An Arab newspaper has published a letter purportedly written by Saddam Hussein, urging the Iraqi people and the Arab nation to resist coalition troops.
The London Arabic-language daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi, which has printed statements purportedly from Osama bin Laden, claims the handwritten message was penned by Saddam on the occasion of his birthday, Monday, and faxed to the paper yesterday.
“Sources close to Saddam confirmed the authenticity of his handwriting and signature and noted that the conditions of his hiding place do not currently permit more than a written letter, for security reasons,” reports the paper, according to a translation by the Middle East Media Research Institute, or MEMRI.
For proof of the existence of the letter, the Arab daily published a picture of the first lines of the letter, and of Saddam Hussein’s signature on it.
Yesterday, the newspaper published a statement issued by a group calling itself Iraqi Resistance and Liberation. The statement, issued yesterday, announced Hussein would address the Iraqi people within 72 hours.
According to the MEMRI translation of the letter, Saddam calls upon the Iraqi people to set aside differences between Shiite and Sunni Muslims and concentrate on “fighting the occupation” and accomplishing the “expulsion of the cowardly, murderous infidel occupier.”
“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, [they did not defeat you] except through treachery. By Allah, this is no victory, as long as there is resistance in your hearts,” the letter reads. “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.”
Saddam claims the defeat was caused by betrayal:
“Just as Hulagu entered Baghdad, so did the criminal Bush enter Baghdad, with the help of Alqami [traitor from within] – indeed, even more than one Alqami.”
“The traitors have allowed themselves to proclaim their treachery, although this is a shameful thing. You should now proclaim your rejection of the occupier for the sake of the great Iraq and the nation, and for Islam and humanity.”
Saddam calls for boycotting the “Zionist enemy” in Iraq and exhorts those who would cooperate with coalition forces:
“Safeguard your property, your departments, and your schools, and boycott the occupier. Boycott him, as this is your duty towards Islam, the religion, and the homeland.”
“Whoever stands against Iraq and plots against it shall not enjoy peace relying on American support.”
“Know that he who came with the invading forces and he whose planes flew in order to kill you will not send you anything but poison.”
“Blessings to every man of the resistance, every honorable Iraqi citizen, and to every woman, child, and elderly person in our great Iraq.”
“Unite and the enemy will flee from you, and with him the traitors that entered with him.”
The ousted Iraqi president continues to predict victory:
“Iraq shall triumph, and with it the sons of the nation and men of honor. We shall restore the archeological artifacts they stole, and we shall rebuild Iraq, that they want to divide into separate parts, may Allah bring shame upon them.”
“Allah willing, the day of liberation and victory will come, for us, for the nation, and for Islam above all else. This time, as always when right triumphs, the days to come will be better.”
The letter was addressed from “Iraq,” and Saddam Hussein claims he abandoned the presidential palaces “long ago and went to live in a small house.”
Hussein hasn’t been seen since April 9, when Iraqi television broadcast videotape of him in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. This was the same day Iraqis toppled a landmark statue of Saddam in a joyous celebration captured live on television.
The Saddam footage suggested he had survived targeted airstrikes by coalition forces on the first day of the war, March 20, and again on April 7.
Coalition forces dropped four 2,000-pound “bunker-buster” bombs on a building in Mansur where Saddam was believed to be meeting with his sons Uday and Qusay. The Pentagon said it had three credible sources of “human intelligence” indicating Hussein was in the building 12 minutes before the attack.
As WorldNetDaily reported, U.S. and British intelligence sources reported Hussein survived the attack.
The Pentagon said determining Saddam’s fate rested on DNA tests – based on samples it claimed the U.S. has.
Forensics experts conducted tests of samples gathered at both bombing sites. No test results have been reported.
Related articles:
Moving inauguration indoors … what’s the real reason?
Around the Web