Saddam Accuses U.S. of
'Shameful Crime'
March 20, 2003 01:07 AM EST ..........................................................U.S. Targets Saddam; Iraq Fires at Troops ...........................................................................................................Bush Assesses Initial Strikes on Iraq ............................................................................................................Baghdad a City of Contrasts As War Starts
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"We promise you that Iraq, its leadership
and its people will stand up to the evil invaders, and we will take them
to such limits that they will lose their patience in achieveing their plans,
which are pushed by criminal Zionism," he said.
"They will face a bitter defeat, God willing," he said. "You will be able to achieve glory and your despicable infidel enemies will be defeated." "This is added to the series of their shameful crime against Iraq and humanity," Saddam said, describing the U.S. president as 'little, evil Bush." "Draw your sword and be not afraid," he urged the Iraqi people, before ending the speech by chanting, "Allahu akbar" or God is great, and saying, "Long live jihad (holy war) and long live Palestine." After the U.S. strike, Iraqi broadcasters repeatedly announced that the Iraqi leader would appear. Baghdad radio carried a message from his son, Odai, calling on the people to be steadfast and promised them victory. Mohammed Saeed Sahhaf, the information minister, also on Iraq radio, called on Iraqi people to be steadfast and described this day as a "an eternal day in history and that Allah honored the Iraqis with this test." |