Saddam Lawyer Seeks Mercy; 5 Troops Die By LAUREN FRAYER Associated Press Writer
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Saddam Hussein's lawyer made a last-ditch effort to impede his execution Thursday, beseeching world leaders to prevent the United States from handing over the ousted dictator to Iraqi authorities who plan to hang him. The plea from Saddam's attorney came as the U.S. military reported the deaths of five more troops and announced that Iraqi forces, backed by American forces, captured an al-Qaida in Iraq cell leader believed responsible for the June kidnapping of two soldiers who were found tortured and killed. With at least 72 more Iraqis killed in sectarian violence, U.S. officials and Iraqis expressed concern about the potential for even worse bloodshed following Saddam's execution. The lawyer, Khalil al-Dulaimi, said transferring Saddam to Iraqi authorities could be the trigger. (Full story.)
Rats are weeping in the gutters Between the two rivers. The bone-dry air is motionless And the water is muted, lifeless. Mesopotamia is Going round the bend, teetering on the edge. Citizens of this great land, caked with blood, Walk, stunned and weeping while a shadow looms Behind an enormous object whose jaws rumble.
Was it worth your capture? Your death sentence? You’ve carried out torture, murder, rape and genocide, Now there is a larger thing haunting your land and people. That enormous thing’s been sent as your executioner, But it is not God. No. It is not Allah. It is empire. And its sunburned grief of crippled beasts Shall haunt you for eternity.
In the world you leave, men are still filled with hate And horror beyond the quaking gates, summoning murder, Clambering across the wilderness, devouring children. Empire, has not, nor will it ever warble an angel’s song Or sing out in a reverent verse for mankind! It shall echo its high-pitched droning of “odium” While the rats fill their lungs with tears.
Saddam Lawyer Seeks Mercy; 5 Troops Die
By LAUREN FRAYER
Associated Press Writer
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Saddam Hussein's lawyer made a last-ditch effort to impede his execution Thursday, beseeching world leaders to prevent the United States from handing over the ousted dictator to Iraqi authorities who plan to hang him.
The plea from Saddam's attorney came as the U.S. military reported the deaths of five more troops and announced that Iraqi forces, backed by American forces, captured an al-Qaida in Iraq cell leader believed responsible for the June kidnapping of two soldiers who were found tortured and killed.
With at least 72 more Iraqis killed in sectarian violence, U.S. officials and Iraqis expressed concern about the potential for even worse bloodshed following Saddam's execution. The lawyer, Khalil al-Dulaimi, said transferring Saddam to Iraqi authorities could be the trigger.
(Full story.)
Rats are weeping in the gutters
Between the two rivers. The bone-dry air is motionless
And the water is muted, lifeless. Mesopotamia is
Going round the bend, teetering on the edge.
Citizens of this great land, caked with blood,
Walk, stunned and weeping while a shadow looms
Behind an enormous object whose jaws rumble.
Was it worth your capture? Your death sentence?
You’ve carried out torture, murder, rape and genocide,
Now there is a larger thing haunting your land and people.
That enormous thing’s been sent as your executioner,
But it is not God. No. It is not Allah. It is empire.
And its sunburned grief of crippled beasts
Shall haunt you for eternity.
In the world you leave, men are still filled with hate
And horror beyond the quaking gates, summoning murder,
Clambering across the wilderness, devouring children.
Empire, has not, nor will it ever warble an angel’s song
Or sing out in a reverent verse for mankind!
It shall echo its high-pitched droning of “odium”
While the rats fill their lungs with tears.
Copyright © 2006 mrp / thepoetryman
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