Kuwaitis rejoice as Saddam's end nears

By Ahmad Al-Khaled
KUWAIT: Kuwaitis' celebrations may be doubled this year with the possible execution of Saddam Hussein on the first day of Eid Al-Adha. Many locals visit the gravesites of their near and dear departed souls on the morning of the first day of the Eid. When asked how a Saddam 'Eid' execution would affect Kuwaitis going about their usual Eid traditions, Abu Khaled said, "We go to the graves of our families to honour them - I will not think about this animal's death during my rituals, but if they execute him today, he will be lucky to die on such a day as Eid, although he does not deserve an 'Eid' death." He added: "They should have executed him years ago - but thanks to God, justice will be served the day he dies." "I will visit ??????????????the my brother's (a martyr) grave as well as the graves of all my departed family members. I will honour and remember them, after which I will enjoy Eid with my family and pray to God for justice," Abu Yusef said. With a majority of Kuwaitis having lost relatives, suffered violence and property loss during Saddam's 1990 invasion and the subsequent occupation of the state, all Kuwaitis old enough to remember have their own opinions of Saddam, although many showed a reluctance to elaborate on their personal experiences during those dark miserable days. Many showed great candour in expressing their opinions on the impending execution of the man who tormented them. "He is an evil man...he invaded us, he slaughtered our people and even killed his own people, he deserves what he gets. I hope they wait until after Eid to give him what he deserves, let him sit and wait for death like so many of his victims did," said Umm Abdullah. "He took from our country the feeling of safety and security we had enjoyed for so long, and with his death there will be a new feeling of calm and security in Kuwait as justice is finally going to be served. This Eid we can be doubly grateful to God. God is great!" said Abu Ali. "Saddam's soldiers killed my brother, but he took from our family more than one life - he killed us all that day but we have survived to see him executed for the crimes he committed against his own people - not for the crimes he committed against us Kuwaitis. But he will pay for those crimes after the execution, for which Almighty God will give justice to us Kuwaitis," said Abu Muhamed.Reminiscing on the occupation, Umm Barrak said: "During this time we thank God for food, water and pray for our families' safety - this year we will thank God for justice served! We know all Kuwaitis will rejoice when they hear the news that he is finally dead." "I remember wondering during the occupation if we would ever be free again...we were forced to shave our beards by Saddam - the Iraqis did not allow us to move freely or even to pray in the mosque. Thanks to God for our freedom and may God give justice to the Kuwaitis for all the crimes he committed on our people," Abu Salah said. "Saddam went unpunished for the crimes against us during his lifetime, let God now decide how he should pay in death," he added.The execution of Saddam at the hands of the Iraqi people would not be a new event in Iraq's modern history. Iraq's King Ghazi I was killed in a mysterious car crash in 1939 shortly after a failed coup. King Faysal II was killed in a coup wherein the entire royal family was massacred in their palace in 1958. Prime Minister of Iraq Abdul-Karem Qassim was killed in 1963 after a faction took over the country in a coup and killed him after a mock trial. One should not be surprised then if Kuwaitis, while worshipping God in the traditional ways of Eid, also rejoice during this Eid and celebrate as justice is finally served with the execution of Saddam - albeit sixteen years too late