacks from Munich to present day and have them explain to the family of the attacks that "they are just expressing themselves and that they will moderate in time." Enough is enough, and they would why American are tuning them out.
We hate it when people die.
I think it really depend on who those "people" are, which is why, historically, western civilizations have prevailed over eastern civilizations. Sometimes, unfortunately, war *is* the final, best answer.
saddam is to moderate as Richard Engle is to humane.
I wish we would make all the rest of the middle east leaders as accomodating as Saddam is.
This whole "who's a moderate?" debate (here, and in blog discussions of the Ground Zero Mosque iman) has made me feel a lot better. I'm a libertarian–one of those weirdoes who beleve their lives belong to themselves, and don't believe in forcing their will on others–and for years "liberal" State-shtuppers and "responsible" conservatives have told me I'm an "extremist." But obviously if Saddam Hussein wasn't an extremist, I can't be one. I feel rehabilitated and welcomed back into the warm-and-fuzzy cocoon of the mainstream. Group hug!
Agreed
Richard Engel is a tool of the liberal administration, pay no attention as he blithers.
…….as Roger Ebert is to sane. http://newsbusters.org/blogs/ken-shepherd/2010/09...
Laura, I couldn't have said it better.
As Bill Schultz is to hygienic.
I have a theory that Saddam wanted us to invade. He had Russian influence and they were using the sanctions to both tempt and take over his country. They were becoming more in control than he wanted and were continuing to take more control. Although not a good guy, he realized that the Russians were planning on helping him make bio and chemcial weapons so that the minor player Terrorists could get them and use them to destablize the middle east to drive up oil prices so Russia would benefit. In the end, he would become the fall guy no matter what for giving them the weapons. If he was, they would kill him. At the start of the confrontation the Russians helped clear everything out with the people they bought in Saddam's regime. He was expected a more tepid response, an American occupation driving out the Russians and lifting the sanctions. It just didn't work out that way. He got full blown huge invasion and his gamble failed.
……….and Ed Shultz is to thin.
We could go on ad naseum.
We could go on ad naseum.
So let's do it. I'm bored out of my gourd. It's so quiet at work and I've got 2 hours left on the clock.
As Rosie O'Donnell is to human.
I'll bite: As Pelosi is to sentient.
As Letterman is to humor.
As Obama is to insipient.
Ah rats, I derailed the concept of this thread.
Saddam was going senile. He was a wild-card. Nobody knew what he would do, including helping terrorists if he felt like it.
He had two sons, both psychopaths, who were due to inherit. Nobody knows what they would have done, including helping terrorists.
I had issues with the Iraq war myself. I still have issues with it. I always will.
That said, the world is a better, safer place without Saddam Hussein or his sons. Was it worth it? I just don't think anyone can say for sure at this point in time.
Didn't people say nearly the same thing about Hitler taking Poland? And look how that turned out.
Don't worry, I'll get it back on track. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdIev12fCPs
As Bill Mahar is to relevant.
He's just jealous that Saddam is really hung….ZING!
but seriously, dwelling on the "woulda, coulda, shoulda" nonsense is pointless, and intellectually bankrupt. Maybe Hitler would have changed his ways, too!
Sounds like Engle is wishful thinking.
Next: Springtime for Hitler.
I don't agree it's the best, but I do agree, there are times when its the only answer.
My opinion as to why western civilizations prevailed over eastern civilizations (not counting China or India, I don't know enough about their histories to have a valid opinion), is the Judeo-Christian heritage.
I spent several years studying about the history of the Bible and the early Catholic Church, and time and again, I kept coming across two factors. First, Christianity is a 'bookish' religion. An unintended, but wonderful consequence is it encouraged literacy. Couple that with the Catholic Church's choice of Latin as a neutral language between the various nations, and you've got a sort of super highway of knowledge at that time in history.
Secondly, the Christian mindset is that God created the universe. And with the universe, God created order, rules, things that can be measured, studied, repeated, understood. The concept of empirical evidence and the scientific method.
Put those two together along with venture capitalist and people willing to say 'what the heck, let's see what happens' and some times, really cool things come out the other end. And I don't just mean youtube videos of people blowing themselves up.
The dead are very accommodating, just ask any necrophiliac.
i dream.
engel meets jack reacher in an alley.
Interesting idea.
My own opinion is he was more afraid of the Iraq population and Iran than he was afraid of America.
He could have diffused this real easy, simply agree to follow the UN treaty. But to do so would be seen as about as humiliating as you can get in that part of the world. And that is practically a neon sign saying 'I'm a pansy, come take me out.'
Remember, he also had to keep control of his own power structure. The inner circle needs to be assured the structure is solid, or else their asses on the line. Remember Ceauşescu in Romania. He lost the trust of his inner circle, they abandoned him. Peasants stormed the unprotected palace, dragged him out back, and shot him in the head. And they filmed it all.
There are some things more humiliating than getting your ass kicked by America.
What an idiot. Saddam wasn't getting more moderate. Not even close. He was bribing UN criminals through the Oil for Food program to soften sanctions against him, eventually ending them without him even allowing true searches for WMDs. Then, as reports have noted, he had the components to begin his WMD program and have it running at full capacity within months of the lifting of the sanctions. This is what he was working toward and this is based on fact, not wishful thinking like leftist idiots who say Saddam was "contained".
Engel is beyond stupid.
No disrespect meant, but I know that's not my question to answer. That question will be answered by the soldiers and their families of those that sacrificed and those that made the ultimate sacrifice.
"Maybe Hitler would have changed his ways, too!"
He did, one fine day in April ´45, though it took some persuasion. I suppose using Engel´s logic this proves that the invasion of Normandy was totally unnecessary.
As long as the libs have their cool clothes, fine house, big cars, money in the bank, and a strong military to protect them they feel safe to whine, snivel, and complain about how unjust our country is.They just want to sit around singing kumbaya and sipping on cool drinks. However, the moment they feel the slightest bit threatened, they scream for our infamous military to protest them and theirs. What hypocrites. They are nothing more than a group of sniveling, sissy snitch, punk, commie, pinko, fascist useless idiots.
You are absolutely right as evidenced by the fact that NOW and other hairy-legged feminazi groups are not standing up for the oppressed women in the Middle East and elsewhere.
Wasn't it Stalin who said something to the effect a single death is a tragedy, but kill a million and it's a statistic. If memory serves, Hussein was also known as the "Butcher of Baghdad." Need I say more.
Aren't they though?
Jealous much? Or does the world look that great in the trailer park?
….No surprise here……Leftists love Dictators…….and hate the U.S. Military, Guardians of Freedom……
This comment brings to mind my definition of a liberal and a conservative; a liberal is someone who sees a tragedy or injustice and says "The government should do something about this" and a conservative is someone who sees the same tragedy or injustice and says "What can I do about this?"
No sir, the trailer park is just fine. Thank you for your concern. However you do seem to have missed the gist of the paragraph.
Yes we do.
I sat in the chow hall here in Iraq the other night and listened to this blowhard pontificate on MSNBC (yes, we are blessed with MSNBC on the "news side" of the chow hall during the 6-7PM hour). After I had heard enough that I thought my head would explode I just tuned him out and thought about the fact that he has really great hair. Thanks Greg for pointing out the idiocy of his comments. Your book deployed with me!
Great Point CL… As usual, right on the money. We have to watch against the threat within our own institutions. The Progressive/Socialist in power now have basically allied themselves, and us as a nation, with the Islamic Jihadi's.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON: “The violent destruction of life and property incident to war—the continual effort and alarm attendant on a state of continual danger— will compel nations the most attached to liberty to resort for repose and security to institutions which have a tendency to destroy their civil and political rights. To be more safe they at length become willing to run the risk of being less free.”
—Federalist No. 8, 1787
Only when we cleanse our own house and unite against our enemy, can we be safe. >>> No, Quote, just me. ;0)
I think 30,000 people a year were killed by Saddam Hussein. In a population of 26 million that is pretty significant.
.
I really want to be shocked. I really do. But I can't. The left will go to any lengths to bad mouth GWB. Even defend a mass murderer. Makes you think to what ends the lame stream msnbcbs news will go to defend King Obama from detractors.
No man has truely earned the name "Dick".
With Saddam in power Iraq was a counterweight to Iran. That has been lost. Now Iran is the undisputed top dog in the middle east. Back in the 19th century, the Brits, who understood the power game, would never have let that happen. It may sound cruel but hard eyed real politick is better for a nation than idealism when it comes to foreign affairs.
I don't see what all the bother is, this guy is with NBC, it's not like he's doing real news, like the BBC or some other adult organization. This is topical candy, pretty boys and girls babbling brightly in front of cameras repeating the same tired lines over and over that have been pounded up their behinds by their handlers, performing on cue for all the world like the well trained microphone-monkeys that they are. We should be in awe of these stepford reporters, of how they can stumble all over the world yet still be completely blind to the truth. Their owner, George Soros, should be congratulated. AFTER the firing squad is finished.
I don't think mercernary means what you think it means. Websters Dictionary has a pretty good website. Use it.
These idiots even call Saddam a moderate – and they think they have any credibility about the Cordoba jerks. Leftards wrote scads of books defending Saddam and calling Bush a murderer. And now we're supposed to take them at their word that they 'just totally know for super sure' that Imam Rauf and pals are 'moderate'. Liberals have been warping the language for the last 50 years or more. Nothing they say has credibility, or even coherence. They're 'Linguophobic'.
I wonder if defense attorneys will claim their clients are moderates.
…ordering new keyboard…Damn! LOL!
As Rachel Maddow is to female.
This sounds about like the editorial I once read in a newspaper, that as long as Iraqis didn't go out of their way to publicly criticize Saddam, they got by all right, so it's not like we really "liberated" them from anything. More evidence of the enlightened and freedom-loving Left.
Or Jack Torrance.
What is it about August 2, 1990 that seems to slip people's minds. Why is that date important in regards to the Iraq War? What possibly could have happened then?
If you call the ability of a low ranking Lieutenant in the army with three kids to qulify for food stamps a perk well then maybe………
but not all the fine men and women who serve in the military have the philsophical outlook of the prisoner in the Life of Brian who pines with jealous angst for the day he can be spat at in the face.
Matter of fact I think none them have that outlook but what I know I'm in the Tea Party!
Hey there was this cat named Friedrich Engels in the 19th century who started some movement with some other guy.
I think he may have been one of Engel's relations.
Except that does not explain the Green Movement in Iran.
Much as I despise McCain's Rino domestic policies if he were president he would have refused to recognize Makemoody Imadinnerjacket as President of Iran and refused to allow him in the UN. He would have fanned the green movement and maybe even given them arms.
Iran's power today in my opinion is largely due to Obama supporting the current regime over there and apologizing for our noticing how many gays the hang for sodomy or women they stone for adultery. We had an opportunity to place real pressure then and I think we blew it.
Kristine, I like your quote.
There was a famous man here in Indian Country, who died long before I was born. He is credited with this:
"Education is your greatest weapon. With education you are the white man's equal, without education you are his victim and so shall remain all of your lives. Study, learn, help one another always. Remember there is only poverty and misery in idleness and dreams – but in work there is self respect and independence."
One of his least remembered quotes, when once asked how the Indian could survive, with the advent of the Reservation System, and learn to co-exist with the White Man, was said this way:
" Go home. Visit the sweat lodge, cleanse your bodies and your spirits. Go home and clean your teepees; prepare your minds for the answers, for they will come." That quote won't be found in a book.
The old man was a prophet. His name was Plenty Coups. he was the last Warchief of the Crow Nation.
He kindly sounded like Glenn Beck………..
Excellent points. Iraq was/is the counterbalance to Iran still. Iranians were inspired. If we'd had a different president, the Green Movement would stand a much better chance of succeeding.
The idea that we have to keep a bad guy in because he's the enemy of our enemy even though he's also our enemy … that's for crackheads.
Yeah…he really cares so much…but not quite enough to join the military and put his life on the line. Naw, he just chose to let our sons protect his slimey behind while he did "journalism stuff". Whimp. Eff him!!
Stay safe and hope you'll be home soon. Thank you for doing something to save the women and children, especially the little girls of Iraq. How anyone can sit in the safety of their homes here in the USA and feel OK about the treatment of women and little girls in Iraq and Afghanistan is beyond me. With my big mouth, developed to an art form over many, many years…I wouldn't last 5 minutes in that culture. God bless you.
Oh yeah…correct me if I am wrong…but did not the citizens of Iraq celebrate when he was deposed, and when he was hanged. Funny how the LSM always "knows" so much about other people. Must be because MIka talks with Obama's people…then she talks with Joe…who talks with Mike… who talks with Adrianna…who talks with Bloomberg….who talks with O'Donnel…who talks with Engel….who talks with Robinson…who talks with Mika…and then the circle repeats it self over and over. They are so informed, hell they have all the answers…in their tight little circle with their little blinders…TRUST THEM…TRUST THEM…
….Thanks for Your Service, Warrior…..STAY STRONG, BRAVE and BEAUTIFUL for FREEDOM……
It's part of his (lack of) charm.
This is the one thing I am most disappointed in Obama about.
Can you imagine the statement it would have made to the world if achmadinejaad met with a protest from the US governement when he spoke at the UN becuase we challenged that he was not the duly elected President of Iran and the American Government recognized Mousavi.
We should have done that and if there is anything America has to apologize to the Persian people for it is that. I can tell you this Ronald Reagan would have done it.
As Al Gore is to science.
electrocute citizens using recycled car batteries… Slayed me dude!! Great post
As Keith Olbermann is to objective journalism.
Or Jack Bauer.
As Al Sharpton is to race relations.
Things were better under Saddam? The problem with left is that they cannot see that there is evil , and it is alive and well all across the world. There are times when we must stand up to evil and defeat it, and in my humble opinion this was one of those times.
http://theconservativewatchtower.blogspot.com/ http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dcs672001
I'd agree if your sentence included the modifier _Islamic_.
If Carter and Clinton hadn't decimated our military we could have off'd Sadaam and then neutralized Iran, too.
As imam Rauf is to compassion and sensitivity.
Engel got too close to what he was reporting on and it has clouded his objectivity. Therefore, it is opinion not reporting.
As Greg Gutfeld is to tall.
I don't know if he sounds like Glen Beck, but I will admit this, he sounds like a man with a whole lot of common sense. ;0) Great and sound advise for all of us.
pretty? Have you seen the MSNBC line up?
I disagree.
I googled Engle and his hair is not all that great.
Seriously?!! Our soldiers are neither mercenaries nor highly paid: they are certainly not paid well enough to risk their lives and be separated from their famillies for long periods of time — if that were the only they enlisted.
Or Jack the Ripper
Come on now…I'm trying to drink my coffee.
or Jack Palance.
The BBC does real news?
Actually Engel is probably half right here…. a rope does tend to turn a radical killer into a more moderate person. He is certainly "more accommodating" now than ever before.
No my pathetic friend, they're brave patriots who allow us to do things like talk on message boards. Trust me, if not you're sorry a&& would be on the firing squad for insulting them
As Ed Asner is to actor
They aren't mercenaries. They just have the balls to do what you don't have the balls to do. That clear enough?
What was he saying that you found so objectionable? And, please, be specific.
Who wrote scads of books defending Saddam? Name just one title.
You moron. We have not been allied with Jihadists. Jesus Christ. You're so stupid, you'll support any accusation to demonize Democrats and this president in particular. Talk about propagandists. You don't even tell sensible lies.
The media's idea of toleration and moderation is nothing but the equivalent of alchemy. For example "because I wish it were so, it is so".
I objected to Engle's premise that the Iraqi people might have been better served by leaving Saddam in power instead of the having him deposed by the US led coalition. I will leave the public expression of my personal feelings about the political angles of this war to myself until I take off the uniform, but I will say that the Iraqi people now have a level of freedom that they could never likely have achieved under Saddam. As our force numbers grow smaller here I pray daily that the Iraqis will be able to defend that freedom in the years to come.
His hair looked pretty good in the interview that I saw. He had this "wave' of hair on the front right side that rolled like the wave at the beginning of Hawaii Five-O. I kept wondering how he got his hair to do that!
HOOAH Doc! Thanks
Thanks, and God's blessings to you and your loved ones.
Here's a doozy: "The Case Against George Bush for Murder" by Vincent Bugliosi. And if you haven't heard rabid liberals apologizing for Saddam and/or making Bush out to be worse than Saddam – you've been living in a spider hole.
http://electjeff.wordpress.com/2008/07/27/errors-...
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