MEMRI, the Middle East Media Research Institute, has provided a translation of a letter purported to be from former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, which appeared in a London-based Arabic newspaper. The newspaper, al-Quds al-Arabi, published the letter and a picture of a few handwritten lines from it, along with Saddam’s signature. The letter itself is addressed to “the Great Iraqi People, and the Sons of the Arab and Islamic Nation, and men of honor everywhere” on the occasion of Hussein’s birthday, April 28, according to the newspaper.
The Saddam Hussein letter opens with a quote from the Quran describing an oath to Allah never to retreat. It goes on to liken the US-led coalition in Iraq to Mongol conquerors, assisted by traitorous locals. “They did not vanquish you - you who refuse to accept occupation and humiliation, and you, who have Arabism and Islam in your hearts and minds - except through treachery,” the missive states.
The letter then proceeds to lay the Arab defeat in Iraq at the door of Israel, saying, “What we used to say has now become fact. We do not live in peace and security as long as the monstrous Zionist entity is on our Arab land, and therefore there should be no split in the unity of Arab struggle.”
As for Iraq, the deposed dictator (allegedly) writes of Iraqi unity: “Oh sons of our great people, rise up against the occupier and do not put your trust in those who speak of Sunnis and Shiites, because the only problem that the homeland, your great Iraq, is experiencing now is occupation. There are no priorities other than the expulsion of the cowardly, murderous infidel occupier.”
The Saddam letter claims that the coalition is behind the theft of ancient artifacts in Iraq, that “Saddam had no property registered in his own name and I challenge anyone to prove that the palaces were not registered in the name of the Iraqi state. I abandoned them long ago and went to live in a small house.” And that “the party of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath… did not extended its hands to the Zionist enemy and did not make concessions to the cowardly American or British aggressor.”
Signing off, the Saddam letter concludes: “Long Live Great Iraq and its people. Long Live Palestine, free and Arab from the river to the sea. Allah Akbar. Disgrace upon the despicable ones.”
“Saddam Hussein
26 Safar, 1424
April 28, 2003”
The Saddam Hussein letter opens with a quote from the Quran describing an oath to Allah never to retreat. It goes on to liken the US-led coalition in Iraq to Mongol conquerors, assisted by traitorous locals. “They did not vanquish you - you who refuse to accept occupation and humiliation, and you, who have Arabism and Islam in your hearts and minds - except through treachery,” the missive states.
The letter then proceeds to lay the Arab defeat in Iraq at the door of Israel, saying, “What we used to say has now become fact. We do not live in peace and security as long as the monstrous Zionist entity is on our Arab land, and therefore there should be no split in the unity of Arab struggle.”
As for Iraq, the deposed dictator (allegedly) writes of Iraqi unity: “Oh sons of our great people, rise up against the occupier and do not put your trust in those who speak of Sunnis and Shiites, because the only problem that the homeland, your great Iraq, is experiencing now is occupation. There are no priorities other than the expulsion of the cowardly, murderous infidel occupier.”
The Saddam letter claims that the coalition is behind the theft of ancient artifacts in Iraq, that “Saddam had no property registered in his own name and I challenge anyone to prove that the palaces were not registered in the name of the Iraqi state. I abandoned them long ago and went to live in a small house.” And that “the party of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath… did not extended its hands to the Zionist enemy and did not make concessions to the cowardly American or British aggressor.”
Signing off, the Saddam letter concludes: “Long Live Great Iraq and its people. Long Live Palestine, free and Arab from the river to the sea. Allah Akbar. Disgrace upon the despicable ones.”
“Saddam Hussein
26 Safar, 1424
April 28, 2003”