Saddam put on show in a display of hypocrisy

THE elation of the Americans and British at the capture of Saddam Hussein did not surprise me, and neither did the hypocrisy shown by the so-called coalition of the willing. I remember not so long ago American and British outrage at the appearance of US prisoners on Iraqi television.

However, the Americans seem to see nothing wrong with beaming pictures of their new captive in degrading circumstances such as being made to undergo medical tests for the camera.

As usual, in accordance with American and British rules of war, double standards apply.

In this case, the showing of US prisoners is in contravention of the rules of war, but the parading of Saddam is not. To me it stinks of hypocrisy and Yankee triumphalism.

Of course we should not be surprised by this. Though America and its rag-tag coalition may claim to be saving the world from evil dictators, despotic regimes and human rights abuses, we know this is not true. Just ask the people of Chile who suffered under the vicious fascist Pinochet.

He was installed as dictator in an American-sponsored coup. Let’s not forget the support America gave to a certain Mr Hussein either.

As for human right abuses, while the US rants about the Cuban government’s shortcomings in this area, it is clear that the only human rights abuses in Cuba are taking place in Guantanamo Bay.

It is here that the US is holding their POWs from the Afghan debacle in horrendous conditions. Surely America should clean up its own act before involving itself in other countries’ affairs.

However, I do agree with the US in one respect.

Saddam was an evil tyrant who should face trial for war crimes. I strongly believe that all war criminals should face trial.

I look forward to the day when Saddam is joined by Bush, Blair, Powell, Rumsfeld and all those other Yankee and British imperialists responsible for terror, bloodshed and murder in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Jonathan Mahon,

2, Chaff Street,

Graiguecullen,

Co Carlow.