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Speech
by Saddam Hussein
'The enemy is trapped in the sacred land of Iraq'
Monday March 24, 2003 Saddam Hussein on Iraqi state television.
Extracts
"O great people,
O valiant fighters in our heroic armed forces, peace be upon you.
We know, and everyone in this brave, patient, honest, heroic nation knows,
how much we tried to do what was right - so much so, perhaps, that some
blamed us for how we behaved and how graciously patient we were over hardships
sought by those with ulterior motives and how we responded, although it
could coincide with the wishes of the weak or those who do not realise
the intentions and goals of the American and British administrations,
which are driven by accursed Zionism."
Now we are living through decisive days in which fighters and the great
Iraqi people are doing exceptionally well and for which they deserve victory
and satisfaction from God - as He promised the true faithful against the
enemies of God and humanity.
It is our right, nay our duty, to be proud as fighting believers who are
patient in this epic war ...
We have always complied, even with what is illegitimate and unjust among
the demands and allegations of the evil ones, in the hope that the world
would awake and lift the sanctions against our people and so that we avoid
the evils of war.
And after they ran out of excuses or cover, the invading aggressors came
openly and shamelessly with vicious intent as we know them and their intentions
to be.
O brothers, you know that our country's policy is to avoid evil. But when
evil comes, armed with deceit and destruction, we must face them with
faith and holy struggle in a manner which dignifies us and satisfies God.
And here you are today standing, o valiant Iraqis, glorious women and
brave armed forces, in a manner which pleases friends and the faithful
and enrages the enemies and infidels. A stand which will make you victorious,
God willing, against your enemies...
Everyone can see the aggression and injustice and those who were deceived
globally by the enemies during and after 1991 have awoken with the general
awareness of humanity and the sons of our nation. I herald the near-victory
for our patient fighters. These are decisive days, O Iraqis, so attack
as God ordered.
In these battles, in these decisive days the enemy attempted, not only
with planes and missiles as in the past, but also with land forces to
occupy your land...
These forces have pushed into our land and wherever they encroach they
are trapped in our land, leaving the desert behind them, and find Iraqi
citizens surrounding them and shooting at them. The (Ba'ath) party, the
people, the clans, the Fedayeen of Saddam and national security forces
alongside our brave armed forces have done great things which match their
calibre.
Therefore, after underestimating you ... the enemy is trapped in the sacred
land of Iraq which is being defended by its great people and army.
O brave fighters, hit your enemy with all your strength. O Iraqis, fight
with the strength of the spirit of jihad which you carry in you and push
them to the point where they cannot go on.
You (fighters) will reap stability and dignity with victory. For our martyrs
the prize of heaven and for you the prize of honour which satisfies God
and which will be recorded by history. The lesson you teach the enemy
will make them think twice, and even be incapable, of attacking you, your
nation and humanity again.
Hit them so that good and its people may reign and evil evicted back to
its place. Mothers, daughters, fathers and sons, together with all the
faithful and good, will sleep in comfort after being terrified by aggression.
Your struggle will dishearten the aggressor. Oh Arabs, oh faithful of
the world, oh those who support justice and oppose evil, we herald the
victory that God has promised us in the conflict against the lowlifes
and enemies of humanity."
What use of vocabulary and imagery identifies this as
being different from other speeches you have read?
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