History: Iraqis Celebrate Demise of Saddam Hussein
By Andrew L. Jaffee, 4/9/2003

10:11 AM: I turn on the news to see live coverage from downtown Baghdad. Iraqi civilians, feeling secure enough to demonstrate their true feelings about their government, gather around a statue of Saddam Hussein. A husky Iraqi man starts pummeling the base of the statue. Other Iraqis start taking turns at trying to bring the statue down. Some put a rope around the statue's neck to try to tear it down. People throw shoes, rocks, pieces of cardboard--anything they can find--at Saddam.

Some civilians walk over to nearby American marines to enlist their help.

The marines bring an armored vehicle up to the statue. Jubilant Iraqis climb atop the American vehicle to be part of Saddam's demise. U.S. soldiers and Iraqis work together to tear down the statue. Iraqis use the central mosque's loud speaker to get the crowd to make room for the statue's collapse.

10:48 AM: To the cheers of Iraqis, the armored vehicle brings the statue down. Iraqis dance and stomp on Saddam's visage. They run around waving American flags (yes, American) and Iraqi flags (a pre-Saddam version). Iraqi civilians hand flowers to U.S. marines. They kiss and embrace the American soldiers. Iraqis drag Saddam's head through the streets.

This obvious Iraqi jubilation and welcoming of U.S. troops is undeniable justification for coalition action. Even al-Jazeera TV carried coverage of the Saddam statue being torn down. Arab media will have a hard time explaining today's Iraqi celebration, since many of these media outlets have been trying to paint a very negative picture of coalition action.

11:46 AM: Iraqi Americans flood the streets of Dearborn, Michigan to celebrate Saddam's demise. Yes, Dearborn, a town with a huge Arab/Muslim population is celebrating. Some thought Dearborn would be a hotbed for anti-U.S. feelings, but they were wrong.

Many pundits were wrong. Like those who said there would be 500,000 Iraqi casualties. Didn't happen. Like those who said World War III would start. Didn't happen. Like those who claimed Iraqi refugees would flood neighboring countries. Didn't happen.

Strange that so many would oppose the spread of democracy. What will they say about today's events in Baghdad and Dearborn?