The toy maker with its finger on the pulse of current news events has rolled out the latest in a series of action figures – a talking Iraqi information minister Muhammed Saeed al-Sahhaf.
Muhammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, aka 'Baghdad Bob' |
Saddam's spokesman became internationally famous as "Baghdad Bob" and "Comical Ali" for making hard-to-believe claims about Iraqi successes and U.S. failures, including:
"Let the American infidels bask in their illusion";
"We have placed them in a quagmire from which they can never emerge except dead";
"God will roast their stomachs in hell at the hands of Iraqis";
"I triple guarantee you, there are no American soldiers in Baghdad."
"Iraqi Dis-Information Minister" doll |
Amid reports that al-Sahhaf committed suicide shortly before Baghdad fell to U.S. forces on April 9, Connecticut custom doll-maker Herobuilders.com introduces a 12-inch replica of the "curiously absent" Iraqi official dressed in standard green military uniform.
On its website, the company describes its latest addition as a tribute of sorts to Saddam Hussein's loyal lieutenant who "was the picture of optimism in the face of overwhelming evidence that the Iraqi regime was crumbling" and who "kept up his one-man battle against the observable facts."
The "Iraqi Dis-Information Minister" doll utters memorable quotes such as:
"There are no American infidels in Baghdad. Never!"
"Our initial assessment is that they will all die"
"No I am not scared and neither should you be!"
"We have given them a sour taste"
"They're not even [within] 100 miles [of Baghdad]"
As WorldNetDaily previously reported, Herobuilders began marketing action figures last spring featuring likenesses of Osama bin Laden, President Bush, Rudy Giuliani and British Prime Minister Tony Blair – with bin Laden taking a clear lead in initial sales.
Bin Laden doll the sales leader |
"Maybe they want to blow him up," company president Emil Vicale said at the time. "You should see my own bin Laden doll. He doesn't look like he originally did – he's now missing an arm and a leg."
The company also markets optional clothing, including a pink dress for bin Laden and an S&M outfit for the likes of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
"He seems to be sadistic and masochistic all in the same breath," Vicale said. "It just made sense to give him one."
Khalid Shaikh Mohammed |
Beyond action figures, Herobuilders has expanded its repertoire to include dioramas that capture the top headlines, including one featuring Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the purported mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks who was captured in Pakistan last month and one depicting pop star Michael Jackson dangling his towel-covered child from a hotel balcony.
King of Pop Baby Drop: It's really, really 'bad'? |
While the figurines have been doing brisk business, not everyone is thrilled with the idea of making playthings out of the real-life characters. Some of the hate mail sent to Herobuilders include:
"I came across your website and your "action dolls" and I was very offended. You have disrespected a whole religion by the nasty image you have made in your "villain" doll. Muslims, as much as you hate us, are pure. We do not look like this and never will. I am an American, but you make me hate being one. Your thoughts are gross, and your Bush is not a hero. He has killed thousands and millions of people. But of course that doesn't matter, because they are not Americans huh? You make me sick and I just wait for the day of Judgment so we all can be judged by the only One who knows everything. (April Martin)"
Continued sales help Vicale take the hate mail in stride.
Related stories:
Jacko's baby, 9-11 mastermind immortalized
Bin Laden beats 'Bush' in doll fight
Related column:
Democrats to adopt Iraqi 'super lies'?