War is hell. The sheer violence is obviously sickening. However, I've often felt that every tragedy should have a light hearted character to give a comedic balance to the horror of the central story. This war is no different. For me, that comedy is being provided by Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf. Some highlights of his act include: "Coalition forces have not crossed the Tigris River and are not approaching Baghdad." April 5, 2003 "The lying criminal bastards do not have control on Saddam airport." April 6, 2003 "They do not have control of any Presidential palaces. This is all high tech trickery by the criminals." April 7, 2003. "Al Jazeera is lying. Al Jazeera is helping the criminals." - April 7, 2003 Tariq Aziz could never come up with material this good.
What makes his recent comments all the more bizarre is that his statements for the first two weeks of the war were fairly accurate!
I like him. I have to admit it. I like the old rogue. Fiver says he appears on a US chat show before this year is out.
Can you imagine him on Parkinson? Well, you had a fairly remarkable time as a Minister for Information didn't you. Perhaps you have a funny story about that
Highlights from his speach today: "Be assured Baghdad is safe, secure and great." "They are sick in their minds. They say they brought 65 tanks into center of city. I say to you this talk is not true. This is part of their sick mind," Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf said. "There is no presence of American infidels in the city of Baghdad at all." "Their forces committed suicide by the hundreds. ... The battle is very fierce and God made us victorious. The fighting continues," he said. "Yesterday, we slaughtered them and we will continue to slaughter them." If he survives this whole thing, he really needs to be a guest on The Late Show.
IIRC, this is a guy never admitted more than a handful of Iraqis soldiers killed or captured every day for the last two weeks. He was fairly accurate within 10000%!!
Some US official (forgot who) likened him to a living, breathing, Saturday Night Live skit. I'm sure he's an out-of-work actor from LA hired by the Pentagon to discredit the Iraqi position.
My favourite bit is where he describes Blair and Bush as "lying criminal bastards". "Lying" and "criminal" could be justified, but I think "bastards" is being a bit unfair,
As Ted Koppel said on ABC's morning show yesterday from the airport, about Sahaf's contention that the Americans had not occupied it. "I am here at Baghdad International Airport, and I am defintiely not alone."
http://www.portal.telegraph.co.uk/o....xml&sSheet=/opinion/2003/04/08/ixoplead.html The Telegraph has the same opinion but reckons he would be best put to use as a New Labour press officer. I'm sure Alistair Campbell could put a man with his talents to good use
You do know, of course, that this whole "war" is being filmed at a secure Hollywood sound stage. The outdoor footage is from Area 51.
I think he would be a suitable replacement for Ari Fleischer once he decides to step down. They both have a problem with the truth.