The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
[Main archive index/search] [List information] [Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq Homepage]
Translation of an article published by Al-Quds Al-Arabi/ issue 4336 of 30 April 2003 Saddam to Iraqis: they only triumphed over you through betrayal The former Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein, called upon the Iraqi people to revolt against the American invaders, stressing that the foreign occupation and not Shi'is and Sunnis is the only matter that concerns the homeland "your great Iraq". The call came in a written message, dated April 28, Saddam's birthday, from Saddam to "the Great Iraqi people, and people of the Arab and Muslim nation, and decent people everywhere", a copy of which was acquired by Al-Quds Al-Arabi. Sources close to Saddam have confirmed that it is Saddam's handwriting and signature on the message, pointing out that the circumstances surrounding his hiding and security concerns do not allow for anything more than a written message. The Iraqi "Command of Resistance and Liberation" has confirmed the day before yesterday in a special letter to Al-Quds Al-Arabi that Saddam Hussein had survived the bombing attacks and that he would address the Iraqis and the nation within 72 hours. In his message, Saddam accused Iraq's neighbors of working against the resistance, saying "the traitors have allowed themselves to openly declare their betrayal, though it is disgraceful", in a possible reference to Kuwait. Saddam pointed out that "betrayal" was behind the fall of Baghdad when he said "they did not triumph over you, you who refuse occupation and humiliation and whose hearts are for Arabism and Islam, except by betrayal." Here is the full text of the message: -------------------------------------------------- In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful "And yet they had covenanted with God not to turn their backs, and a covenant with God must be answered for" (33:15) Iraq on 28 April 2003 >From Saddam Hussein To the Great Iraqi people And the people of the Arab and Muslim nation And decent people everywhere God's Peace, Mercy and blessings be upon you Just like Hulago entered Baghdad, so did the criminal Bush with the help of Al-Algqami, or more than one Alqami. [The Minister Ibn Al-Alqami is accused of betraying the Abbasid Caliph Al-Musta'sim and collaborating with the Mongols in 1258]. They did not triumph over you, you who refuse occupation and humiliation and whose hearts are for Arabism and Islam, except by betrayal. And by God's name theirs is not a victory as long as resistance remains in your souls. What we used to say has now become a fact, for we will never live in peace as long as the false Zionist entity remains on our Arab land. And so there is no division in the unity of Arab struggle. People of our great nation: Revolt against the invaders and do not trust those who speak about Shi'is and Sunnis, because the only matter through which the homeland, your great Iraq, is living is the occupation. There are no priorities except to expel the cowardly, killer, criminal, infidel invader, towards whom no decent hands have been extended; only those of traitors and agents. I say to you that all neighboring countries oppose your resistance, but God is with you because you are fighting infidels and defending your rights. The traitors have allowed themselves to openly declare their betrayal, though it is disgraceful. So declare your rejection of the invader for the sake of the great Iraq and the nation and Islam and humanity. Iraq, with the people of the nation and the decent people, will triumph and we will get back what they stole from our heritage and rebuild the Iraq they want to divide, may they be in shame. Saddam had no property in his name, and I challenge anyone to prove that the palaces were not registered in the name of the State of Iraq. I had left them a long time ago to live in a small house. Forget everything, and resist the occupation, for the gravest sin is to have priorities other than the struggle against the invader and his expulsion. And remember that they want to bring in the conflicting parties to keep your Iraq weak so that they can steal it as they wish. Your party, the Bath Arab Socialist Party, has the honor of not stretching out its hand to the Zionist enemy and never surrendering to a cowardly aggressor, American or British. And those who stood against Iraq and conspired against it will never enjoy peace at the hands of America. Salutes to every member of the resistance and every decent Iraqi citizen, and to every woman, child and elderly in our great Iraq. Unite, and the enemy and all those traitors who came with him will flee. And learn that he with whom the invading troops came and whose planes flew to kill you will only send you poison. With God's will, the day of liberation and victory for us, the nation and Islam before anything else will come, and this time, like every time the truth triumphs, the coming days will be more beautiful. Protect your properties, offices and schools, and boycott the invader. Boycott him, for this is your duty towards Islam, religion and the homeland. Long live the great Iraq and its people. Long live Palestine, free and Arabic from the river to the sea. God is Greatest. And may the disgraceful be disgraced. Saddam Hussein 26 Safar 1424 28 April 2003 __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo. http://search.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk